Schoolteacher Bertram Cates is arrested for teaching his students Darwin's theory of evolution. The case receives national attention and one of the newspaper reporters, E.K. Hornbeck, arranges to bring in renowned defense attorney and atheist Henry Drummond to defend Cates. The prosecutor, Matthew Brady is a former presidential candidate, famous evangelist, and old adversary of Drummond.
Henry Drummond
Spencer Tracy
Matthew Harrison Brady
Fredric March
E.K. Hornbeck
Gene Kelly
Bertram T. Cates
Dick York
Rachel Brown
Donna Anderson
Judge Mel
Harry Morgan
Rev. Jeremiah Brown
Claude Akins
Prosecutor Tom Davenport
Elliott Reid
Bailiff Mort Meeker
Paul Hartman
Mayor Jason Carter
Philip Coolidge
Howard
Jimmy Boyd
John Stebbins
Noah Beery Jr.
WGN Radio Technician
Norman Fell
George Sillers
Gordon Polk
Mrs. Krebs - Righteous Townswoman
Hope Summers
Jessie H. Dunlap
Ray Teal
Mrs. Stebbins
Renee Godfrey
Sarah Brady
Florence Eldridge
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
John Alban
Townsman (uncredited)
Leon Alton
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Don Ames
Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
Don Anderson
Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
Eddie Baker
Townsman (uncredited)
Frank Baker
Townsman (uncredited)
John Barton
Townsman (uncredited)
Brandon Beach
Fundamentalist Woman (uncredited)
Gail Bonney
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Chet Brandenburg
Courtroom Photographer (uncredited)
Brad Brown
Townsman (uncredited)
Buck Bucko
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
George Calliga
Townsman (uncredited)
Dick Cherney
Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
Oliver Cross
Eskimo Pie Vendor in Courtroom (uncredited)
Jack Daly
Townsman (uncredited)
Jack Deery
Dr. John (uncredited)
Lester Dorr
Banker / Critic at Town Meeting (uncredited)
George Dunn
Bollinger (uncredited)
Donald Elson
Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
Adolph Faylauer
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Duke Fishman
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Raoul Freeman
Threatening Spectator (uncredited)
David Fresco
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Kay Garrett
Young Farmer Carrying Burning Effigy (uncredited)
Richard George
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Helen Gereghty
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Joseph Glick
Scientist (uncredited)
James Gonzalez
Townswoman (uncredited)
Signe Hack
Dr. Amos Keller (uncredited)
Stuart Hall
Man Yelling at Brady Welcome (uncredited)
Joseph Hamilton
Townsman (uncredited)
Sam Harris
Dr. Britton's Tonic Spieler with Chimp (uncredited)
Earle Hodgins
Townsman (uncredited)
Tex Holden
Banker - Critic at City Meeting (uncredited)
Wendell Holmes
Townsman (uncredited)
Shep Houghton
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Colin Kenny
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Johnny Kern
Townsman (uncredited)
Perk Lazelle
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
King Lockwood
Townsman (uncredited)
Hank Mann
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Sandee Marriott
Reporter in Courtroom (uncredited)
Thomas Martin
Harry Esterbrook (uncredited)
Harp McGuire
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Frank Mills
Townsman (uncredited)
Hans Moebus
Sam - Deputy Arresting Cates (uncredited)
Robert Osterloh
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Stephen Paylow
Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
Bob Perry
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Joe Ploski
Townsman (uncredited)
Harry 'Snub' Pollard
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Paul Power
Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
Waclaw Rekwart
Townsman (uncredited)
John Rice
Townsman (uncredited)
Addison Richards
Woman Diner (uncredited)
Leoda Richards
Townsman (uncredited)
Robert Robinson
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Scott Seaton
Bailiff (uncredited)
Leslie Sketchley
Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
Stephen Soldi
Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
Rudy Sooter
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Bert Stevens
Juror (uncredited)
Hal Taggart
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
George Tracy
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Charles Wagenheim
Hillsboro Salesman (uncredited)
Justice Watson
Bible Salesman (uncredited)
Will Wright