John Scopes was the defendant in what has come to be called the "monkey trial " that has been depicted in the play and movie "Inherit the Wind". There are several inaccuracies in the play and screenplay about the trial. The Scopes character is depicted as being held in jail before and during the trial. The Darrow character is depicted as fighting alone when he had several distinguished co-counsel. The Bryan character was not as much of buffoon as is depicted in the screenplay. The view comes from H L Mencken coverage of the trial.

A more accurate account of the trial is the book "Six Days or Forever". I doubt that "Inherit the Wind" will ever be redone more historically accurate.