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Film Description
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird is a story of prejudice and injustice set in a racially-intolerant Alabama of the 1930s. Gregory Peck plays the lawyer who stirs up hostility when he agrees to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman. The controversial nature of the trial, taking place in the racist culture of the Deep South, leads the local townsfolk to turn against Finch and sees his family become the victim of a series of attacks. Based on the by Harper Lee, Both Peck and screenwriter Horton Foote won Oscars for their work.
Harper Lee's 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill A Mockingbird remains to this day a seminal piece of literature. Unusually for such adaptations, this screen ver... more >
Harper Lee's 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill A Mockingbird remains to this day a seminal piece of literature. Unusually for such adaptations, this screen version is, if anything, just as good, if not better.
Gregory Peck is Atticus Finch, a widower, lawyer and man of honour, faced with the seemingly impossible task of defending a black man against a charge of raping a white woman. Even though Atticus illustrates in court that the defendant is patently not guilty of the crime levelled against him, such is the level of bigotry, ignorance and downright cowardice among the local townsfolk that their guilty verdict is virtually pre-ordained.
Peck turns in a performance of power and empathy and some of his courtroom scenes are some of the most memorable of their kind and intensely moving. Mary Badham (who, remarkably, had no prior acting experience) is also excellent as Atticus' young daughter Jean Louise (aka 'Scout'), through whose eyes we see events unfold. Scout's daily exploits with her brother Jem and their relationship with their father are also at the heart of the story, but fundamentally this is a scathing and all-too-real examination of racial tension and intolerance in early-20th Century America < less
"To Kill A Mockingbird" -
DavidLeanFan on 23rd June 2009
1962 was a great year for film. It saw David Lean direct the epic 'Lawrence O Arabia' and Robert Mulligan direct 'To Kill A Mockingbird'. Both films were Oscar nominat... more >
1962 was a great year for film. It saw David Lean direct the epic 'Lawrence O Arabia' and Robert Mulligan direct 'To Kill A Mockingbird'. Both films were Oscar nominated and, unluckily for Mulligan, it was Lean that bagged the award. 'Mockingbird', however, cannot be ignored. It is particularly poignant due to the fact that 70 years after its setting, it is still relevant to society today.
Mulligan captures childhood innocence, nostalgia for a time long passed and the horrific events of one man's life and flawlessly brings them to the screen in his adaptation of Harper Lee's Pulitzer prize winning novel. Like a faded photograph, Mockingbird both captures a time beautifully and tells a story. Shot in black and white, perhaps a simile for the combination of pure innocence and violence, the film tells the story of Scout. It is in places narrated by the now adult tomboy girl who's life, previously consisting of games played with her brother Jem and magical expeditions to the house of the neighbourhood recluse Boo Radley, is turned upside down one Summer after her lawyer father Atticus (Gregory Peck) accepts a controversial case.
Scout watches her father defend an innocent black man, Tom Robinson (Brooke Peters) against charges of rape by Mayella Violet Ewell (Collin Wilcox) and her father Bob. Atticus loses the respect of many members of the white community, aware of the truth, but unable to face it. Atticus does however gain the respect of Tom's friends and family, and his children. When Tom dies trying to escape from prison, Atticus is heartbroken; their lives gradually return to near normality, but a gentler story begins to develop. Scout and Jem and their friend Dill begin to find gifts in the nut hole of a tree outside the house of the reclusive and much feared Boo Radley ( A young Robert Duvall). It is not however until Jem and Scout take a touching walk through the woods returning from a pageant on Halloween that they realise Boo's significance.
When they are suddenly attacked by Bob Ewell, Boo saves their lives killing Ewell in the process. Scout is unaware of the identity of her hero until she returns home and tries to explain the events to Atticus. The expression on Scout's face as she recognizes Boo epitomizes the childhood innocence throughout the film and is truly touching. Atticus and the Sherriff agree that Bob Ewell 'fell on his knife; not wanting to drag Boo into the limelight, and Scout walks him home.
The most moving point of the film is as Scout turns around after saying goodnight to Boo 'Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.......' An important chapter in Scout's life is over but another has just begun.
The acting of Mary Badham(Scout) is flawless and natural, as is the acting of all the children in the film, it is however Gregory Peck's Atticus( deservedly Oscar winning) that stands out. Peck captures Atticus' dignity and goodness so perfectly that it is easy to forget you are watching a film and not a documentary; It would be easy, at least, were it not for Elmer Bernstein's glorious musical score, capturing innocence and drama.
