To Kill A Mockingbird
Gregory Peck won an Oscar for his brilliant performance as the Southern lawyer who defends a black man accused of rape in this film version of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The way in which it captures a time, a place, and above all, a mood, makes this film a masterpiece. The setting is a dusty Southern town during the Depression. A white woman accuses a black man of rape. Though he is obviously innocent, the outcome of his trial is such a foregone conclusion that no lawyer will step forward to defend him--except Peck, the town's most distinguished citizen. His compassion defense costs him many friendships but earns him the respect and admiration of his two motherless children.
Member Reviews
Offers More Than a Comment on Intolerance - c4th
To Kill a Mockingbird will always be held up as a masterpiece tackling the topic of racism and prejudice more bluntly than any previous movie. It was boldly released in the early sixties near the height of Martin Luther King’s rejuvenation of the civil rights movement. A significant number of Americans were still cold to notions of equalizing opportunities for blacks and whites.
However, this movie offers much more than a comment on intolerance. It is also the story of a daughter discovering who her father is and what he stands for. We experience 1930’s Dixieland America through the eyes of Scout as she goes through several life lessons observing events in her town and the engrained attitudes of its residents during the great depression. Most importantly, however, she develops her own moral fibre by observing the actions of her father during the trial of a black man accused of rape.
Gregory Peck delivers a defining performance alongside inexperienced child actors (Mary Badham, Phillip Alford, John Megna), who under the direction of Robert Mulligan deliver their own admirable performances. Robert Duvall appears briefly as Boo Radley, a sheltered and mentally challenged neighbour.
Everyone should experience this timely classic. Incredible story telling, historic performances and superior direction are among its gifts. It also paved the way for many great movies featuring prominent black characters offering positive role models. If you have yet to see it, be sure to place it on your zip list.3 Thumbs Way Up! - ShawnConnery
I heard this movie was good, and was in no rush to see it until I rented it. This is definetely one of the best movies I have ever seen. I thought it was a movie about some guy who defends a Black man, but the movie is so much more. It fantastically recreates the setting of the Great Depression, and it's one of the only movies that effectively portrays the point of view of children.The subjects of class, racial injustices, and compassion are some of the things discussed here, and the stunning characters are portrayed extremely well by Gregory Peck and the child actors. Extremely moving, emotional, and it keeps you thinking long after you turn off the TV. Definetely a movie each person should see in their lifetime.Great American Novel, Great American Film - Gregg
The story of a widowed small town southern lawyer Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) with two small children who takes on the case of a black man charged with the rape of a white woman in the 1930’s. Despite the possible harm to his own career and threats of harm Atticus pursues what he believes to be the just and right course of action under the watchful eyes of the town and his children.
While I have always greatly appreciated any film that can create a sense of time and place, for me very few films can compare with To Kill a Mockingbird for this transcendent quality.
Although I certainly respect the dramatic abilities of Gregory Peck he is not one of my favorite actors, although in this role he delivers one of my favorite performances of all time. He is note perfect in creating a heroic fatherly figure that still feels like a real person. The role earned Peck his only Oscar after four other nominations.
In addition to Peck we also see the film debut of another great actor with Robert Duvall's small but integral role and we have many very good supporting performances including Brock Peters in one of his first film roles as Atticus's client.
Although Robert Mulligan would direct some other successful films this film stands head and shoulders above his other achievements.
The cinematography of Russell Harlan should also be acknowledged it earned him one of his 6 Oscar nominations.
Based upon the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Harper Lee, the novel is at least semi-auto biographical with Scout filling in for Lee and supposedly Scout’s friend Dill was based on her friend Truman Capote. Strangely Harper Lee would never write anything more other than some essay’s, there have been entirely unsubstantiated rumors that Lee did not write the book or at least received considerable assistance from Capote. The script was adapted by Horton Foote and earned him his first of two Oscars, Lee herself was greatly impressed by his adaptation.
Member Reviews
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Offers More Than a Comment on Intolerance - c4th
To Kill a Mockingbird will always be held up as a masterpiece tackling the topic of racism and prejudice more bluntly than any previous movie. It was boldly released in the early sixties near the height of Martin Luther King’s rejuvenation of the civil rights ...3 Thumbs Way Up! - ShawnConnery
I heard this movie was good, and was in no rush to see it until I rented it. This is definetely one of the best movies I have ever seen. I thought it was a movie about some guy who defends a Black man, but the movie is so much more. It fantastically recreates ...Great American Novel, Great American Film - Gregg
The story of a widowed small town southern lawyer Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) with two small children who takes on the case of a black man charged with the rape of a white woman in the 1930’s. Despite the possible harm to his own career and threats of harm ...