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Directed By
Robert Mulligan
Written By:
Horton Foote
Cast:
Gregory Peck, Brock Peters, Phillip Alford, Mary Badham, Robert Duvall, Rosemary Murphy, William Windom, Alice Ghostley, John Megna, Paul Fix, Collin Wilcox Paxton, Frank Overton
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To Kill a Mockingbird (1963)
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Movie Review by Mitch
August 22nd, 2006
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Let me start by saying that I hate black and white movies, and that I hate old movies. And, I really hate old black and white movies. Not this one though, I enjoyed it quite a bit. I'm not going to go into all of the different meanings of the film, just the ones that jumped out at me. But first, the plot.
Atticus Finch is a lawyer in a racially divided Alabama town in the 1930s. He agrees to defend a young black man who is accused of raping a white woman. Many of the townspeople try to get Atticus to pull out of the trial, but he decides to go ahead.
That's the short version, I'm not gonna say hardly anything about the cast as Robert Duvall is the only actor I have seen in anything else and this was his first film. Not only that, he doesn't have any lines! Oh, and Ezmeralda from the TV series Bewitched is in this also.
The scene where Atticus is guarding the jail cell and Scout starts to talk to one of the members of the lynch mob was my favorite scene. I believe that if the kids hadn't been there this would have been a really short movie. Children with their innocence and general good nature can hold the key to bring rationalism and caring to the world. If only society would pay attention and let them be kids.
I used to spend the summers in Tennessee with my grandfather when I was younger, and hearing the two children's accents brought back a lot of memories. One thing that is for sure, at least here in the North, is that the gentle politeness of the South doesn't reach up here.
I only half expected the trial to end the way it did, and I sure didn't see Tom's demise at all. Just goes to show that it isn't what you would call a “feel good” movie. Although some of the other plot points did have a better ending? Is that the right way to say it? I'm talking about Bob Ewell's just desserts at the hands of Boo Radley. I believe the line was, “Let the dead bury the dead.” And I agree.
An excellent film and I can see why the book is the most taught novel in school. If you haven't seen this movie I believe you should watch it soon. I know I can't believe I haven't seen this or read the book.
Anyways, until Atticus Finch goes up against Johnny Cochrane, keep reading.
Best Lines:
Atticus Finch: If you just learn a single trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.
Calpurnia: That boy is your company. And if he wants to eat up that tablecloth, you let him, you hear? And if you can't act fit to eat like folks, you can just set here and eat in the kitchen.
Jem: Listen, no matter what she says to you, don't answer her back. There's a Confederate pistol in her lap under her shawl and she'll kill you quick as look at you. Come on.
Atticus Finch: Good Afternoon Miss Dubose... My, you look like a picture this afternoon.
Scout: [hiding behind Atticus whispering to Jem and Dill] He don't say a picture of what.
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