07 November 2007

'It's a sin to kill a mockingbird ...'


The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box. As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it - whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.
(- Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 23, spoken by the character Atticus)
Gregory Peck's performance as Atticus Finch in the 1962 film adaptation of Harper Lee's novel To Kill A Mockingbird inspired many a young social activist and prospective lawyer to follow Atticus' example and seek social justice, whatever the personal cost. These young idealists would drop like flies as the realities of the real world closed around them. But a few survived to carry the torch for the equality of all men and women under the law.

And the film's impact stretches even further.

The Story of Movies Foundation uses the film To Kill A Mockingbird in the The Story of Movies as a way to provide middle school children a ".... guide to [the] students in learning how to read moving images. Although teachers frequently use films in the classroom, film as language and as historical and cultural documents is not widely taught. ...."

Lovers of great books -- me, I plead guilty -- are becoming fewer and farther between as the electronic media age progresses and instant visual and audio gratification becomes the status quo. But Harper Lee's novel survives as assigned classroom reading and Robert Mulligan's 1962 film adaptation still inspires idealists young and old to this day.

A large part of the credit goes to Gregory Peck for his performance in the role of Atticus Finch. Peck brings a sense of moral certainty, legal ethics and talent, as well as compassionate single-parent wisdom to the role that is truly astonishing.

Thanks Ms. Lee, Mr. Peck, and everyone who contributed to the creation of this film; I am re-inspired and given hope for humanity every time I see this film masterwork.

4 comments:

Paco Malo said...

Several of my friends have emailed me replies regarding this post, and the comments have focused primarily on Robert Duvall's marvelous big screen debut as Arthur "Boo" Radley. And what a career Duvall has had!

Laura said...

Hi! I just wanted you to know that I cited this post in my own review of the film. Thanks!

http://reviewingwhatever.blogspot.com/2007/12/to-kill-mockingbird.html

Patti said...

Okay, so this post is 5 years old, and I am just now reading it and commenting on it. Better late than never, right?

TO Kill a Mockingbird is really an awesome movie. It's my #2 movie of the 1960's, and Atticus Finch is one of my all-time favorite literary and film characters. Harper Lee sure gave us an incredible treasure with this story.

Great post, and I agree with your labels: an essential film, for sure, and definitely a book that will matter in 50 years.

Paco Malo said...

Patti, you are too kind.

It is my honor to take a small step toard bringing this film masterpiece to our generation.

Thanks for your comment.