Widely acknowledged as one of the best courtroom dramas and a cultural film spreading a significant social message, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is unanimously included in the ‘All Time Classic Movies’ list by many reputed film historians and organizations.
The film in Black & White is based on Pulitzer Prize winning book of 1961 with the same title written by Harper Lee and is about a rare case of an idealistic lawyer defending a black man accused of raping a white woman in a racially divided town set in the 1930s. Most of the people living in the town don’t believe in the innocence of the Black accused and therefore are against the lawyer taking up the case forcing him to pull back. But Atticus Finch – the widower lawyer (played by Gregory Peck) decides to go ahead facing the strong opposition and violent attitudes of the residents even scaring his two young kids, resulting in a seriously tense situation.
An inspiring courtroom drama directed by Robert Mulligan, it actually hits you hard more because of its subject, characterizations, performances and the climax than the story progression to be honest. The noticeable interaction between various people of the town, Finch’s relationship with the kids, the courtroom scenes and the finale attack by the mob are the sequences making it a worth watching, thoughtful social drama with a cause.
As per the phrase used in the title, To Kill A Mockingbird actually means destroying innocence, pointing towards various innocent characters in the film crushed liked helpless, poor mockingbirds. Starring Gregory Peck and Mary Badham along with debuts of Robert Duvall, William Windom and Alice Ghostley, the film got nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Music (Original Score) and won three major awards as Best Actor (Gregory Peck), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Art Direction.
As per many avid readers, it's no doubt a superfine, meaningful attempt by the team and a well deserving classic too performed beautifully. But the book certainly has got much more depth in its expressions and the characters with some detailed explanations and emotions. Having said that, TO KILL A MOCKINBIRD still remains a not to be missed, much watch courtroom drama that essentially needs to be seen and rediscovered, especially in the present times, when racism is back in news like a never dying ugly social evil of our world.
Directed by Robert Mulligan
Starring : Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford, John Meghna, Ruth White, Frank Overton, Robert Duvall, William Windom, Alice Ghostley and more.
