|
American Southern life in a 1932 Depression-era
Macomb, an Alabama town, is fully examined in this Oscar-winning
film, warts and all, through the eyes of Scout (Mary Badham),
the daughter of a widowed lawyer, Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck),
an honorable man and a pillar of the community. Finch is given
the defense case of a local African American, Tom Robinson (Brock
Peters), is accused of raping a poor, white girl, Mayella Violet
Ewell (Collin Wilcox Paxton), who lived with her disgusting,
low life father, Bob Ewell (James Anderson), near the town dump.
Finch earnestly takes on Robinson's defense,
despite objections of others, and the fact that the all-white
jury would certainly convict Robinson of the crime. In the course
of the trail, the just lawyer comes to represent moral courage
and tolerance, and the decency of the town, as opposed to the
mindless hate, ignorance and prejudice that lurks just under
the surface, epitomized in the sleazeball Bob Ewell (James
Anderson). How this whole episode transforms
and influences his children, Scout and her brother, Jem (Phillip
Alford), their relationships with others, and the town in general
makes an entertaining, poignant film.
The film is a classic because of its riveting
screenplay, and a dynamite, talented cast, all under the gifted
and inspired direction by Robert Mulligan.
Robert Mulligan's fine, gifted direction of
this classic earned him an academy award nomination.
This powerful, poignant screenplay, was written
by Horton Foote, which was adapted from Harper Lee's novel.
Foote won the academy award Oscar, and Harper Lee received a
Pulitzer Prize for her beloved and widely read masterpiece,
that is required reading in many schools.. Horton Foote had
a long, successful career as a writer, bringing his own personal
view of small town life to many wonderful screenplays, such
as TENDER MERCIES, THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL, and ON VALENTINE'S
DAY.
The powerhouse acting of this talented cast
brings to roaring life the fabulous screenplay particularly
Gregory Peck, Brock Peters, Mary Badham, James Anderson and
Robert Duvall.
Gregory Peck, is fantastic as the dedicated,
principled lawyer, and loving father doing his best to raise
his children. His performance is one of the best efforts of
his career, and won the Best Actor Oscar for his role. "There's
a lot of ugly things in this world, son. I wish I could keep
'em all away from you. That's never possible."
Robert Duvall made his screen debut, as the Finch's neighbor,
Arthur "Boo" Radley, an emotionally retarded, very
shy man who develops a strong liking to the Finch children,
who try in the beginning of the story to get him to come out
of his house. His character comes through and is there for his
neighbors, when needed.
James Anderson (I) gives a chilling performance
as the slimy, evil Bob Ewell, a never-do-well with a huge drinking
problem, who lives near the dump with his children.
Brock Peters is very convincing as Tom Robinson,
accused of raping a poor girl, Mayella Violet Ewel, living in
squalid conditions, with plenty of siblings and no help, as
her father was a mean drunk. He knows that he will more than
likely be convicted, and is appropriately worried. He knows
that his goose is cooked when he admits on the stand, that the
reason he was helping the girl, was because he felt sorry for
her, even though she was a white girl.
Collin Wilcox Paxton, as Mayella Violet Ewel,
gives a powerful courtroom performance.
9 year old Mary Badham is wonderful as Atticus's
feisty, strong-willed, young daughter, who loves her father,
tries her best to keep up with her big brother Jem, and has
been known to settle things with her fists, until she slowly
evolves and grows throughout the story.
My favorite scene takes place in the woods at
night. Peck's daughter, Scout (Mary Badham), while being stuck
in a school play ham costume, is pursued, and attacked, as well
as her brother, Jem. The scene is scary and involving, making
us feel the girl's experience, from her perspective.
If you enjoyed TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD you may like THE CLIENT,
IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, SNOW FALL ON
THE CEDARS, THE
GREEN MILE, and A TIME TO KILL.
|
