We've all heard of it, we've all read it, and we've all suffered through countless high school English classes where we've studied it. However, I believe that looking at this story through a cinematic lens, especially nowadays, is incredibly refreshing. Robert Mulligan's film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird may very often be overlooked by people who think that it is just a part of their studies growing up but this film is actually a very well-made and faithful adaptation. All of the performances are fantastic, the message is told loud and clear, the cinematography is surprisingly intricate, and there are so many memorable scenes that will live in our minds forever. Of all the classic novels that we read growing up and their accompanying movies, this one is definitely one of the better ones. I genuinely enjoy this movie and Mulligan makes it very easy to fall in love with this poor family and their empowering ways of surviving the depressing era in which they were situated.
Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck), a lawyer in the deep South, is elected to defend Tom Robinson (Brock Peters), a black man who has been unlawfully charged with rape. As Finch faces the prejudice that comes with defending a black man, he must also fight to defend his children, Scout (Mary Badham) and Jem (Phillip Alford), from turning into the same kind of people he has fought his whole life against. This script, written by Horton Foote and adapted from the timeless novel by Harper Lee, is absolutely incredible. Foote takes all of the most impactful and important parts of Lee's original story and is able to translate them on the screen in such a beautiful way. This is undeniably one of the best adaptations of a classic novel in the past few generations and the way that Foote uses these characters and easygoing plotlines to get the message out is fantastic. Every line of dialogue and every interaction between these characters never ceases to feel so authentic and I truly believe that you can get as much from this story from this film as you can from Lee's novel. There is not much about this story's cultural impact that I can say that we haven't already learned about, but it is important regardless. The message of facing adversity and prejudice during this time period is such a critical topic for everyone to learn about and this was embodied perfectly by Peck as his character of Atticus Finch.
Despite Mulligan focusing more on the lives and stories of the children, I believe that Finch is the strongest and most well-developed character. The way that he stood by his moral code and values despite the entire town being against him is so admirable and inspiring. Peck's performance only boosts this character, as his stoic attitude and unflinching courage in the face of racism is just magnificent. His monologue in the courtroom and dialogue shared throughout that entire scene towards the end says more about him than anything else in this film. Peck has really become Finch in this film and he steals nearly every scene that he is in with wisdom and grace. The stories shared between these child actors are great as well, as Badham, Alford, and Megna all seem to have the greatest chemistry. They are all such talented child actors in this film and they convey the innocence of their youth flawlessly. While so many dark, evil, and unfortunately normalized things were happening in this town, the way that this film shifts from the drama to the lightheartedness of being a kid was incredible. Mulligan handles these transitions so well and is able to imbue an inescapable feeling of naivety through these children. The more they learn, however, the more they grow as characters and the development shown through this cast was amazing. It's very difficult to not want these children to go through hardships and just follow along with their lives, but knowing that they grow as people makes their journey worth it.
I have not personally seen this film since freshman year of high school, but To Kill a Mockingbird absolutely stands the test of time. While much of its substance has become obviously dated, the message that it conveys has not and Mulligan is able to make an incredible film out of his source material. I believe kids should still be studying this story as they grow up because it is the perfect combination of learning about the time period and how it relates to our culture today.
My Rating: ★★★★
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