To Kill A Mockingbird is a 1962 American drama film adaptation of Harper Lee's novel of the same name. It was directed by Robert Mulligan and stars Mary Badham in the role of Scout and Gregory Peck in the role of Atticus Finch.
In 1995, the film was listed in the National Film Registry. It also ranks twenty-fifth on the American Film Institute's 10th anniversary list of the greatest American movies of all time, and #1 on AFI's list of best courtroom films. In 2003, AFI named Atticus Finch the greatest movie hero of the 20th century.
This film marks the film debut of Robert Duvall, William Windom, and Alice Ghostley.
Plot
Jean Louise "Scout" Finch (Mary Badham) is a 6 year-old tomboy growing up in the fictional Alabama town of Maycomb, along with her brother Jeremy Atticus "Jem" Finch (Phillip Alford), and their friend Charles Baker "Dill" Harris (John Megna). During the summer, Jem and Dill constantly think of new ways to make Boo Radley (Robert Duvall) emerge from his house. Arthur "Boo" Radley is a man who at a young age was arrested for disorderly conduct. Rather than be locked up by the authorities, his father kept him locked up in their house; to this very day, Boo has yet to come out. Jem and Scout's father is Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck), a widowed attorney with deeply-held principles. After several lectures from Atticus, the children decide to leave Boo alone.
One day while walking past the Radley house, Jem finds a medal in the knothole of the Radleys' oak tree. Day after day he finds more small trinkets until Mr. Nathan Radley cements the knothole shut. Before going to bed one night, Jem shows Scout the trinkets left in the tree. They begin to suspect that they were left there by Boo.
Atticus is approached by Judge John Taylor (Paul Fix) who appoints him to the case of Tom Robinson (Brock Peters). Robinson, a black man, is being accused of raping Mayella Ewell (Collin Wilcox), a white woman. Mayella is the daughter of Robert E. Lee "Bob" Ewell (James Anderson), a man hated by most of the town due to his drinking habits and abusive ways. Atticus desperately tries to have the verdict overturned, but Tom is convicted. Although the Ewells won the case, Bob is left humiliated by Atticus. Later that night, Tom is shot dead while attempting to escape from the police. After Atticus arrives at Tom's house to tell the tragic news to his wife, Bob Ewell shows up and spits in Atticus' face.
On Halloween, Jem and Scout head to a Halloween pageant that Scout is to take part in. On their way home, Jem and Scout are attacked by a man in the dark. After knocking Jem unconscious, the man attacks Scout when another man emerges from the darkness and subdues the children's attacker. The man takes Jem to Atticus with Scout following. Atticus calls Dr. Reynolds and Sheriff Heck Tate (Frank Overton) over. Dr. Reynolds concludes that Jem has a broken arm and will make a full recovery. The sheriff tells Atticus that he found Bob Ewell dead in the middle of the street with a knife stuck under his ribs. Scout tells Sheriff Tate what she recalls of how they were attacked. When asked who saved them from Ewell, Scout points to the man standing in the corner of the room. After a few moments she comes to realize that their savior was none other than Boo Radley.
Atticus suspects that Jem killed Ewell and tries to make a case of it, but Sheriff Tate insists that Ewell fell on his own knife (although it is implied that Boo killed him). After finally convincing Atticus that Ewell killed himself, Tate leaves. Scout takes Boo home and realizes while standing on the Radley porch that Boo had given her and her brother so many treasures including their lives, but they never gave him anything in return. Scout returns home and falls asleep in Atticus's arms as he watches over both of his children.
Differences from the novel
The film generally focuses on the mystery surrounding Boo Radley and the trial of Tom Robinson, whereas the novel features these as episodes in Scout's childhood development. In addition, several smaller details were changed:
- The film shows Jem finding a medal in the hollow of the tree in front of the Radley house. In the novel, Scout found the first treasure.
- Also in the plot with Jem and the tree, in the novel, he and Scout do not see Mr. Nathan Radley cement the tree, whereas in the film, they do.
- The subplot where Jem goes to Mrs. Dubose's home to read to her is omitted.
- In the novel, Jem goes back to the Radley house to get his pants later that night. In the movie, he goes back immediately after he loses them.
- Aunt Alexandra, Uncle Jack, and several other member of the Finch family are either omitted or unmentioned.
- The scene where it snows in Maycomb and Mrs. Maudie's house burns down is omitted.
- In the novel, Calpurnia makes an appearance at the trial of Tom Robinson. In the film, she doesn't.
- In the novel, Tom was said to have been shot, "about seventeen times". In the film, he was apparently only shot once, as Atticus doesn't mention this fact. However, he may not have wished to mention this rumor to his children.
- In the novel Tom was shot by prison guards as he ran toward the fence. In the film he was shot by deputies taking him to prison. The prison guards shot to kill; the deputies shot to stop him.
- In the novel, the trial is held in summer when Dill is still in town. In the film, it's held in fall after Dill goes back to Meridian.
- In the novel, the Finch children go with Calpurnia to her church while their father is out of town. In the movie, this is omitted.
- Miss Caroline is also omitted from the film, she is only mentioned by name. In the film, Scout's first day of school goes straight to her fight with Walter Cunningham and later to the reason why she doesn't want to go back to school, mentioning to Atticus that Miss Caroline forbade her from reading.
- In the novel, Mrs. Dubose is the one who calls Atticus a "nigger-lover" in the presence of Scout and Jem. In the film, Bob Ewell is the one who calls him this and says it directly to his face. Jem is the one of the two children who hears Atticus called this. Scout is present, but she does not hear because she is asleep.
- Mrs. Dubose's character only appears in one scene.
- In the novel, Dill ran from Meridian to the Finches because he hates his new father. This is omitted in the film
- In the novel, Dill is Mrs. Rachel's nephew, in the film he is Mrs. Stephanie Crawford's nephew. Rachel is also absent from the movie, however the characters of Mrs. Rachel and Stephanie Crawford are combined into one character.
- In the novel, Boo Radley's only line is "Will you take me home?" which he says to Scout in the final chapter. In the film, this line is left out.
- In the film the role of Mr. Dolphus Raymond is completely left out.
- In the film the significant and symbolic scene of Jem building the snowman with the black insides is left out.
- In the film Atticus allows Jem to come with him to the Robinson home to inform them of Tom's death. In the novel, this job is given to Calpurnia, although Jem and Dill are with them due to the fact that Jem was teaching Dill to swim and were reluctantly picked up by Atticus on the way over to the Robinson home.
- There are no fights between Jem and Scout in the film, whereas in the book there are quite a few.
- Dill and Scout's romantic relationship is completely omitted in the film.
- Tom Robinson's father did not appear in the book.
- The gum that is found in the knothole is not mentioned.
Cast
Production
Phillip Alford, who played the role of Jem, did not initially want to audition for the part. However, when his mother informed him that he would miss a half day of school, he quickly changed his mind. Additionally, he became upset during the filming of the scene at the breakfast table, when Mary Badham, who played Scout, had trouble performing the scene properly. By way of retaliating, during the scene where Jem rolls Scout in a tire, he intentionally rolled the tire toward an equipment truck.[1]
According to Kim Hamilton, who played the part of Helen Robinson in the movie, Gregory Peck was the consummate gentleman. She recalled a scene where her character collapses after hearing the news of her husband's death, and Peck, as Atticus, picks her up and carries her into the house. "He was such a gentleman," she says. "I never forgot that."
Critical response
Gregory Peck's performance became synonymous with the role and character of Atticus Finch. Alan J. Pakula remembered hearing from Peck when he was first approached with the role: "He called back immediately. No maybes. The fit was among the most natural things about a most natural film. I must say the man and the character he played were not unalike."[2] Peck later said in an interview that he was drawn to the role because the book reminded him of growing up in La Jolla, California.[3] "Hardly a day passes that I don't think how lucky I was to be cast in that film," Peck said in a 1997 interview. "I recently sat at a dinner next to a woman who saw it when she was 14 years old, and she said it changed her life. I hear things like that all the time."[4]
The 1962 softcover edition of the novel opens with the following: "The Southern town of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD reminds me of the California town I grew up in. The characters of the novel are like people I knew as a boy. I think perhaps the great appeal of the novel is that it reminds readers everywhere of a person or a town they have known. It is to me a universal story -- moving, passionate and told with great humor and tenderness. Gregory Peck"
Upon Peck's death in 2003 Brock Peters, who played Tom Robinson in the film version, quoted Harper Lee at Peck's eulogy, saying, "Atticus Finch gave him an opportunity to play himself". Peters concluded his eulogy stating, "To my friend Gregory Peck, to my friend Atticus Finch, vaya con Dios."[5] Peters remembered the role of Tom Robinson when he recalled, "It certainly is one of my proudest achievements in life, one of the happiest participations in film or theater I have experienced."[6] Peters remained friends not only with Peck but with Mary Badham throughout his life.
Awards and honors
The movie was nominated for eight Academy Awards in 1963, winning three. Other nominations were for Best Picture (Producer, Alan J. Pakula), Best Director (Robert Mulligan), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White (Russell Harlan), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Mary Badham), and Best Music, Score — Substantially Original (Elmer Bernstein)
In 1995, To Kill a Mockingbird was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The character of Atticus in this movie has been deemed the #1 greatest hero of American film, as rated by the American Film Institute. This movie also ranked #1 on the AFI's 10 Top 10 list of courtroom dramas.[7] It is also Robert Duvall's big-screen debut, as the misunderstood recluse Boo Radley. Duvall was cast on the recommendation of screenwriter Horton Foote, who met him at Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City where Duvall starred in a 1957 production of Foote's play, The Midnight Caller.[8]
The American Film Institute named Atticus Finch the greatest movie hero of the 20th century. Additionally, the AFI ranked the movie second on their 100 Cheers list, behind It's a Wonderful Life, and twenty-fifth on the list of greatest American films of all time.[1] In June 2008, the AFI revealed its "Ten top Ten"—the best ten films in ten "classic" American film genres—after polling over 1,500 people from the creative community. To Kill a Mockingbird was acknowledged as the best film in the courtroom drama genre.[9]
In 2007, Hamilton was honored by the Harlem community for her part in the movie. She is the last surviving African-American adult who had a speaking part in the movie. When told of the award, she said, "I think it is terrific. I'm very pleased and very surprised."[10]
Academy Awards
[11]
- Academy Award for Best Actor — Gregory Peck
- Academy Award for Best Art Direction - Set Decoration, Black-and-White — Henry Bumstead, Alexander Golitzen, and Oliver Emert)
- Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay — Horton Foote
- Other nominations were for Best Picture (Producer, Alan J. Pakula), Best Director (Robert Mulligan ), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White (Russell Harlan), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Mary Badham), and Best Music, Score — Substantially Original (Elmer Bernstein)
Golden Globe Awards
It won three Golden Globes as well
Others
The film won an award at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival.[12] In 1995, To Kill a Mockingbird was entered into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, deemed as "culturally, aesthetically and historically" significant.
American Film Institute recognition
Notes
- ^ a b To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) - Trivia
- ^ Nichols, Peter. "Time Can't Kill 'Mockingbird'; [Review]." New York Times: February 27, 1998. pg. E.1
- ^ King, Susan. "How the Finch Stole Christmas; Q & A WITH GREGORY PECK." Los Angeles Times: December 22, 1997. pg. 1
- ^ Bobbin, Jay. "Gregory Peck is Atticus Finch in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird." Birmingham News (Alabama): December 21, 1997 Pg. 1F.
- ^ Hoffman, Allison, Rubin, H. "Peck Memorial Honors Beloved Actor and Man; The longtime star is remembered for his integrity and constancy." Los Angeles Times: June 17, 2003. pg. B.1.
- ^ Oliver, Myrna. "Obituaries; Brock Peters, 78; Stage, Screen, TV Actor Noted for Role in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'; " Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif.: August 24, 2005. pg. B.8.
- ^ AFI's 100 Years List
- ^ Robert Duvall (actor), Gary Hertz (director). (2002-04-16). Miracles & Mercies. [Documentary]. West Hollywood, California: Blue Underground. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383509/. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
- ^ "AFI's 10 Top 10". American Film Institute. 2008-06-17. http://www.afi.com/10top10/crdrama.html. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
- ^ "Harlem community honors 'Mockingbird' actress" from the USA Today.
- ^ "NY Times: To Kill a Mockingbird". NY Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/50165/To-Kill-a-Mockingbird/awards. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- ^ "Festival de Cannes: To Kill a Mockingbird". festival-cannes.com. http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/3104/year/1963.html. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
See also
External links
