TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

US, 1962, 129 minutes, Black and white.
Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Philip Alford, Robert Duvall, Brock Peters, John Megna, Frank Overton, Rosemary Murphy, Ruth White, Collin Wilcox, Alice Ghostly, William Windom, Paul Fix.
Directed by Robert Mulligan.

A very fine version of Harper Lee's novel which was very popular and Pullitzer Prize-winning in the early 1960s. It has become a standard text for school study. It is a humane story, focusing on children and their relationship to their lawyer father. The setting is important, the South in the thirties and the atmosphere of racism. The film blends the humane stories and their elements very well with the message themes. This was the film for which Gregory Peck won his Oscar. He gives a very subdued and intelligent and warm performance. He worked with director Robert Mulligan later in the effective humane Western The Stalking Moon.

The children are very good indeed and there are also fine performances from Brock Peters as the accused and from Robert Duval in one of his earliest films as Boo Radley. The black and white photography is suitable for the atmosphere of this kind of film with its themes. An intelligent film well worth discussing.

1. The impact of this film? How impressive and enjoyable? A film of children? A message film?

2. The quality of the black and white photography. Alabama in the South, the town, the houses and farms, the court and the people, the atmosphere of the Depression? The musical commentary?

3. The title and its significance? The reference? The importance of Boo Radley in character and in theme?

4. The atmosphere of the time, the memories? The device of having Scout's memories, the nostalgia? Charming the audience by inviting them into a picture of the children's past?

5. The film's focus on the children? Their presentation as children their naturalness, their life in the house, their relationship to Atticus, playing with him and respecting him, their friends, especially Dill, Harris? Boo and their fear of him? Their make-believe? The way that Atticus was bringing them up? Calpurnia and her effect on them? Going to school, fights, reading stories? Seeing the events of the plot through their eyes? How much insight into the world of children?

6. The contribution of the neighbours to the atmosphere and themes: Miss Atkinson, Mrs Dubose and her garden, the Radleys?

7. How admirable a man was Atticus? His place in the town, his role as a father and widower, his love for his children and their love for him, the detailed presentation of this? His role as a lawyer, the people paying him in kind, his use of leisure, stories? The reasons for his accepting the case? His honourable investigation into the case and conduct of it? His concern for the Robinsons? For the Ewells?

8. How interesting was the case itself? Lies and truth? Hostility and racism? Atticus guarding the courthouse? Atticus at the trial, and the hate and hostility? The scene of the black people's respect for Atticus? A man of respect and self-respect? An American hero-figure?

9. The importance of Scout's speech to the lynching party?

10. Bob Ewell as a villain? His behaviour in the court, his threatening Mayella and her performance in the court, hysteria and hatred? Ewell's threats, the truth about left-handedness, the outbursts and his vengeance?

10. Audience response to Tom? As a man in himself, a man with a wife, his losing the trial, the hopelessness, the sadness of his death? Tom as a symbol of oppression in the South?

11. The characters of the sheriff, the judge, and the hostility of attorney Gilman? Their relationships with Atticus and the contrast with him and attitudes?

12. The final atmosphere of fear? The children getting home, dressed as a ham, the shooting, Boo and his gifts? Ewell's threats? His following the children? The surprise of Boo's protecting them?

13. The final representation of Boo and his protection of the children and kindness? Was it right that there should be no trial?

14. How satisfying was the film as a humane document? As a presentation and exploration of important values?