Why it’s famous:
To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most beloved and respected American novels of all time, and the film version inherits the profound and symbolic drama about racial divide, justice, empathy, and growing up. The storyline remains just as powerful today as it was 50 years ago. It also features the classically handsome Gregory Peck in a perfect performance as everybody’s favourite fictional lawyer.
Famous lines:
Atticus Finch: If you just learn a single trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.
Calpurnia: That boy is your company. And if he wants to eat up that tablecloth, you let him, you hear? And if you can’t act fit to eat like folks, you can just set here and eat in the kitchen.
Bob Ewell: What kind of man are you?
Why you haven’t seen it:
Since you know most adaptations of literary epics tend to offer more disappointment than awe, you deemed it preferable that Atticus, Scout, and Jim remain on the pages of the Harper Lee novel, unbothered and rune.
Why it might be tough to get through:
As unavoidable as this movie has become, it must be understood that it maintains the slower pace of most movies of its time. The growing-up moments of Scout Finch’s youth can get a bit snoozy without the book’s character development. It’s also important to note the Dill character is actually really, really irritating.
Why you should see it anyway:
Though it’s slow at times, To Kill a Mockingbird is still completely endearing. The film can even be even thrilling, so much so that you will be unable to walk away if you can just get through the first half hour. The entire movie is worth watching if only to see Gregory Peck’s monologue as he pleads Tom Robinson’s case. With a charismatic but serious delivery, Peck crawls into Atticus Finch’s skin and it fits him like a glove.
Fun Facts:
- Gregory Peck nailed his nine-minute summation speech in one take.
- This was the film debut of Robert Duvall, who later became known for her role as Tom Hagen in The Godfather.
- To Kill A Mockingbird is Clark Kent’s favourite movie in the Superman comics.
