To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

 Robert Mulligan's "To Kill a Mockingbird"


The very first time I ever watched the 1962 classic "To Kill a Mockingbird" was when I was in high school. After reading the Harper Lee novel, we spend multiple class days watching the film version. I don't remember having much of an impression of the film, other than mild admiration. This time around, I felt the film was still admirable, yet diluted. 

The film centers on a small Alabama girl who observes her father, Atticus Finch, defend a black man accused of raping a white woman in court. At the time of the film's release, 1962, the film was a far greater impact due to the civil unrest that was swarming the country over race laws. The importance of the film is recognizable in this context. However, there can often be oversimplifications throughout. 

Despite this, I still stand by the film's integrity of grit in its unflinching observations of racial prejudice. Overall, the overarching theme is prejudice, not just in a racial context. What is 'oversimplified' is the protagonist child's coming-of-age understanding of these complication and the elementary school concept of 'never judging a book by its cover.' 

Regardless of its simplistic approach, it still stands as an important film. Harper Lee's novel obviously engulfs its recognition. But, the film, along with Gregory Peck's iconic performance as Atticus Finch, seem to stand the test of time.



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