To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

I thought this would be a great review for Father's Day.  In 1962 Robert Mulligan directed Gregory Peck in a wonderful adaptation of Harper Lee's classic "To Kill a Mockingbird."  To start the review I just have to say this: the movie is great, a classic in every respect -especially regarding Gregory Peck's acting.  But you simply MUST read the book as well.  It's one of my favorites of all time.

Mockingbird is full of the grace and charm of childhood.  Events are seen from the eyes of Scout, the youngest child of Atticus Finch, the lawyer of Maycomb Alabama.  The small town is plagued by the same prejudice and evil racism common to the south at the time, and the tensions come to a head when Atticus is appointed to defend a young black man on trial for the rape of a white woman.

Yet even though such a terrible trial is center stage, somehow the movie retains wonder and fancy, most likely because it is Scout who tells the tale.  We see Scout make friends, get in fights, and try hard to understand the world around her.  She plays games, gets in trouble, goes to school, and gets to do the part of a ham in a school play.  But mostly she tries to get Boo Radley to come out (a rather young Robert Duvall).  And through it all is Atticus, encouraging her, correcting her, teaching her, and protecting her as best he can from the evils of the world.

Atticus is the father every man should be.  He is the Christian hero every man should want to be.  As Miss Maudie says in the book, "We're so rarely called on to be Christians, but when we are, we've got men like Atticus to go for us."  And go he does.  With complete integrity and conviction Atticus defends the truth, rather than prejudice.  In doing so he steps on toes all over Maycomb, earning himself some quiet admiration and a few dangerous enemies.

And in a scene sure to choke me up every time, he earns the respect of the black community of Maycomb because of his passionate and fair defense of Tom Robinson.  Though defeated in court, Atticus can hold his head high as having done his duty in defending truth.  He is the last to leave the court room, and as he gathers his papers and turns to leave, all the members of the black community in the balcony stand.  And then Reverend Sykes turns to Scout: "Miss Jean Louise, stand up.  Your father's passin'."

Atticus is the father I want to be.  I want my children to see that others respect me.  I want to leave them awestruck by revealing a hidden talent, as when Atticus shoots the mad dog.  I want them to be safe with me no matter what evil happens.  I want to inspire them to walk a mile in another man's shoes.  I want to be that father who "would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning."

Entertainment: 7/10
Artistic: 9/10
Technical 8/10

Overall: 8/10