"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view."

Rating: 10/10 (27 January 2008)

I've now seen "To Kill A Mockingbird" about a half dozen times, and it didn't strike me until today's viewing how much of the story revolves around Scout and Jem, the children of the story's hero, Atticus Finch. Perhaps that's because the picture hooks us with it's courtroom drama and the overt issue of racial intolerance in 1930's America. Maybe it's because Gregory Peck is so brilliant in the role of the hero that it's easy to overlook all of the supporting characters. In any event, this is a strong and stirring film, I consider it must viewing for any serious fan of great cinema. It is simply perfect in it's execution, with character portrayals that are as real and endearing as any in film.
Watching today, it helps to consider how important this movie was in breaking down racial barriers on the eve of the Civil Rights revolution in this country. It's not difficult to imagine lone, solitary heroes like Atticus Finch in far flung small towns of the South standing single minded against hatred and bigotry. The values instilled in his children are personified in the movie by young Jem, for whom the experience takes on a defining coming of age. Jem experiences first hand the fear of bigotry, yet with glowing pride comes to understand that his father is a true hero, not only accepted, but honored by the black community in his small town for showing courage and humanity in the face of overwhelming opposition. For her part, Scout (Mary Badham) shines in one of the story's most forceful scenes, facing down a veritable lynch mob by being nothing more than human, causing her father's adversaries outright shame and humiliation. One gets the feeling that perhaps Atticus himself learned a lesson that day.
In accepting the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievemant Award in 1988, Gregory Peck issued a challenge to the entertainment industry, one of 'elevating the quality of films and TV shows'. Sadly, that challenge has gone largely unanswered, as movie makers go for larger and louder special effects, and an increasing appeal to the lowest common denominator. Fortunately, films like "To Kill A Mockingbird" live on to work their magic on succeeding generations who can appreciate and put into perspective the struggles of a nation coming to grips with equality for all. This one has been on my personal Top Ten list for a long time, and is in no clear danger of being replaced. It's one of the few movies I can revisit yearly and continue to take away meaning and importance time after time. Clearly recommended for one and all.