very Good Book and Movie

Rating: 10/10 (5 December 2007)

I was first introduced to Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" in it's book form. This was required reading in 9th grade English class. There were so many elements in that narrative that drew the reader into a world dictated by the narrative efforts of Scout. Small town southern America is where I grew up.
The daily discoveries, challenges, curiosities, and coming of age scenarios were key elements of my childhood. The mysterious ways of adults was real. The allegiance to my kinfolk was real. The unseen terrors of the night were real. For these things I admire Harper Lee for a work well done. In addition to this, this wonderful bit of literature made a remarkable leap to the silver screen. By the time I first saw it, I had read the book several times.
The premise of the story never faltered. The magical changing of the seasons, the night of the school program, and the comment Scout made about it being "the beginning of their longest journey together", caused a back-of-the-head tingling of warmth and nostalgia.
So from the start of Scout's narrative, where she commented on the poverty of that small southern hamlet, toward the end where Sheriff Tate tells Atticus to "Let the dead bury the dead this time Mister Finch!", this cinematographic effort has earned a well deserved place in the archives of celluloid splendor.
Finally, as I consider the many years of viewing this film, I can not help but notice that the scene depicting the young white woman trying to seduce Tom Robinson has been omitted from any VHS or DVD that one may add to his/her collection.