To Kill a Mockingbird -Widescreen- [VHS]

A Treasure of a Movie
This is a poignant and heart warming story told from the point of view of a little tomboy, Scout, & her older brother, Jem, of growing up in the South during the depression. It is fairly faithful to the book although much has been omitted as one would expect. Their father, Atticus Finch, a widowed attorney, takes on a the defense of a Negro wrongly accused of raping a white girl. The colorful neighbors, their antics and their opinions, show the audience just what stuff this family, especially Atticus trying to raise his children alone, is made of.

TIMES ARE A-CHANGIN'
It's a wonderful, dramatic movie version of Lee's award-winning novel. It won three academy awards and was quite daring and innovative for 1962 to talk about rape by a black man of a white teenager. The story takes place in a small Southern town in 1935, and highlights the relationships of children with the town, and the events are seen through their eyes, and of course, the white town's view of the black people. The young girl tomboy Scout (the narrator)is a hoot, but probably will have real behavior problems in adulthood. The other children are her brother Jem and the neighbor boy Dill. The plot has been repeated in the South many times, black man falsely accused and covicted, and then eventually killed while "trying to escape." The real white suspect in this story is later killed when the mentally handicapped neighbor stops him from harming the children. Gregory Peck was deserving of an academy award for playing the conversative lawyer Atticus Finch, the father of Scout and Jem, a part different than his typical role as a war/cowboy hero. A fine review of what some of America's problems were in the past. It seems appropriate that I watched and reviewed the movie on MLK Day.

Her Childhood Memories
The film begins with a child opening a box with toys that dates this story to the 1930s. The lawyer takes his payment in goods, cash is scarce. This little girl seems to be a tomboy. The kids are warned about the local maniac chained in his house. There is an old lady who is cranky. We hear the family history. People don't dress for the hot weather. The Judge asks Atticus Finch to represent a defendant. These kids just wander around (to present a view of life). Does anyone watch them? That lady does not wear a hat and gloves. "Scout" seems to have a behavior problem. Atticus tells about his first gun. He tells "Scout" about the need for proper deportment in school. Then a mad dog appears in the street. Atticus returns to shoot it, he is known as a good shot. Later he meets the wife of the defendant. A man shows up for a scary scene. Jem finds a trinket. "Scout" has more behavior problems. Atticus explains his legal work. A man patches a hole in a tree. Jem found things in that hole. At night some cars arrive at the jail. Atticus bars the door, he defends it with moral strength. His daughter's presence turns the men back. [Believable?] The courtroom is packed solid, but there is room on the second floor. The trial begins with testimony from Sheriff Tait. Mr. Ewell tells what he saw. Lawyer Finch shows Ewell is left-handed. May Ellen testifies about what happened. Finch questions her. Defendant Robinson tells how his left arm was lamed due to an accident on the job when he was twelve years old. [No child labor laws?] May Ellen repeats he claim. [You can judge her credibility.] Mr Robinson takes the stand and tells what happened. Will he be believed? He felt sorry for her? Lawyer Finch said there was no physical evidence for the crime. The defendant has a lame left arm. Was this crime due to the violation of society's rules. Can the word of a Negro be taken against two white people? Finch asks for justice for his client. The jury takes two hours to decide on guilty. Later Finch learns that Robinson was shot while trying to escape. Jem and Tina May walk home in the dark for a final dramatic scene. They are attacked by a strange man. Jem is hurt. Mr. Ewell is found dead. Who rescued Jem? [Is the ending believable?] Sheriff Tait decides that Ewell fell on his knife. This case is closed. An example of poetic justice? [Would Atticus want his child to be friends with a grown man who has emotional problems? This ending damages the story.] I wonder if "Scout" will have problems as an adult?

Great Seller
I ordered this movie for my daughter who teaches 7th grade. They've read the book and she's allowed them to view the movie. I really appreciate Amazon's extensive movie selection. They are a very handy teaching tool. Great job Amazon.

To Kill a Mockingbird
Great movie, Gregory Peck at his best. Shows just how injust our system was at that time in history...and at times is still. Great story line, simple yet made interesting. Must have for old black & white, no sex, no profanity, good clean entertainment. Hollywood at it's best. They don't make them like this anymore, sad.