Literally Speaking: To Kill a Mockingbird
Films that give us a child’s view of the world often seem to touch something in the audience, a little glimmer of the child that dwells within each of us I suppose. That innocent perspective often shows the so called ‘grown ups’ to be more thoughtless and uncaring as any child, they just have bigger feet to stomp when things don’t go their way. While it’s no guarantee of success, the idea of telling an adult story through the eyes of children has produced some classics, with both The Night of the Hunter and Stand by Me making the IMDb Top 250 (at 156 and 160 respectively). Also making that list (at 45) is To Kill a Mockingbird, a film which has some things in common with those already mentioned, namely it was based on a book and all features strong performances from the pint-sized cast members.
As Jem, Phillip Alford is at the point where he craves the freedom of adulthood but still has a boy’s sense of fun and adventure. He’ll question his father’s rules (he thinks he old enough to have a gun, Dad doesn’t agree) but he respects him. That Alford captures that so well is a big part of the films success.
But if Jem is good, Scout is even better. Mary Badham’s portrayal of the quintessential tomboy is a joy. She’ll make you laugh, whether scrapping in the school yard or attending a fancy dress party dressed as a ham, but she’s more than just comic relief, she’s the eyes through which we see the events of the film. Joy, sadness and terror are what little Miss Badham is called upon to display and she doesn’t miss a note. It’s little wonder she was Oscar nominated, the surprise is she didn’t win.
At the heart of the film is Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch, single parent and small town lawyer. Has there ever been an actor better suited to a role? It’s hard to imagine anyone else playing the part; Peck just seems to embody the character completely. Finch is the ideal father (and perhaps author Harper Lee’s idealised vision of her own dad) patient, loving and with strong moral convictions. He’s a man who will take on the whole town for what he believes in. There are touching moments with the children and showy legal speeches of the kind actors love but the most valuable thing Peck brings to the part is an indelible sense of decency.
While those are the films central performers there are others who make an impression - Frank Overton as the town sheriff and Brock Peters as the Black man accused of something he didn’t do both make an impression, with Overton’s speech at the end of the film showing that Finch is far from the only decent man in town.
Director Robert Mulligan keeps it simple, focusing on the actors and generating a strong sense of period. His unfussy style suits the film and he clearly had a knack for getting performances out of his child stars.
To call To Kill a Mockingbird a legal drama would be like calling Schindler’s List a war movie, it’s not completely untrue but it does miss the point somewhat. It’s a film about life, about the innocence of youth, about making a stand against injustice, and about the good and bad that everyone has the potential for. There are downbeat moments to be sure but this is a life affirming film at heart.
