FIlm Log- 2nd Semester- To Kill A Mockingbird

Movie: To Kill A Mockingbird
1962, Black and White, 129 minutes
Director: Robert Mulligan
Actors: Gregory Peck, Frank Overton

Summary: To Kill A Mockingbird is a screen adaptation of the original novel by Harper Lee. The story takes place in Alabama through the eyes of a young white boy with a father who is a lawyer. During this time, blacks were looked down upon in society and when a young black man is accused of sexually harassing a white woman, Atticus, the lawyer, decides to take the case and defend the black man. Meanwhile, the children cause mischief as they run amuck the town and mess with the town "creep" Boo Radley.

Q: How could Atticus Finch's appearance alter the initial judgement of the viewer?
A: Based on the fact that the film takes place in a racially segregated town set in the 1930s, the white community of this town is the vast majority. Atticus Finch is a lawyer, and his clothing shows his hygiene and stance in society. Initially, the viewer can make the assumption that this white man, who appears to have money, is just as racially prejudice as the town he resides in. Eventually, the viewer sees Atticus make a brave move and defend the black man in his trial.

Q: How does the black and white aspect of the film prove to be significant?
A: This film was released in the 1960s-- a time when color movies were, in fact, released/ produced. The director uses this "old" style of film-making to emphasize the era of when this was actually happening. The town, the courthouse, and even the clothing was especially true to the styles of the 1930s, and the director could have shot the film in color, but in order to add the antiquated depth the story needed, black and white was most appropriate.