To Kill A Mocking Bird

To Kill A Mocking Bird

 "To Kill A Mocking Bird" is an American Drama from 1962 that is based off of Harper Lee's Novel of the same name. The film was directed by Robert Mulligan and is centered around the Atticus Family in a small town, the conflict arises when a local girl, Colin Paxton ("Mayella Ewell") is raped and a black man, Brock Peters ("Tom Robinson") is immediately blamed for the crime. Gregory Peck plays a great role as "Atticus Finch" in being an honest lawyer and family man (with the absense of a wife) to his two kids Mary Badham ("Scout") and Phillip Alford ("Jem").

This film includes numerous themes throughout its running time. "To Kill A Mocking Bird" is set in a community that still remains racist. The Art of Watching Films concludes that the theme is created to convey an idea or a statement to the film's viewers. I believe Harper Lee was attempting to soften racial tensions and address the social inequality especially for Blacks in the United States justice system. When "Tom" and "Atticus" lose the case the viewer gets the feeling of moral responsible to keep watching and to ensure the criminal is brought to justice. 

The title, "To Kill A Mocking Bird" is very important in this movie and novel. For years people have said its been a sin to kill a mocking bird and "Atticus" states to his children that it is a sin because all mocking birds do is make beautiful music. The symbol takes on an alternate meaning when "Tom" is killed. Not only was "Tom" innocent, but when he was found guilty on the wrong charges he peacefully tried to escape or in a sense "fly away", and was killed. 

This film will remain to be a well-known film in the genre of movies-based-on-novels. The Art of Watching Films states that "a genre film is a film based on subjects, themes, or styles that have become familiar because they have been used often". This film is a good example of this for the depth it lacks in comparison to the novel it was based on. It has been a few years since I have read or watched this film, but I noticed that "Boo Radley's" character was less developed and an ironic interpretation of a mocking bird was avoided most likely due to lack of time. The symbol I'm referencing is of "Mrs. Dubois's" character, who becomes addicted to morphine after her doctor prescribes her it, but decides she wants to end the habit before she dies. The irony of the situation is she will eventually die for ending her addiction, but if she continues the addiction she will live. In a sense "Mrs. Dubois" was an example of a mocking bird because all she wanted was to live a normal last couple years, but passed away early. 

Another central theme of this film is that all people have different perceptions. When "Scout", "Dill", and "Jem" first hear of "Boo" they think of him like a superstition, but this slowly changes as they slowly realize who fixed "Jem's" pants and gave them gifts. "Scout" and "Jem" became dynamic characters toward the end of the book because "Boo" saves them from "Mr. Ewell's" attack. This theme re-emphasizes that you shouldn't judge people based on what you hear, but should develop your own perceptions based on the content of their character.