To Kill A Mockingbird: Film Review
To Kill a Mockingbird Film Review
Joseph Webb
Introduction to Film ENG225
Instructor David Preizler
June 24th, 2014
To Kill a Mockingbird Film Review “Like film genres themselves, trends in media criticism are cyclical, a pattern exemplified by the history of film genre studies” (Mittell, 2000, pg. 88). This quote exemplifies how trends, especially in the American media, usually come full circle, or reoccur, as seen in the history of film genre study. In the book review titled “Refiguring American Film Genres, Theory and History” (Mittell, 2000) we learn learning about genres became distinguished in the 1970’s. Goodykoontz & Jacobs (2011) say that genre is a type of categorization and genre films are identified by a specific categorization of film type. Thus, genre theory is the categorization of film based on similarities in technique and story line. For instance, “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962) fits into the categorization of courtroom drama type of genre. Courtroom dramas such as “To Kill A Mockingbird” (1962) are distinguished categorizations of American film and have the similarities of being Hollywood productions, deal with the legal system in …show more content…
America, essential parts of their stories take place in court, and such films have a great impact on the public’s ideals of justice (Ulbrich & Machura, 2002). “To Kill a Mockingbird” was published as a book in 1960 and written by Harper Lee (1960) before it was released as a major motion picture in 1962 produced by Alan J.
Pakula (Wikipedia, 2014). Pakula was nominated for best picture and director Robert Mulligan was nominated for best director at the Academy Awards for the film (Wikipedia, 2014). Major actors in the film included: Gregory Peck (Atticus Finch), Mary Badham (Atticus Finch’s daughter Scout), Phillip Alford (“Jem” Finch), John Megna (“Dill” Harris), Estelle Evans (Cal), Robert Duvall (“Boo” Radley), Rosemary Murphy (“Maudie” Atkinson), James K. Anderson (Bob Ewell), Collin Wilcox (Mayella Violet Ewell), Brock Peters (Tom Robinson), and a host of minor characters round out this timeless American classic courtroom
drama.
A summary of the story-line of this film (what happened) is a brother and sister protagonist team named Scout and Jem Finch are growing up in a fictionally created town of Macomb, Alabama (Lee, 1960). During this time their attorney father, Atticus Finch, is given a case to represent a Negro accused of rape (Tom Robinson played by Brock Peters) (Lee, 1960). The case sparks an uproar in the town where most are ready to lynch the accused Negro, most probably due to racism rather than facts affecting the Finch family, especially Scout and Jem (Lee, 1960).
The plot (how it happens) can be summarized simply by the film begins with Scout (Scout also narrates the film as a first person narrator), Jem, and Dill playing and discussing things most kids of the time period would be talking about such as going to the movies and a crazy neighbor named “Boo” Radley who Dill says spies on Scout when she is in her bedroom (Pakula, 1962). Little do they know they will soon learn of racism and injustice when their father is given the daunting task of representing a person of color in this film which is set in the south in the 1930’s. This scene takes place outside of Scout and Jem Finch’s house (Pakula, 1962). At dinner one evening Atticus tells Jem of the first time he touched a gun, around thirteen or fourteen he says, and goes over the rules his daddy gave him regarding the gun (Pakula, 1962). One most important: “Never kill a mockingbird” (Pakula, 1962). They do not do anything but make music and play in gardens, says Atticus (Pakula, 1962). The Finch’s maid “Cal” also acts as a guide and protector of Scout and Jem Finch correcting them when needed, particularly Scout who has a tendency to act up or say things she should not. Moving forward we come to Atticus Finch and the children being stalked by a rabid dog when Atticus is offered the opportunity to shoot the dog. Accepting the opportunity he kills the dog in one shot, to which the man driving Atticus (Mr. Tate) tells Scout and Jem their daddy was once the finest shot around (Pakula, 1962). These scenes are highlighted by deep focus frames using a low-key or natural light source. This is most probably used with the purpose of keeping the mood somber and sullen as the story moves forward to the darker, sadder scenes where a man’s life is at risk. The scenes are set in chronological order moving towards the main purpose of the movie: the courtroom drama scene where Tom Robinson is to be tried for the rape of Mayella Ewell (Pakula, 1962). This is the main purpose of the film and it appears all elements keep in line with the courtroom drama genre: from the lighting to the background information leading up to the point of the trial itself. Atticus Finch’s daughter Scout even begins fighting in the schoolyard because children are accusing their daddy of defending niggers (Pakula, 1962). Atticus’ reply is he must defend the man in order to hold his head up or to correct his children (Pakula, 1962). Low-key lighting and deep focus are employed to keep the tone somber and warm (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). All of these elements keep in line with the courtroom drama genre as they all are encompassing the time period of the trial, the views of the people of the south, and how this affected two young children, namely Scout and Jem Finch.
The film itself keep in line with the attributes of a courtroom genre by first being a Hollywood production. Universal Films is the distributor and is a major Hollywood film distributor.
The film also deals with the American legal system specified in courtroom drama genre (Ulbrich & Machura, 2002). Specifically the southern way of justice. This is seen in how a lynch mob is assembled and then apparently dismantled because Scout Finch intercedes by accidentally being there when the mob comes to lynch Tom Robinson. Scout says hello as she notices Mr. Cunningham, the man who paid her dad in hickory nuts for legal services because he had no other form of payment. Mr. Cunningham embarrassed disperses the mob and leaves. The trial moves forward as Atticus begins his defense of Tom Robinson. Once again keeping with pace low-key lighting is used with deep focus. Also the dissolves and transitions appear flawless as it is if the movie is playing out in real time, chronologically. The rule of thirds seems to be the major frame selection as either Atticus, Tom Robinson, or other actors take up middle, right, or left portions of the frames. This is specifically poignant as Mayella Ewell is being cross examined by Atticus. The film also displays symptomatic content as the theme appears bigger than the characters themselves displaying the attitudes and ideals of the time period.
Essential parts, if not the most essential parts, of this film take place in court also keeping in line with the courtroom drama genre. This is seen in the examination and cross-examination of witnesses by the state prosecutor and Tom Robinson’s attorney Atticus Finch, most impressively Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson himself. Low-key lighting and rule of thirds shot selection is prominent throughout the footage as most times the actors are eye level or better.
This film, keeping with the courtroom drama genre, also has had a great deal of impact on the general public’s idea of justice, specifically, concerning minorities. Just because people are different does not make them guilty of crimes. The facts and evidence must be weighed and considered in each individual case. This genre element expands the boundaries of its genre categorization by not only making it a timeless film, but an important educational tool in understanding the justice system of the early twentieth century as seen and understood by its extensive use in the American educational system.
In closing, “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962) optimizes the courtroom drama genre by meeting all the genre requirements: being a Hollywood production, deals with the American legal system, important scenes (probably the most important in this case) take place in the courtroom, and this film itself impacts Americans and how they view justice (Ulbrich & Machura, 2002). The story is that of a black man accused of rape in the deeply racist south and how the effects of injustice and violence mold the views of two children: Scout and Jem (Lee, 1960). The plot is developed by a chronological order of events displaying the lives of Jem, Scout, and Atticus before, during, and after the trial of accused Negro Tom Robinson (Lee, 1960). In the beginning we have the exposition, move forward to the rising action developed by lynch mobs and violence, climax at the time of the trial, the falling action of the verdict of guilty as charged, and the denouement where Atticus tells Tom he will continue the fight as Tom leaves with no words and later Atticus finds Tom Robinson is dead (Pakula, 1962). Maudie Atkinson sits on the porch with the children and tries to explain what their father was doing when Atticus found out about Tom Robinson’s death. It appears as the film comes to a close Tom Robinson will not be the only one touched by death as Jem is killed, also. This film expands the genre by not only the choice of shots, transitions, elements, and lighting but the very essence of the issues at heart: hatred and violence.
References
Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: from watching to seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUENG225.11.2/sections/sec8.2
Lee, H. (1960). To kill a mockingbird. Philadelphia: Lippincott.
Mittell, J. (2000). Refiguring American Film Genres/Film/Genre (Book). Velvet Light Trap: A Critical Journal of Film & Television, (46), 88. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/lrc/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=678ff9b8-7f44-4732-950b-fac5809ff0aa%40sessionmgr111&vid=4&hid=117.
Pakula, A.J (Producer) & Mulligan, R. (Director). (1962). To kill a mockingbird [Motion Picture] United States: Universal Pictures.
To Kill A Mockingbird (2014). Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Kill_a_Mockingbird_(film)
Ulbrich, S. & Machura, S. (2002). Law in film: globalizing the Hollywood courtroom drama. Journal of Law and Society, 28(1), (December, 19th), pp. 117-132. DOI: 10.1111/1467-6478.00182. Retrieved from Google Scholar http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-6478.00182/abstract
Joseph Webb
Introduction to Film ENG225
Instructor David Preizler
June 24th, 2014
To Kill a Mockingbird Film Review “Like film genres themselves, trends in media criticism are cyclical, a pattern exemplified by the history of film genre studies” (Mittell, 2000, pg. 88). This quote exemplifies how trends, especially in the American media, usually come full circle, or reoccur, as seen in the history of film genre study. In the book review titled “Refiguring American Film Genres, Theory and History” (Mittell, 2000) we learn learning about genres became distinguished in the 1970’s. Goodykoontz & Jacobs (2011) say that genre is a type of categorization and genre films are identified by a specific categorization of film type. Thus, genre theory is the categorization of film based on similarities in technique and story line. For instance, “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962) fits into the categorization of courtroom drama type of genre. Courtroom dramas such as “To Kill A Mockingbird” (1962) are distinguished categorizations of American film and have the similarities of being Hollywood productions, deal with the legal system in …show more content…
America, essential parts of their stories take place in court, and such films have a great impact on the public’s ideals of justice (Ulbrich & Machura, 2002). “To Kill a Mockingbird” was published as a book in 1960 and written by Harper Lee (1960) before it was released as a major motion picture in 1962 produced by Alan J.
Pakula (Wikipedia, 2014). Pakula was nominated for best picture and director Robert Mulligan was nominated for best director at the Academy Awards for the film (Wikipedia, 2014). Major actors in the film included: Gregory Peck (Atticus Finch), Mary Badham (Atticus Finch’s daughter Scout), Phillip Alford (“Jem” Finch), John Megna (“Dill” Harris), Estelle Evans (Cal), Robert Duvall (“Boo” Radley), Rosemary Murphy (“Maudie” Atkinson), James K. Anderson (Bob Ewell), Collin Wilcox (Mayella Violet Ewell), Brock Peters (Tom Robinson), and a host of minor characters round out this timeless American classic courtroom
drama.
A summary of the story-line of this film (what happened) is a brother and sister protagonist team named Scout and Jem Finch are growing up in a fictionally created town of Macomb, Alabama (Lee, 1960). During this time their attorney father, Atticus Finch, is given a case to represent a Negro accused of rape (Tom Robinson played by Brock Peters) (Lee, 1960). The case sparks an uproar in the town where most are ready to lynch the accused Negro, most probably due to racism rather than facts affecting the Finch family, especially Scout and Jem (Lee, 1960).
The plot (how it happens) can be summarized simply by the film begins with Scout (Scout also narrates the film as a first person narrator), Jem, and Dill playing and discussing things most kids of the time period would be talking about such as going to the movies and a crazy neighbor named “Boo” Radley who Dill says spies on Scout when she is in her bedroom (Pakula, 1962). Little do they know they will soon learn of racism and injustice when their father is given the daunting task of representing a person of color in this film which is set in the south in the 1930’s. This scene takes place outside of Scout and Jem Finch’s house (Pakula, 1962). At dinner one evening Atticus tells Jem of the first time he touched a gun, around thirteen or fourteen he says, and goes over the rules his daddy gave him regarding the gun (Pakula, 1962). One most important: “Never kill a mockingbird” (Pakula, 1962). They do not do anything but make music and play in gardens, says Atticus (Pakula, 1962). The Finch’s maid “Cal” also acts as a guide and protector of Scout and Jem Finch correcting them when needed, particularly Scout who has a tendency to act up or say things she should not. Moving forward we come to Atticus Finch and the children being stalked by a rabid dog when Atticus is offered the opportunity to shoot the dog. Accepting the opportunity he kills the dog in one shot, to which the man driving Atticus (Mr. Tate) tells Scout and Jem their daddy was once the finest shot around (Pakula, 1962). These scenes are highlighted by deep focus frames using a low-key or natural light source. This is most probably used with the purpose of keeping the mood somber and sullen as the story moves forward to the darker, sadder scenes where a man’s life is at risk. The scenes are set in chronological order moving towards the main purpose of the movie: the courtroom drama scene where Tom Robinson is to be tried for the rape of Mayella Ewell (Pakula, 1962). This is the main purpose of the film and it appears all elements keep in line with the courtroom drama genre: from the lighting to the background information leading up to the point of the trial itself. Atticus Finch’s daughter Scout even begins fighting in the schoolyard because children are accusing their daddy of defending niggers (Pakula, 1962). Atticus’ reply is he must defend the man in order to hold his head up or to correct his children (Pakula, 1962). Low-key lighting and deep focus are employed to keep the tone somber and warm (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). All of these elements keep in line with the courtroom drama genre as they all are encompassing the time period of the trial, the views of the people of the south, and how this affected two young children, namely Scout and Jem Finch.
The film itself keep in line with the attributes of a courtroom genre by first being a Hollywood production. Universal Films is the distributor and is a major Hollywood film distributor.
The film also deals with the American legal system specified in courtroom drama genre (Ulbrich & Machura, 2002). Specifically the southern way of justice. This is seen in how a lynch mob is assembled and then apparently dismantled because Scout Finch intercedes by accidentally being there when the mob comes to lynch Tom Robinson. Scout says hello as she notices Mr. Cunningham, the man who paid her dad in hickory nuts for legal services because he had no other form of payment. Mr. Cunningham embarrassed disperses the mob and leaves. The trial moves forward as Atticus begins his defense of Tom Robinson. Once again keeping with pace low-key lighting is used with deep focus. Also the dissolves and transitions appear flawless as it is if the movie is playing out in real time, chronologically. The rule of thirds seems to be the major frame selection as either Atticus, Tom Robinson, or other actors take up middle, right, or left portions of the frames. This is specifically poignant as Mayella Ewell is being cross examined by Atticus. The film also displays symptomatic content as the theme appears bigger than the characters themselves displaying the attitudes and ideals of the time period.
Essential parts, if not the most essential parts, of this film take place in court also keeping in line with the courtroom drama genre. This is seen in the examination and cross-examination of witnesses by the state prosecutor and Tom Robinson’s attorney Atticus Finch, most impressively Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson himself. Low-key lighting and rule of thirds shot selection is prominent throughout the footage as most times the actors are eye level or better.
This film, keeping with the courtroom drama genre, also has had a great deal of impact on the general public’s idea of justice, specifically, concerning minorities. Just because people are different does not make them guilty of crimes. The facts and evidence must be weighed and considered in each individual case. This genre element expands the boundaries of its genre categorization by not only making it a timeless film, but an important educational tool in understanding the justice system of the early twentieth century as seen and understood by its extensive use in the American educational system.
In closing, “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962) optimizes the courtroom drama genre by meeting all the genre requirements: being a Hollywood production, deals with the American legal system, important scenes (probably the most important in this case) take place in the courtroom, and this film itself impacts Americans and how they view justice (Ulbrich & Machura, 2002). The story is that of a black man accused of rape in the deeply racist south and how the effects of injustice and violence mold the views of two children: Scout and Jem (Lee, 1960). The plot is developed by a chronological order of events displaying the lives of Jem, Scout, and Atticus before, during, and after the trial of accused Negro Tom Robinson (Lee, 1960). In the beginning we have the exposition, move forward to the rising action developed by lynch mobs and violence, climax at the time of the trial, the falling action of the verdict of guilty as charged, and the denouement where Atticus tells Tom he will continue the fight as Tom leaves with no words and later Atticus finds Tom Robinson is dead (Pakula, 1962). Maudie Atkinson sits on the porch with the children and tries to explain what their father was doing when Atticus found out about Tom Robinson’s death. It appears as the film comes to a close Tom Robinson will not be the only one touched by death as Jem is killed, also. This film expands the genre by not only the choice of shots, transitions, elements, and lighting but the very essence of the issues at heart: hatred and violence.
References
Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: from watching to seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUENG225.11.2/sections/sec8.2
Lee, H. (1960). To kill a mockingbird. Philadelphia: Lippincott.
Mittell, J. (2000). Refiguring American Film Genres/Film/Genre (Book). Velvet Light Trap: A Critical Journal of Film & Television, (46), 88. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/lrc/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=678ff9b8-7f44-4732-950b-fac5809ff0aa%40sessionmgr111&vid=4&hid=117.
Pakula, A.J (Producer) & Mulligan, R. (Director). (1962). To kill a mockingbird [Motion Picture] United States: Universal Pictures.
To Kill A Mockingbird (2014). Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Kill_a_Mockingbird_(film)
Ulbrich, S. & Machura, S. (2002). Law in film: globalizing the Hollywood courtroom drama. Journal of Law and Society, 28(1), (December, 19th), pp. 117-132. DOI: 10.1111/1467-6478.00182. Retrieved from Google Scholar http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-6478.00182/abstract