Proclaimed one of the 100 Greatest American Movies of All Time by the American Film Institute, To Kill A Mockingbird is now available as a 2-disc set. Hollywood icon Gregory Peck won the Best Actor Academy Award for his brilliant portrayal of the courageous but understated hero Atticus Finch. The film, based on Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about innocence, strength and conviction, captured the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar. To Kill A Mockingbird boasts Robert Duvall's screen debut as Boo Radley and Mary Badham's unforgettable, Oscar-nominated performance as Miss Jean Louise "Scout" Finch. Watch it and remember why "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."
Starring: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford, John Megna, Frank Overton, Brock Peters, Rosemary Murphy, Collin Wilcox, James Anderson, Robert Duvall
Directed by: Robert Mulligan
Run Time: 2 Hours and 10 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated (N/A)
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (English), DTS 5.1 Surround (English), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (French)
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Picture: Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1)
Black & White
Bonus:
Academy Award Best Actor Acceptance Speech
American Film Institute Life Achievement Award
Excerpt From Academy Tribute to Gregory Peck
Scout Remembers
Feature Commentary with Director Robert Mulligan and Producer Alan Pakula
Theatrical Trailer
Production Notes
Disc 2: Bonus Disc
- Run Time: 0 Hours and 0 Minutes
- Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (English)
- Color Bonus:
- A Conversation with Gregory Peck
- Fearful Symmetry: The Making of To Kill a Mockingbird
The 411 by Maria:
Unlike a lot of my friends, I don't recall having to read this book in school but then again, that was a long time ago. If I am going to watch or read something, I don't like to read the synopsis so I had no idea what the movie was about when I started.
The movie is set in the 1930's and focus on Atticus Finch played magnificently by Gregory Peck and his two children, Jem and Scout (more on them later). Atticus is a respected attorney who has been commissioned to represent Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a woman in her own home.
What I Can Tell You:
Wow, where do I start. I was completely floored with this movie. Gregory Peck performance is completely stunning! The fact that he won best actor for the role was not lost on me, completely worthy of it and one of the best acting I have ever seen. However, after seeing some of the bonus features, I believe he was pretty much playing himself! A gentle, kind soul, whose thoughtfulness and mannerisms bring out the best in those around him. He allows, after a gentle nudge to make their own assumptions and mistakes in life in hopes of becoming a better person.
The actress who played Scout was unbelievably "real". You would never believe that this child was not Gregory Peck's daughter. There is real love there and I was in awe of how much acting had to be done. Most emotions were seen not heard. Without the use of a soundtrack and a whole lot of dialogue these actors really have to ACT! You can hear everything. The actors are not bogged down with dialogue, the scene is set, and you act!
The quietness of the whole movie is really what got me. When I discussed it with people after watching, those who have seen or have not, that was what I mentioned most. I appreciated the quietness. For such a sensitive subject matter, I felt that if this was being done today, the deepness of it would be lost in translation.
I have so many favorite scenes:
- Scout saying goodnight to her father and asking what he has to pass on to her when he is gone.
- Brock Peters taking the stand. His emotion was so real!
- Atticus speaking to his children. He is such a gentle, caring man who obviously loves his children.
- Scout and Jem's relationship. Anytime they were on the screen I was in love.
- Scout talking to the gang who headed to the jail to take the law in their own hands. Her innocence was palpable.
- Scout talking to Boo Radley after he helped her and her brother.
To Kill a Mockingbird won Academy Awards for Best Actor (Peck), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Art Direction. Truly a classic and one that everyone should watch. This is when acting was actually acting. No green screens, no classy soundtracks, no glamorous special effects, just acting at its finest.
To Purchase:
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from Universal Studios for my honest opinion.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love comments. Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to talk to you further