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To Kill a Mockingbird (Widescreen) [VHS] 
Actors : Gregory Peck, John Megna, Frank Overton, Rosemary Murphy, Ruth White
Director : Robert Mulligan
Studio : Universal Studios
by Universal Studios
Release Date : 1998-02-24
Publisher : Universal Studios
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
EAN : 9780783222950
UPC : 096898334136
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 406 reviews)
List Price : $9.98
Our Price : $9.49
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Cooltechelectronics.com |
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Ranked 34 on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest American Films, To Kill a Mockingbird is quite simply one of the finest family-oriented dramas ever made. A beautiful and deeply affecting adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee, the film retains a timeless quality that transcends its historically dated subject matter (racism in the Depression-era South) and remains powerfully resonant in present-day America with its advocacy of tolerance, justice, integrity, and loving, responsible parenthood. It's tempting to call this an important "message" movie that should be required viewing for children and adults alike, but this riveting courtroom drama is anything but stodgy or pedantic. As Atticus Finch, the small-town Alabama lawyer and widower father of two, Gregory Peck gives one of his finest performances with his impassioned defense of a black man (Brock Peters) wrongfully accused of the rape and assault of a young white woman. While his children, Scout (Mary Badham) and Jem (Philip Alford), learn the realities of racial prejudice and irrational hatred, they also learn to overcome their fear of the unknown as personified by their mysterious, mostly unseen neighbor Boo Radley (Robert Duvall, in his brilliant, almost completely nonverbal screen debut). What emerges from this evocative, exquisitely filmed drama is a pure distillation of the themes of Harper Lee's enduring novel, a showcase for some of the finest American acting ever assembled in one film, and a rare quality of humanitarian artistry (including Horton Foote's splendid screenplay and Elmer Bernstein's outstanding score) that seems all but lost in the chaotic morass of modern cinema. --Jeff Shannon |
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Faithful Adaptation, Wonderful Acting. |
I recently read To Kill a Mockingbird and I wanted to see how it translated on screen. This movie does a wonderful job capturing the issues Harper Lee brings up. The importance of morality, which highlights the injustices of social inequality and racism. Now, some things had to be cut to fit a two hour movie, many of the earlier side stories that show the moral high ground of Atticus Finch. While unfortunate, the movie still captures how he stands out as the Good vs. the Evil of the racist "Bob" Ewell. However, this is a movie so, things get compressed.
However, Gregory Peck is truly amazing as Atticus Finch, bringing the character to life. I dare say, if I ever read the book again, I'll visualize most of these actors and actresses. 5 star adaptation, 5 star story, 5 star acting. What else could you ask for? The extras are also pretty nice but I'm not a huge extras buff. The only thing you could ask for? Well I know what I'd ask for: Hollywood should make more movies like this. |
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Gregory Peck- A Gentleman and a Great Actor |
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This movie portays the actor off screen as well as on film. He stands up for the defendant and is a good attorney. His voice was wonderful to listen to and he expressed his feelings in his special way. The scene where the father and his son are seated on the porch swing is the way that people should remember him. When he shows his love for someone you can feel it and bringing the son next to him is showing his strong feelings for his son. Gregory Peck was a special actor and it is sad to think that he is no longer with us. To see him on screen makes you see the kind of man that he really was. |
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VHS, Nooooo! |
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May I suggest you group ALL VHS titles together, not mixed in with DVD? I was extremely disappointed when I received my movie, purchased for my granddaughter, and found it to be VHS. Rats! |
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Only in America! |
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It is revealing to look at the archival movie posters included in this edition of "To Kill a Mockingbird". Watching the film last night (on the 50th anniversary of the publication of the novel), I was intrigued by both the naivete of the film (and the novel), and its frankness and boldness coming at the time of the burgeoning civil rights movement in this country. But the movie posters - which always show Scout and Jem - warned that the film was "Not Suitable for Children". Looking back over the history of the novel and film, and how the novel, especially, has been embraced by schools and young people, the posters show what a naive and parochial country America still was in 1962 - but not for much longer. But no matter, both are a "must read" and "must watch", and will be for generations of young people to come. |
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A Masterpiece about Childhood, Racism, Prejudices, Integrity and Love |
"To Kill a Mockingbird" is one of the few examples where novel and movie for one really have something to say and where both versions are outstanding achievements in their own field. Harper Lee's bestseller won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and the movie - made with Lee's support and produced with the same love for the material - received eight nominations for the Academy Award. The film won three, including the Best Actor Award for Gregory Peck. Peck really epitomises the role of the Southern lawyer Atticus Finch who defends a black man accused of rape, convinced of his innocence. Finch has his two children to teach values of humanity, and these are based on compassion, courage and fighting for the right cause. What makes this movie so special is that the happenings are seen through the eyes of the children rather than the adults, and thus the storytelling provides an unusual and fresh angle when we find ourselves stumbling into events and learn what's really at stake as the youngsters go along. Yet while Atticus' fight against prejudices may seem to be doomed, hope never ends - and it is a given that the viewer will walk away deeply moved by this movie.
The plot of the movie, told in a retrospective narration, is extraordinary and entirely in the spirit of the novel, evoking the full spectrum of emotions. There's also no doubt about it that the acting is outstanding, not only as far as Peck is concerned but also the child actors, especially Mary Badham, really impress. A lot of credit has to be given to the staff as they created the kind of environment to let the children blossom. Also the black and white cinematography fits perfectly to the story and several scenes in the movie will stay in your mind for a very long time. Personally I am thankful that I got to read the novel when I was still a teenager in school - it's an educational experience one shouldn't miss. Yet I only discovered the movie version decades later, and it didn't disappoint and I learned to love the material even more.
Especially the bonus features in this special edition are enlightening and make the experience whole. They include:
- A Feature Commentary with Director Robert Mulligan and Producer Alan Pakula. A highly informative and yet entertaining commentary that stands high above comparable features.
- Making of Documentary: Fearful Symmetry (90 min.) - Provides a lot of background information, not only how the movie was made but also what it meant back then and still means today. The film also sheds light on the time and locations the characters of the movie lived in by via first hand accounts of folk who experienced it all themselves.
- A Conversation with Gregory Peck (97 min.) - A superb and touching documentary about Gregory Peck's life as an actor and father, especially dealing with the influence Harper Lee and "To Kill a Mockingbird" had on it. Be assured, there's much more than just a few anecdotes to tell, and if you already like the actor, you will find this film heartwarming and love him afterwards. A must see and indispensable supplement to the movie. In this documentary Peck's achievements as an actor and his role as a father in real life stand side by side, the morality of "To Kill a Mockingbird" resonating all the way through.
- Academy Award Best Actor Acceptance Speech (1:30 min.)
- American Film Institute Life Achievement Award (10 min.)
- Excerpt from Academy Tribute to Gregory Peck (10 min.)
- Scout Remembers (12 min.) - Mary Badham, back then child actress and one of the main characters in the movie, talks about how she became part of the movie and learned to appreciate Gregory Peck.
- And finally: Production Notes, Details on Cast & Film makers and a Theatrical Trailer
In short: A brilliant movie, which made it on a DVD edition chock-full with extras leaving nothing to be desired. If you like classic movies and always wanted to know more about their background, this is the one to get for your collection. 5/5 - one of the best movies of the past century. |
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