Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) is an extremely well-mannered and well-respected small-town white lawyer. The town-judge himself asks him to defend a black man Tom Robinson accused of molesting a white girl Mayella. It’s a racially charged trial in the times when (in Atticus’s words!) most whites truly believed blacks to be ‘inferior, lying and morally corrupt’. The girl’s father Bob is a sly, aggressive and evil man- a racist to the core and he is pulling all stops to get strictest punishment for the accused. Atticus is totally convinced that the black man is innocent and is being framed by the father-daughter duo. He mounts a stirring courtroom- defence shredding their damning testimonies to pieces but will his passionate argument convince the all-white jury of his black client’s innocence? How will the vindictive Bob and the rest of the white community take to Atticus defending Tom? Will justice prevail in the end?

 

The film’s appeal lies in its unique style of narrative, where a detailed, unhurried and utterly absorbing account of life in a Southern US town in the depression-era is given to us by Atticus’s two children nicknamed ‘Scout’ and ‘Jem’.  

 

Through their inquisitive eyes, first we see their own small, innocent children’s world full of innovative games (rolling over in a tyre), irrational fears (of a supposedly maniac neighbour Boo Radley) and impulsive acts (of secretly following their father everywhere). Then through them we get a peep-in at how the big, bad ‘adult’ world operates. Through their eyes, we first see Atticus as just a caring and compassionate (and perhaps too meek!) father but as the events unfold, we (as do the kids!) come to look at him as an immensely courageous man ready to stand up against prevailing prejudices to defend freedom and equality. It is a journey of awakening.

 

Finch’s s strong emotional ties with his kids; his decent, dignified interaction with people (especially the blacks); his staunch belief in humanity and his willingness to tread on a difficult path to fight for a cause- all the virtues are so perfectly portrayed by Gregory Peck in an exceptional, Oscar-winning performance. The performances of the kids and every other actor (including a cameo debut appearance by Robert Duvall) are also quite memorable.

 

It’s marvelous period film with a difference.