To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) Movie Reaction | FIRST TIME WATCHING | Film Commentary & Trivia

Thank you for joining me watching "To Kill A Mockingbird".
The film really told the story of Tom and everything surrounding him with the town's people very well. It's appalling to me that people used to be like that, for them to be so racist and just presume they are a bad person, but I do know that racist people like that did exist and some still exist to this day.
This does a brilliant job at portraying how things should be like through our main character played by Gregory Peck. His character seems like a genuinely kind man with great morals.
This really did move me. I got emotional at the realisation of what was happening with Tom and then how his story came to an end too.
Heartbreaking, to say the least. Especially when there may have been some way of a re-trial.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 INTRO
0:42 REACTION
1:03:12 REVIEW
1:09:18 TRIVIA
SOURCE LINKS:
BTS of TKAM: monovisions.com/to-kill-a-moc...
A Photographic History of Hill Valley: www.sterow.com/?p=2315
Courthouse Square History: retroweb.com/universal_courth...
TKAM Script: mentalslapstick.com/_pdfs/ToK...
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[@Zallerquad]

Rabies is not curable even today. It's a terrible and painful way for an animal to die. Shooting the poor creature was a mercy. It sucks, but it's a mercy.

[@AdamNisbett]

Not disagreeing with anything you’ve said, but just wanted to add that while not curable, rabies is today preventable if treated quickly after exposure. Once the virus has taken hold though we have no cure.

[@Zallerquad]

@@AdamNisbett I'm glad to find that out, thanks. . It's good to know that we can catch it and stop it if it's treated quickly. Cheers man.

[@jefferyshute6641]

When a human is bitten by a rabid dog, they're given a series of painful injections in the stomach, at least that used to be the case. I don't know if is still that way or not.

[@genghispecan]

@@jefferyshute6641 Fortunately that is no longer the case, although ideally, the initial post-exposure injection containing the vaccine should be given as close to the wound as possible, the follow-on injections are given in the arm over the next two weeks - along with a boat load of antibiotics and probably a tetanus shot. It won't be a pleasant two weeks but the alternative is a slow, agonizing death. It is absolutely vital to immediately clean the wound and seek treatment ASAP lest the virus gain an irrevocable foothold in your system.

[@jefferyshute6641]

​@@genghispecanGlad to hear it's not in the stomach anymore. I've had to deal with MRSA a couple of times. The last time it flared up in a bone. I ended up with a picc line in my arm and a regimen of antibiotics flowing 24 hours a day for 6 weeks. It's nothing to mess around with, believe me.

[@kathyastrom1315]

This is one of the best book-to-screen adaptations ever made. They only added one scene that wasn’t in the book -when Jem and Scout are talking about Jem’s memory of their mother and the camera pans over to Atticus. That is a perfect moment of loss and pain that gets entirely the book’s tone. I think this is one of the rare perfect films.

[@TTM9691]

Agreed, 100%.

[@garya7893]

I agree Its by far my fav movie My fav line is Mis Jean Louise you stand up your fathers passing I teared up just typing those words Peace to you

[@SueProv]

The little boy Dill is based on Truman Capote. He was very good friends with Harper Lee as a child and writers as adults. In NYC. Truman Capote was a famous writer and cekebritry. He wrote In Cold Blood a novel based on the true stories of two men who killed a family of 4 in Kansas who were given the death sentence. He also wrote Breakfast at Tiffany's a famous story turned into a movie with Audrey Hepburn.

[@matthewcostello3530]

friends until he tried to take credit for the Book she wrote

[@SueProv]

​@matthewcostello3530 I thought it was because he was a self centered addict who abused her good will. I never heard he tried to take credit for TKAM. Just another reason for her to sever ties.

[@bobcunningham9469]

Genuinely one of the finest films in the history of cinema.

[@normankennith7919]

shades of the injustice lucy letby & the 'just stop oil' protesters had to put up with!!

[@walterlewis1526]

A rabid dog was no joke. You had to kill it, especially during that time.

[@armie4172]

Even now there’s no cure for rabies. :(

[@randybass8842]

We lived on the edge of town when I was 4, and our dog got rabies and was howling and acting crazy just like this dog. My dad went out to shoot it, but it ran away into the field behind our house. Later that day, it ran in front of a car on the road in front of our house and was killed. The driver was all apologetic, but my mom said it was for the best and such a relief. He buried the dog, and my mom had him come in and wash his hands real well so he wouldn't get rabies. This scene in the movie always reminds me of that.

[@Jennifer-rp2sh]

Regarding Atticus being "too old" to play football, the novel makes clear that he became a father rather late in life, and is much older than parents of their peers. Having read the book, I REALLY want to see this remade as a mini-series. There is so much more to the book than Tom Robinson's trial. So much more information is given about the cranky elderly neighbor and "Boo" Radley. And in the book Tom's arm is not only unusable, but mangled, so his inability to have committed the crime is visibly obvious. That's something that could be included with today's special effects.

[@lizmil]

And Calpurnia has a much bigger role in the book.

[@liviia305]

Thanks for the additional information. Clearly, it is my time for a reread. . .

[@bowwowbuddy]

The actress who played Dill's aunt was Alice Ghostley, Esmeralda from Bewitched.

[@KCmidwest-wm9jd]

Also very funny on Designing Women.

[@Dej24601]

“Once a rabies infection is established, there's no effective treatment. Though a small number of people have survived rabies, the disease usually causes death. For that reason, if you think you've been exposed to rabies, you must get a series of shots to prevent the infection from taking hold.” Especially in those times, and in a rural environment away from a lot of medical options, the recommended action was to get rid of any rapid animal.

[@leslie2149]

this is one of my favorite movies. I was probably right around Scouts age the first time I saw it and I mostly paid attention the the parts with the children. The rest of it was a bit over my head yet and the courtroom scene didn't hold my attention. As I got older and was better able to understand the bigger story beyond the children's parts, I fell in love with it all over again. The courtroom scenes are so well done and that whole monologue at the end is so well played. And my favorite line: "Stand up! Your Father's passin." The respect they all had for Atticus. They all knew he did his very best to defend Tom but I really don't think a jury of white men would have ever sided with a black man in the 1930s. It just wasn't going to happen. A great movie. Thanks for watching it and sharing it with us.

[@GaryTulacz]

Mockingbird. One big of trivia that has been overlooked is that Mary Badham's older brother is John Badham, who directed such films as Saturday Night Fever, Blue Thunder, and WarGames.

[@leisastalnaker3790]

Robert Duvalls first film. He said not a word but conveyed so much emotion with just a look. It still makes me tear up.❤❤❤

[@steveandme63]

Mockingbird! This book is absolutely perfect. The movie is probably as close to a perfect adaptation as possible. The casting is exquisite. The children's reactions and line delivery is so natural and sweet. They didn't try to 'pretty up' the characters. No Hollywood beauties, just real talent. And I agree the movie score is beautiful. The solo pianist you hear is a young John Williams, the now famous film composer! My favorite scene is not in the movie. The nanny/maid takes the kids to church with her. The congregation is taking up a special offering to help Tom Robinsons family. Afterwards, the pastor announces "This isn't enough." Then he instructs the decons to shut the church doors and they pass the offering baskets around again! 😊 Also, having grown up in the Deep South, when Tom Robinson said he felt sorry for her I knew he had crossed the line. I was only a child when I saw this the first time, but I knew.

[@Muirmaiden]

I'm so glad you reacted to this one, Marty! I read the book in 9th grade and watched the film, and both have remained favorites of mine. It's a timeless story about compassion, tolerance, injustice, and learning from history. The child actors were as compelling as the adult actors. Mary Badham (Scout) became close with Gregory Peck (he stayed in touch with Phillip Alford, who played Jem as well). Collin Wilcox-Paxton played Mayella, and she was superb. The novel insinuates that in addition to her father physically abusing her, he was also raping her. One of the things she said to Tom Robinson (played by Brock Peters) in the book is what her pa did to her didn't count (this line was not included in the film). John Megna, who played Dill, sadly died of AIDS-related complications at age 42. Gregory Peck deservedly won an Oscar for this. The direction, music, and cinematography were top-notch. Harper Lee's novel was banned in some places, particularly in some southern US states, but now it is (rightly) recognized as a masterpiece, as is the film. Robert Mulligan isn't remembered as one of the great directors, but in my opinion, he should be. It doesn't matter how many times I see this film (including reactions), I always get emotional, so you're not alone. Thank you again. Edited to add: Mockingbird.

[@Lethgar_Smith]

As someone who watched this movie many times as a child, it was a favorite of our local UHF station and they showed it often on Sunday mornings, I can attest to it being very appropriate for children to watch. Even the courtroom scenes are acceptable because I saw it through the eyes of the children in the story. Something tragic and important is happening. Atticus is defending a black man when no one else would and that makes him a hero. I grew up in a small town in the south and my childhood was so similar to the way these kids are portrayed we couldnt help but love this movie. We loved creeping around just after dark on summer nights, making up scary adventures to entertain ourselves. Being wiser and more aware than most adults gave us credit for. I showed it to my two children when they were the age of the characters in the film, they loved it and watched it many times over.

[@laurateall8847]

I'm pleased you liked this story. I must have read "To Killl A Mockingbird" ten times. Atticus, Jem and Scout are with me most days....I fell in love and never left. The humanity and ackwardness of human beings comes through so well. The good and bad is easy to pinpoint, but the truth of what people will do to save themselves pulls us all into the real world of what hate can create and what ignorance brings forth. I loved the contrast of Atticus and his children with the base, nasty crowd that came for Tom Robinson. I watched your reaction as someone who has read the book, watched the movie (10x's) and named my (now deceased) Labrador Scout with hopes that you would love it, too. I think you do. This book was my #1 favorite for many years.Your reaction was honorable and I thank you.

[@dionysiacosmos]

It's not treacle in the pitcher, or molasses. It's cane syrup. It's grabbed at a different point in the refining process, when the sugarcane is boiled and reduced. It doesn't have the heavy undertaste of the others. The farmers in the Southeastern states also refined corn syrup, not to mention corn liquor. Moonshine is an apt name; they couldn't make it out in the open. During the day the local sheriff might realize there was more smoke around than was strictly normal for various rendering or refining. And at the wrong time of year. Many traveling to visit the South go crazy about biscuits and gravy. But biscuits dragged through a mixture of cane syrup and butter is a close second. If you had ever actually seen a rabid animal yourself, you'd know better than to be soft about it until after it's dead. A mad dog was a real live monster that carried your death in its saliva. I doubt anyone in any small town of the 1930s had even heard of tranquilizer darts. The dog was at the intersection of two streets, and could have taken off running at any moment. It was no time to dither. The screenplay was good and the book is better. It's always up on KZbin in audiobook form and is comparatively shorter than many novels. The Sissy Spacak narration is the best IMO.

[@lawrencespinnenweber177]

Mockingbird -- As you said in the trivia, Harper Lee's father was a lawyer in Monroeville, Alabama. Monroeville was the basis for Maycomb, Alabama, in the novel and movie. The courtroom set for the movie, balcony and all, was a replica of the courtroom in Monroeville where Harper Lee's father practiced law. Although there have been stage versions of the novel, Aaron Sorkin, creator the television series "The West Wing," wrote a new stage adaptation of the novel (2019). Mary Badham, who played Scout in the movie, signed to play Mrs. Henry Layfette Dubose, the old woman who yelled insults from her porch, the one who supposedly had a Confederate pistol under her blanket. When the touring company came to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I was fortunate enough to see the play twice. I have seen Mary Badham play Scout in the movie and Mrs. Dubose live on stage.

[@robertshows5100]

The set design won an academy award for Henry Bumstead. Well deserved

[@KCmidwest-wm9jd]

The Judge, sitting on the porch was portrayed by Paul Fix, who was the marshal, Micah Torrance, on the Rifleman, a western, broadcast from 1958-1963 - one of my childhood favorites. Nearly every kid in the 1950s wanted to be a cowboy!

[@HuntingViolets]

Harper Lee also helped Truman Capote research _In Cold Blood_ and he used her notes extensively for that book. There are at least two movies about Capote which feature Lee helping him on this, _Infamous_ and _Capote._

[@glennwisniewski9536]

I almost forgot that the prosecuting attorney was played by actor William Windom. Reactors on KZbin may also know him from a very good episode of the original Star Trek entitled The Doomsday Machine. Even though he started on TV in 1949, Mockingbird was his first role in film.

[@TheTerryGene]

As has been stated, the character of Dill is based on Nell Harper Lee’s childhood friend Truman Capote. The film “Notorious” chronicles their relationship during the writing of Capote’s “In Cold Blood.” Capote is portrayed by Toby Jones and Sandra Bullock is Lee. John Megna, who played Dill, was the half-brother of 60’s TV star Connie Stevens. He sadly passed from AIDS-related complex. Gregory Peck’s grandson, Ethan Peck, plays Spock on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

[@porflepopnecker4376]

Megna later played the "Bonk-bonk on the head!" kid in the Star Trek episode "Miri."

[@annikaQED]

Scout is based on Harper Lee herself as a child, and Dill is based on their next-door neighbor TRUMAN CAPOTE! It's amazing that both grew up to be great writers.

[@creech54]

And it's pronounced Ca-PO-te (sounds like tea).

[@soloragoldsun2163]

The scene where Scout unknowingly dispersed the mob will forever be one of my favorite movie moments. People forget that a mob is made up of individuals. Once an individual is picked out and his humanity is called to the front, the power of the mob is gone.

[@Lethgar_Smith]

Filling the knothole in the tree with cement was a way of preventing it from rotting. Boo had been leaving little trinkets in the tree as a way of communicating with the children he was growing found of. The appearance of Boo Radley's father at that moment is purely coincidental. He was not aware of the trinkets being left by his son and was only out taking care chores around his property. He is as shocked to see the children there as they are to see him.

[@garysatterlee9455]

Your reaction to this film really did it justice. Thank you for taking it to heart and coming to understand it as you did.

[@HealthAtAnyCost]

Reading through the comments below, I see how many of us read _To Kill a Mockingbird_ in school. It is one of the most often banned and "challenged" books, supposedly for language, but reading behind the confederate flag, it is because Atticus defended a black man when it was an absolutely horrific step over the demarcation line of the races. So while we read the book and learned tolerance and kindness, kids today are forbidden to read it... or never even have the chance to because the book isn't even in the school library anymore. It is up to us parents and grandparents to expose... to GIFT... our children with the books some people find "offensive" because of the words between the bookcover.

[@saucermcfly]

Absolutely!! It's a perfect book to gift young people. It expands their minds and hearts and helps alert them to some of the terrible wrongs of this world.

[@learobinson4450]

@HealthAtAnyCost. Plenty want it banned because it exposes the cruelty against blacks that was commonplace at that time & is still prevalent in some places today. Those that perpetrate that cruelty do not want it bought to light because they know others would view them badly & do what’s necessary to stop it. They want to be free to harm with impunity. If children are aware of it & realize it’s wrong & do want to continue it then that threatens those that are involved. They believe they are better & that gives them the right to harm those they see as “lesser”” especially in their efforts to keep those that are “lesser” in their place. To Kill A Mocking Bird sheds a harsh light on their abhorrent beliefs & behavior so they want others, especially children, kept in the dark. That’s where they operate the best.

[@CindyNavarro]

My mother had me watch this movie with her when I was 12 (1967) & it has been a favorite since then. When I was an adult, I introduced the movie & book to my children.

[@Hexon66]

While challenges to the book's language do happen, the bigger issue with banning the book is the folks who object to the fight for racial justice and who refuse to admit any such racism has ever existed. BTW, the society portrayed (other than Atticus) is the 'great' part the maga people want to return to.

[@HealthAtAnyCost]

@@Hexon66 Thank you for saying that. SO TRUE!

[@Dej24601]

Mockingbird. Truman Capote’s last name is pronounced with the long E sound, and the accent on the second syllable (po.) He is known for his books, short stories and novellas especially Breakfast at Tiffany’s, In Cold Blood, The Grass Harp, and The Christmas Gift. He was friends with many celebrities including Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy.

[@danielberg7644]

Time to watch "12 Angry men" (1957). Another great thought provoking movie starring Henry Fonda.

[@Vlasko60]

Oh yes.

[@MoviesWithMarty]

Hi Daniel! You're in luck! I have actually reacted to that one on here already. It's a brilliant one and I was slightly reminded of it with the court scenes in this. Thnak you so much for suggesting it to me and I hope you like the other video if you get to check it out too. Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZDdfn2Mnph5btU

[@MoviesWithMarty]

@@Vlasko60 Hi Vlasko, hopefully you get the attached reply too, as I've already reacted to "12 Angry Men" on here 😊

[@Vlasko60]

@@MoviesWithMarty Great. I'll check it out. Thanks Marty.

[@SueProv]

Mary Badham stayed very good friends with Gregory Peck. He was a father figure for her. She also bonded the last three years of author Harper Lees life. Both were from Alabama. So sorry you said this after I wrote this and some others. Mockingbird. What an excellent reaction Marty. I know the movie and the trivia well. I cried with you.

[@sheryldalton8965]

Mockingbirds rule the roost over other birds. They're our state bird here in Texas. If you get near their babies they won't hesitate to attack. Thanks. Great reaction.

[@saucermcfly]

Loved your reaction, as usual. I love your big heart because it means you react with real warmth and kindness. I haven't seen the film in a long time, and I have never read the novel, even though it has been on my bookshelf for years. This has inspired me to break out that book and then I'll watch the film again. ... Gregory Peck is always great, but this is the film that truly makes him *beloved*.

[@bookwoman53]

In the novel, Atticus says that every attorney has a case which affects him personally. The Robinson vs. Ewell case was his. In a similar way, doctors have patients that affect them personally

[@jeffmartin1026]

Boo's father did not know that Boo was leaving presents for the children in the tree. It was common to fill a hole in a tree with cement to keep water from pooling up in the hole and causing rot inside the tree, further damaging it.

[@tessavelland1059]

I always had the opposite impression. Boo's father was spoken of as a cruel man, and he somehow broke his son's spirit and made him into a recluse who was psychologically confined at home with him. Very controlling. I think it was implied that he deliberately cut off the social interaction between Boo and the children once he discovered it.

[@TheNoladrummer]

As a young boy in the South, this book changed my life. Harper Lee laid waste to Jim Crow in a children’s book.

[@MsAppassionata]

That’s why certain people want to ban it, unfortunately.

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks, Marty! 🌓 This is one of the all-time greats. Kudos to Horton Foote's adaptation of Harper Lee's classic book... and to director Robert Mulligan.

[@jamesacoffey9006]

I cannot express how much this story - book and film - means to me both personally and as an American.

[@jwes869]

Thank you for watching and reacting to this wonderful classic!

[@jamesj.navagh222]

One of my favorite films and novels since I was a kid.

[@blindlemonpledge2556]

I agree with everyone that has praised this film. You should watch "In Cold Blood'. It is also a masterpeice and a faithful adaptation of Truman Capotes' novel.

[@reesebn38]

Mockingbird. I would follows this up with "In Cold Blood". I think they were the 2 most important books (and best book to film) in the 60s. Mockingbird is how good a Human can be and In Cold Blood how terrible a Human can be.

[@wsw32606]

Yes--In Cold Blood is a great movie.

[@cherylellsworth1787]

Mockingbird! One of my favorite books and movies. Every time I catch it on tv, no matter where in the film I tune in, I watch it til the end. Thank you for the trivia parts also. And as others have said, rabies in an any animal is not curable, and is a horrible way for the animal to die. Shooting the dog was first and foremost to protect the people and a close second to put the dog out of its misery. Once it had "started running" as the sherriff put it, it would have viciously attacked any animal or human it came in range of, spreading the disease. Get your animals vaccinated yearly, even if indoor pets. Even rodents, bats, and squirrels can carry and spread rabies (although rare in that small an animal).

[@johnanderson5558]

Thanks Marty! Thoroughly enjoyed watching that with you

[@angelatheriault8855]

This was the American South in the 1930’s. There was no way Tom Robinson wasn’t going to be convicted. I can never watch this movie without crying my eyes out.

[@RLucas3000]

It would have took just one man of the 12 doing the right thing. Just one. 6 evil justices on the Supreme Court just made our President a King. If just 2 of them had done the right thing. But evil people are never going to do the right thing.

[@agenttheater5]

1:01:16 Atticus wanted Jem to go to court because he knew that if he didn't Jem would probably grow up with everyone whispering about him, saying that he killed a man and that his lawyer daddy paid a judge to get him off. He knows what's likely to happen.

[@hiyadroogs]

I've watched this film many times. & the iconic moments make me well up every time. When the pastor says: 'Jean Louise, - stand up.. your father's passing..' - as an act of respect & deference. &, 'Hey Boo!' The look of gentle benevolence & love on Boo's face was a subtle acting masterclass from Robert Duvall. Boo, was pathologically shy, which was why he shunned company, & only emerged at night. The look of acceptance & love for Scout had to be extremely subtle & barely suggested.

[@JulieK352]

Mockingbird…. Thank you for reacting to this movie. I cry every time I watch it.

[@MoviesWithMarty]

Thank you so much Julie! You're very welcome. It's one that everyone should watch. I can certainly see why, it's heartbreaking

[@SueProv]

The actor who pkayed Boo Radley played Tom Hagen in Godfather 1 and 2. He is a great actor. Robert Duvall.

[@3ScotsInk]

Truman’s last name is 3 syllables. Cah-poh-tee. You will no doubt run across his name, and his literary works, in your future travels as a lover of film. His book “In Cold Blood” is still credited as kicking off the true crime genre. Great reaction. Subscribed.

[@laurab68707]

This is a great movie. I love Gregory Peck. He is great as Captain Ahab in Moby Dick also.

[@gloriamariev961]

Thank you. An intelligent and sensitive reaction. A full screen and you actually listening to the film. I suggest reading the book and if you get a chance to see "Capote". In the book someone says that Tom Robinson was a dead man the minute Mayella opened her mouth and screamed. So sad and yet such a touching movie. The book won a Pulitzer prize. Thank you again.

[@carlossantiago9955]

Mockingbird. Great review!

[@user-gl8ee4ib5m]

Thanks for reacting to one of my favorite films. I remember first seeing it when I was a little boy in the 1960s, thinking how scary certain scenes were, but loving all the invaluable lessons I learned from Atticus. I also remember getting emotional just seeing the actual Boo Radley house on the Universal Studios tram tour when I was a teen. I love this movie................💁‍♂MOCKINGBIRD!! 🙋‍♂

[@angelagraves865]

The sad reality of that time and place is it's unlikely Tom would have made it to his next court date anyway, and he would have known this.

[@johnmaynardable]

I was 3 y.o. when this movie came out. I was the baby of 4 kids.My parents took us to see it at a drive-in movie theater. All I remembered for years was the rabid dog sequence. Scared the hell out of me. Since then this film has become an old favorite of mine. So good.

[@Glenner7]

Great film. Thank you for the trivia section - great info there!

[@donnaoleske6804]

You were right about the town square. This film was a Universal production, same as Back to the Future. You will find this set in many of their movies. You touched my heart when the tears came streaming down your face. I was crying too.

[@johnfraley8544]

They used to show this in school when I was a kid back in the 60s and 70s. Mockingbird.

[@HuntingViolets]

Atticus is their dad but they call him "Atticus." I think it's because their mother died and you usually learn what to call your parent from your other parent, but they only ever heard anyone call him "Atticus" or "Mr. Finch." We called our father by his first name but not my mom, but I don't really remember how that happened, so this theory could also be haywire.

[@brt5273]

Really enjoyed your sensitive reaction. My grandmother introduced me to this film and I always think about her when I see it. The Finch home looks sooo much like our small town home when I was a young child in the 1960s, as did that whole neighborhood. Really draws me all the way into it. I always admired Gregory Peck's portrayal of Atticus. Growing up and as a young adult, whenever I was faced with a tough situation, I would often think, "What would Atticus do?"

[@kathyastrom1315]

The book is a staple in school curricula. It was my 7th-grade history teacher’s favorite book. He organized the book club in my school, and TKAM was always the first book we read in it every year.

[@robynmontgomery9826]

My 7th grade class in Tennessee read this together back in 1979 and had great open discussions about it.

[@talltulip]

Unfortunately, some schools are putting To Kill a Mockingbird on their "banned books" list, which I find outrageous and totally unacceptable. This is one of the best books (and films) to show the evil of racism. I can't fathom the reasons for characterizing this book as inappropriate for young adults. Yes, I understand that hearing the "n"-word is hurtful or even triggering for people of color, but the overriding theme and message of the book is quite obviously anti-racism, and the use of that words is used to reinforce that position. Perhaps racist people want the book banned precisely because it DOES portray racism as the evil that it actually is, and they don't like that. Whatever the motivation behind these bans, I believe that it should be required reading for middle-school or high-school students, accompanied of course by discussions to understand the history and context of the times that are depicted in the book.

[@agenttheater5]

1:01:51 He's been in the shadows too long - he couldn't bare being brought out into the light now. He stayed in before because he was made to, now he stays in because he wants to.

[@agenttheater5]

55:00 In the book she said the way she imagined it by then was that she'd see him sitting on the porch one evening, and she'd say good evening to him as if he was a neighbour she'd been talking to her whole life.

[@TheClonemenot]

I hope everyone realizes that when a character in a movie really angers them, they're doing a great job as an actor.

[@sweetalice7475]

Mockingbird. I so enjoy your reaction videos! You are one of my very favorites.

[@lmsossi6501]

The case was lost the moment Tom Robinson said he felt sorry for Mayella. At that time in history and particularly in the South, blacks were seen as inferior to whites, so it was considered "uppity" for a black person to say they felt sorry for a white person because that implies the white person is inferior in some way. The tragedy is that Atticus had effectively proven Tom innocent, but the jury convicted Tom simply to punish him for thinking Mayella was inferior to him in any way. Also, the fact that the kids are up in the balcony which was segregated shows they haven't been raised to be racist and see nothing wrong with being with the black citizens. The scene where Atticus has lost the case but the black citizens all stand in respect for him, knowing he fought so hard to save Tom, is, to me, one of the most powerful scenes on film.

[@jd-zr3vk]

The case was lost the moment the town folks figured out a black man was arrested for attacking Mayella.

[@rebeccabexar9363]

this movie was great and the book even better. the mockingbird has a wonderful song. listening to it in the morning brightens the day. both Tom and Boo are mockingbirds with a song in their hearts. they are also FIERCE. I have seen them attack hawks.

[@TrCic]

25:55 My grandfather would do this as well, to keep the water from pooling inside and rotting the tree.

[@sammydavisvideovault8302]

Mary Badham's is in Aaron Sorkin's version of To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway. She plays the old neighbor inn the rocking chair. Mockingbird

[@angelagraves865]

Brock Peters went on to play Admiral Cartwright in a couple of the Star Trek movies.

[@SueProv]

Another piece of trivia. Demi Moore and Bruce Willis named their second daughter Scout after the character in To Kill a Mockingbird.

[@kathyastrom1315]

Interesting factoid: Mary Badham’s brother John became a Hollywood director, making movies such as Saturday Night Fever and WarGames.

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Yes, I watched 'til the end... mockingbird. Also, since you didn't seem familiar with Truman Capote... be sure to watch CAPOTE (2005), INFAMOUS (2006), and the second season of FEUD (2017 through current) entitled CAPOTE VS. THE SWANS (2024). To see a classic film from perhaps his greatest book, check out IN COLD BLOOD (1967). Since you mentioned THE WALKING DEAD, you might recognize Scott Wilson as one of the killers. 🔸 You made note of the great acting of Collin Wilcox who portrayed 'Mayella'. She was also in one of my favorite episodes of THE TWILIGHT ZONE... Season 5, Episode 17... "Number 12 Looks Just Like You" which aired in 1964. Make a point of seeing it, if you can. 🤓

[@raymondregis6219]

We read Mockingbird in high school. Great memories.

[@Lethgar_Smith]

The author knew Truman Capote as a child. That is who the character of Dill is based on.

[@aatragon]

When I saw that you had reacted to this great film, I set aside the time needed to watch it start to finish. Thank you for highlighting the trivia; not everyone does that. Mockingbird, obviously.

[@EpizodesHorizons]

TKAM is a very well made film, but it should be remembered that both the novel, and the film, are based on the narration of six-year-old Scout. This is why the film seems to straddle both hard reality of life in the south, as well as child-like innocence. It was great to see Scout disarm the racists so easily. Author Harper Lee wrote a sequel - with a less innocent look at the south, and less than perfect, almost saintly Atticus. Sometimes, it seems there's more story in real life than is written in novels.

[@LaurindaBellinger]

this movie and Gentlemen's Agreement are my top 2 Gregory Peck films. I really enjoyed watching you react to this film. You had hoped Tom would get off! Tom looks like my dad, the court scene always gets to me. Those standing in the balcony as Atticus walks by are showing respect. Gregory Peck's grandson, Ethan Peck, plays Spock in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Ethan looks and sounds just like his grandfather. As big of a Trekkie as I am, I only see Atticus Finch playing Spock. (Mockingbird)

[@talltulip]

Thank you very much for reacting to this film. It is my #1 favorite film of all time, and it makes me sad that so few movie reactors have reacted to it -- even those who specialize in reacting to the "classics," which I find deeply disappointing. Perhaps it's because of the use of the n-word, or the blatant, ugly racism that it exposes. Also, your comments make me think with that you -- as an Englishman -- might not fully grasp just how deep, hateful and pervasive racism has been in the US, especially in the deep South (of which Alabama is a part). You're fortunate to not have that kind of legacy in your country. American society is having a very difficult time eradicating this legacy, sadly. Thank you again for your wonderful reaction and commentary. Mockingbird.

[@marlasotherchannel9847]

Mockingbird . Great job Marty.

[@lizmil]

Among its other wonderful characteristics, I think this is one of the best movies that reflect a child’s view of the world.

[@rg3388]

Thanks so much for this one. A classic. "Mockingbird"

[@actualkarenokboomer3158]

Atticus is their father. Filmed in 1962 and is set in the 1940s. I graduated from high school in 1964, in Texas, and the only time we could wear pants was for "Go Texan Day". In Jr hi and high school we had gym suits with short pants, but in elementary school you played kickball or whatever in dresses.

[@Historian212]

Read the book. It was required of all students in 7th grade in my school in New York, back in the 1960s. Beautifully written. The author, Harper Lee, was a childhood friend of Truman Capote, who was the inspiration for the character of Dill.

[@lmsossi6501]

I also hate the scene where the rabid dog is shot, but, as someone who has worked in a veterinary hospital, I can tell you that rabies is fatal once symptoms occur. Even today, if someone is bitten by a wild animal or an unvaccinated pet, they will start a series of rabies shots to prevent the disease from manifesting; if symptoms start, there is no treatment or cure. The rabid dog symbolizes the rabid racial hatred the trial causes in the town.

[@wsw32606]

Thanks Marty, great reaction. Mockingbird!

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

we used to watch this on tv in the mid-60s when i was young. as a kid it was the kids in the film that interested me and parts of the film appeared to resemble a horror movie. the parts about tom went completely over my head. of course today i understand and love the entire film AND the book. the book goes into a lot more detail. for instance the mean old lady on the porch was a morphine addict who grew up during the civil war and reconstruction of the south. gregory peck is one of my favorite actors. he has a commanding and comforting screen presence. 2 of my favorite peck films are hitchcock's 1945 suspense classic "spellbound" and elia kazan's 1947's "gentleman's agreement" about american post-war antisemitism. another GREAT film released a few years before "to kill a mockingbird" is 1959's "the diary of anne frank" directed by george stevens. thanks for the video.

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

what? you're crying over shooting a rabid dog. don't you know what rabies are? its an EXTREMELY dangerous disease spread through the bite, saliva and blood of the infected. and there's NO CURE! today, if caught in time, there's a very painful treatment. but the window for recovery is very short. yes, you see a rabid animal coming at you you either run like hell or kill it. i've heard of misplaced sympathy before but things are getting WAY out of hand my freind.

[@jtt6650]

Jem wanted Atticus to play football in a men’s league, not with him. Also they had to kill the rabid dog, there’s no way to cure it at that stage, AND the “mad dog” is a metaphor for Mr. Ewell.

[@reesebn38]

He needs to watch Old Yeller.

[@kweile4339]

Loved your reaction! Keep the old classics coming!

[@KyleWigginsArt]

MOCKINGBIRD Great reaction, thanks for posting. I always tear up when I watch this film.

[@agenttheater5]

49:09 Remember that when Emmet Till's murderers went to trial the only reason why the jury took as long as they did was because they'd gone out for some cokes.

[@dow311]

Robert Duval (The Godfather), plays Boo, Alice Ghostley (comedian) who played Aunt Stephanie was in Bewitched, the other lawyer actor William Windom, played in many TV series, and actress Collin Wilcox (rape victim) was in one of the Jaws movie.

[@celladora31]

Yay! You made my day better with this.

[@AlanCanon2222]

Yes, that IS the famous courthouse seen in the Back to the Future movies, and, around the time this movie was made, "Inherit the Wind", the famous evolution movie. That courthouse has been in a million movies and TV shows. Good eye. By the early 1960s, when this movie was made, directors of A-list movies had a choice of color processes stretching back 30 years. This director chose black and white, for a retro look. Compare "Psycho", "The Haunting", "Dr Strangelove", "Young Frankenstein", "Schindler's List", and many other movies that, like this one, chose black and white on purpose. My other favorite movie from the exact same period is "Inherit the Wind" with Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, and Dick York, with a great supporting cast. Science is real. Inherit the Wind hammers that point home so fricking hard. The movie was made in the very early 1960s, and made with a retro look, on purpose, as a way to draw a modern (civil rights movement era) audience in. It looks like an old movie, on purpose. Also here in Kentucky I am friends with a man named Scout, after the girl narrator in To Kill a Mockingbird. Both of Scout's parents were theater people here in Kentucky, and named him after the girl character. Scout (my friend) loves this movie, and could not be prouder to bear the name of the main character. Scout and Jem's neighbor friend is based on Harper Lee's real life childhood friend Truman Capote. Lee and Capote did a journalism stint together when they were adults.

[@daannzzz7415]

This is my favorite movie of all time along with my favorite movie score. I think it is the best representation of how I feel my childhood was even though mine was in the early 60’s. Mockingbird.

[@debfailla52]

Wonderful reaction video! A brilliant film which is sadly still resonates today. One of the most stirring/emotional scenes for me, is when the audience in the upper gallery rise and stands out of their respect for Atticus and what he did for Tom. As always, it’s amazing how you can edit down the film and keep it’s brilliant essence. Great trivia section as well. Thanks for taking the time to gather all that information, photos and videos. (Psst…Mockingbird!)

[@leisastalnaker3790]

To read the book, Boo Radley was a soldier in WWI. The book is just brilliant, just brilliant. No wonder it garnered a Pulitzer Prize. Well deserved.

[@JHowesitgoing123]

I haven't watched this movie in a long time, nor read the book in quite a bit either, honestly forgot how lovely it is. Glad you liked it.

[@geraldmcboingboing7401]

Great reaction to a fantastic film!! Mockingbird.

[@robertwilliams4872]

Wonderful trivia! Mockingbird