This screen adaptation of Harper Lee’s 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel gets deluxe treatment in this new boxed set. As seen through the eyes of a child in the South during the depression, this volatile, racially charged story follows Gregory Peck’s Atticus Finch, a morally-upstanding lawyer defending a black man charged with the rape of a white woman.

CRITIQUE

This is a wonderful film from beginning to end, and this lustrous new digital transfer does it justice. Taking the controversial main story of a white attorney defending a black man in the racially-divided south, To Kill a Mockingbird is told from a young girl’s perspective, looking back on her time in a small southern town. It provides a glimpse into a different place and era, where neighbors knew each other by name and people traded goods for services. It also provides a tender and reminiscent look at close-knit family life, with Gregory Peck embodying the perfect single-parent patriarch – even-tempered, gently instructional, and morally courageous.

Atticus Finch was Peck’s career-defining role, although the studio’s first choice was Rock Hudson. Peck won the Oscar, beating such formidable competition as Peter O’Toole (Lawrence of Arabia), Jack Lemmon (Days of Wine and Roses), and Burt Lancaster (Birdman of Alcatraz). To Kill a Mockingbird was nominated for eight academy awards in 1962, and won two others: Writing (Horton Foote) and Art Direction. The Best Picture award ultimately went to Lawrence. The various documentaries in this package portray Peck as Atticus Finch both on-screen and off. He cared for the children, was very even-tempered, championed causes, and raised his own family in the same manner as in the film. Author Harper Lee’s novel provided the rich source material for this wonderful film, and is still required reading in most high schools.

THE VIDEO

This digitally remastered version is gorgeous to watch, and points out the benefits of shooting in black and white. The shadows and lighting are perfect, and the print quality is very nice. Great transfer.

THE AUDIO

The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack sounds wonderful, especially the unforgettable Elmer Bernstein music. Other audio options include DTS 5.1, Mono 2.0 and French mono. Subtitle choices are English, French, and Spanish.

THE EXTRAS

The new Legacy Series two-disk edition is well worth the few extra dollars, especially for life-long fans of this film and students just given the assignment of reading Harper Lee’s book. It’s also a perfect flawless print for new viewers.

The audio commentary by director Robert Mulligan and producer Alan J. Pakula is quite informative with interesting tidbits and good insights into the film.

This beautiful package’s first disc includes the digitally-remastered film, along with the original theatrical trailer, an excerpt from the Motion Picture Academy’s tribute to Gregory Peck, his reception of the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award, a short clip of his receipt of the Oscar for best actor, and a 1999 NBC interview with supporting-actress nominee Mary Badham (Scout in the film).

Disc 2 contains two documentaries: A Conversation with Gregory Peck, produced by his daughter Cecilia and Academy Award-winning producer Barbara Kopple, is a 90-minute backstage look at a Peck speaking tour and a career retrospective that includes interviews with the Peck family, Lauren Bacall, Martin Scorsese and Bill Clinton. The more film specific Fearful Symmetry: The making of To Kill a Mockingbird is an hour and 37 minute doc that fills in some interesting background concerning the film’s production and includes discussion with director Robert Mulligan, producer Alan Pakula, screenplay writer Horton Foote, music writer Elmer Bernstein, and actors Phillip Alford (Jem) and Mary Badham (Scout). It also contains interviews with neighbors from novelist Harper Lee’s hometown.

The DVD set also includes 11 post card-sized reproductions of original theatrical posters from around the world along with a note from author Harper Lee. This Legacy Edition DVD is a beautiful package.

FINAL THOUGHTS