Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) is a Depression-era, small-town Alabama lawyer defending Tom Robinson (Brock Peters), a Black man accused of beating and raping Mayella Euwell (Collin Wilcox), a white woman. The story is mainly told through the eyes of Finch's children, Jem (Phillip Alford) and Scout (Mary Badham), who are beginning to see their father as a person, not just a caregiving extension of themselves. While also dealing with stalkers, attempted murder, and angry mobs.
This movie is still depressingly relevant. Peck is the image of gentrified nobility and it feels very much like a spiritual sequel to his 1947 performance in Gentleman's Agreement. The child actors manage to be charming and sincere, which is a relief considering they have a LOT of screen time. Alford's accent is also extremely realistic, probably because he was born in Gadsden, Alabama, 30 miles from where I grew up.
It's not a super-fun watch but it is still a very good movie. The courtroom scene is famous but it only takes up about 20 minutes tops. The rest is mostly centered around the kids learning about the world they are inheriting. It's currently streaming on Tubi for free with ads.
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