MovieChat Forums > To Kill a Mockingbird (1963) Discussion > Wait a second...

Wait a second...

posted 9 years ago by aliholly-62819
5 replies | jump to latest

Sorry if this has been discussed in the past. While the doctor was examining Jem and the door was mostly closed....then opened, later to be closed again to Boo's big reveal...where was Boo the whole time?

[–] izzy520i 9 years ago

Watched this classic only the 1st time a few days back and just thought of that. I rewatched that part just now and you're right.

Checked the Goofs and indeed this was pointed out, although it looks as if it's only been posted recently.

Goof
After the attack on Jem and Scout, Boo carries him towards the house and eventually is discovered standing behind the door in Jem's room. However, in the scene before he is discovered the door to the room is almost closed completely and then opened by Calpurnia from inside the room. Boo would have to have been visible to all in the room at that time.

[–] aliholly-62819 9 years ago

Come to think of it, I may have posted the topic about 10 years ago, but I don't think anyone responded to me. It's something that has always bugged me when viewing this film, but since I haven't seen it in probably 6 years it was brought to my attention again when watching it the other day. Thank you for posting the goof! I like looking at IMDb trivia, I don't often look at goofs. If I don't notice it then it's not worth noting :p

[–] izzy520i 9 years ago

No worries :-)

My frequency of reading through the Trivia and Goofs Sections is similar to yours as well.

[–] cmashieldscapting 9 years ago

In the book he was in fact visible the whole time and people ignored him like the elephant in the room. In the movie they decided to try to make it more dramatic.

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (2172) 6 years ago

This had me looking into the corner during that scene. It's not entirely clear what's there, but it looks more like paneling than wallpaper, possibly either a closet or a door into an adjoining room. I believe in the book, Jem's and Scout's rooms adjoined, so perhaps Boo slid into the closet or the next room and then back before the door was closed most of the way during the doctor's visit. (In the book he was in plain sight the whole time and everyone ignored him until they were ready to acknowledge him so the movie scene was actually much better.)