The movie is sentimental, old fashioned, and perhaps other descriptions that define "hokey." It's an old movie, having been made more than half a century ago. But these are not synonyms for "bad." Neither is the fact that it is made in black and white.
I love this movie. I never tire of watching it, of seeing life in a sleepy Southern town through the eyes of the children. I love the drama, the relationships, the struggle of a child to understand injustice and peer pressure and to try to resist beating the crap out of a schoolmate at recess.
Scout does all this while turning to her father to help guide her through the events that she cannot possibly understand fully. She, at her age, cannot process the event (of course, non-event here) of a terrible social crime like rape, and the incredibly complex factors thrown in by race. She's watching economic, social, violent injustice and being guided through it by her loving, patient, kind, father.
I particularly like the scene where she's in bed and Atticus is reading to her; then she asks to see the watch. He hands it over with infinite patience as he has probably done many, many times before and watches her delight when he puts the watch in her hands and sees her snap it open and read the inscription. It's obviously a comforting and much anticipated bedtime ritual for Scout.
I like the way both kids watch Walter pour that syrup all over his plate of food; and the outburst Scout comes out with -- and you know when Cal calls her into the kitchen she's going to get a lecture on manners and whack on the behind -- and Atticus does not interfere with that.
Jem thinks his father is too old to do anything. He's at that age where he wants a hero for a father and instead has Atticus, an older father, a lawyer who doesn't seem to ever raise his voice, and somehow never succumbs to attempted blackmail (he won't deal with Jem to come down out of the tree). But he looks at his father in wonder when Atticus shoots the rabid dog -- could it be there are things he doesn't know yet about his father? Who knew he was a crack shot? He watches his father react with non violence when Mr. Ewing spits in his face. He watches his father's kindness and respect towards the Robinson family.
The kids are growing up with a wonderful father who teaches them the important lessons of life. How do you treat people who are poorer (or richer, for that matter)? People who are a different color? People who are in a position of authority? (Atticus teaches Scout the value of a compromise with her teacher.) How do you react when things happen that are out of your control? The child's eye view is pure and uncluttered with adult prejudices and just waiting for imprints to be made by the influential figures in their lives.
Atticus is the anchor in Scout's life. She knows she can ask him anything; that he will always answer and explain; that he is her protector, her guide, her mentor. He forbids her to fight, no matter the reason. He corrects (with Cal's help) her table manners and treatment of guests at the table (a Southern tradition that demands much grace and acceptance of guest behavior). She asks him if he defends ni**ers; and he immediately tells her not to use that word and explains himself. He's teaching her the value of people.
And while that's going on; there's the mysterious excitement of the neighbor down the street -- the delicious scariness of going as near the house as they dare -- of spreading the stories to new friends like Dill; of Jem taking the thrilling dare of dashing up on the Radley's porch to actually touch the front door and then racing away. How wonderfully exciting!!
I love the humor. I like the way Scout answers Atticus when he asks her if she knows what a compromise is; the way Jem comes home from school walking like an Egyptian and announces that they invented embalming and toilet paper.
I think that judging a movie based on a lack of modern movie-making techniques, or its age, or whether it's in black and white; is not a good way to evaluate its worth. There's nothing inherently wrong with a slow pace, with a lack of splash and explosions. It's really OK to be "hokey." A film set in the 30's, made in the early 60's, and based on a book, is not going to look or sound modern.
In addition to "hokey," I would say a major element of this film is nostalgia. Nostalgia is a road with no potholes. It's a sweet walk down memory lane, illustrated by the adult voice of Scout, narrating for us.
I don't believe this film, or the book, is overrated at all.
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