To Kill A Mocking Bird

The music in to "Kill a Mocking Bird "is representative of the childhood innocence. In the beginning of the film the children are running around in the summer and the this music is characterized with tinkling piano music. When their play is interrupted by something ominous and scary, such as when Scout rolls into the Radley yard, the piano music turns ominous and horns and strings and percussion in low tones become more noticeable and add suspense. The town is also represented in the music, the music is very up and down, almost like what would be played during a square dance, with music more like "a fiddle" and less like a violin.

Other than the music, also notable are the silences. When Atticus gives his "to kill a mocking bird" speech at the dinner table music is absent. It is also absent during the confrontation in front of the courthouse and again during the entire trial proceedings. The silence emphasizes the importance of the words, and since the screenplay is based largely upon the novel, the rhetoric certainly has reason to claim center stage.

Another cool feature in the music of "To Kill A Mocking Bird" is the idea of a literal mocking bird is represented with a flute during key moments. After the courtroom scene before the verdict is announced one can hear the flute music. Again, after the final climatic scene in which Boo Radley saves the children from Bob Yule again the flute "mockingbird" can be heard.