WOOF: Media Monday - To Kill A Mockingbird - Award-winning Documentary

Reading To Kill a Mockingbird is something millions of us have in common. In a documentary and accompanying book, Mary McDonagh Murphy explores the novel’s power, influence and popularity. With reflections from Anna Quindlen, Tom Brokaw, James McBride, James Patterson, Wally Lamb, Oprah Winfrey and more, the documentary and the book chronicle the many ways the novel has shaped lives and careers. Harper

Lee has not given an interview since 1964, but Murphy’s reporting, research and rare interviews with the author’s sister and friends add new details and photos to the remarkable story of an astonishing phenomenon. Read the Book: Scout, Atticus & Boo: A Celebration of Fifty Years of To Kill a Mockingbird or see the documentary film Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird.

We were fortunate to meet Mary Murphy at the Pulpwood Queens Girlfriend Weekend, in Jefferson, TX, and had the privilege of viewing her award-winning documentary.

Please check out Mary Murphy's website to preview the documentary and get pre-order information.

You can also buy Scout, Atticus, and Boo: A celebration of Fifty Years of 'To Kill A Mockingbird' on Amazon

And, don't forget about WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty! Buy on Amazon

"Hey, Boo" - An Evening With Scout!

How could a Friday evening be any better? Our favorite movie. Our favorite movie character. Our favorite two words uttered in any movie! "Hey, Boo."

The National Endowment for the Arts: The Big Read came to the University of West Georgia, and what better read than "To Kill A Mockingbird?" We attended a reception Friday night that included lemon squares, chocolate brownies, cookies, sweet tea, and a giant-screen showing of "To Kill A Mockingbird." Oh, and we got to meet Mary Badham who played Scout.

We thought that might get your attention. WOOFers, Diana and Mary really got to meet and talk to SCOUT!

It was one of those Bucket List moments.

Since beginning of time...okay, since the first time we both saw the movie, it's been our favorite and Scout, our favorite character. Mary, having grown up a tomboy, and Diana's childhood pictures bearing an uncanny resemblance to Scout, might play a small part in their devotion. But, more of the credit has to go to Harper Lee, for writing this magnificent book, Robert Mulligan for his artful and sensitive direction, and to Horton Foote for writing an amazing screen play that stayed true to the book.

Mary Badham introduced the movie and gave a little insight into her co-stars. After "retiring" at the ripe old age of fourteen, she never lost touch with the actors. When her father died shortly after her marriage, Gregory Peck (Atticus Finch) and Brock Peters (Tom Robinson) took over "dad duties," and were always there when she needed them. She's also remained very close with her movie brother, Philip Alford (Jem). Read more.

After the crowd's reaction to the 50-year old movie and meeting a young mother with her month-old baby girl Scout, we got to thinking. Could it be there are OTHER people who connect to the movie, Scout and/or the book just as deeply as us? On the off chance :>) there might be a WOOFer or two out there who relate, we'd love to hear your comments!

Who is your favorite character? What is your favorite scene?

Which arm would you cut off to meet Harper Lee?!?!?!

*************************************

For more Women Only Over Fifty thoughts & stories:
WOOF available through Amazon and Echelon Press!
Buy New WOOF Download Companion
Accentuate The Pawsitive!

50 Women Over 50: Harper Lee

The list is endless. Women Only Over Fifty (WOOFers) who lead vibrant, meaningful lives and just seem to get younger every day.

What can we possible say about Harper Lee that hasn't already been said, written about, published? She wrote one - count 'em - one book. Oh, but what it book it is! To Kill A Mockingbird, Pulitzer Prize winner, 1961 and Academy Award winning film in 1963, became my favorite book the first time I read it, and it still is.

Nelle (pronounced Nail in her South Alabama hometown, Monroeville) was as much a tomboy as narrator, six-year-old Scout. This is one of the reasons I so identify with the book. Jane Hybart, a childhood friend writes that, during a softball game, she intercepted a ground ball hit by Nelle and was set to tag her out at first base. Instead of letting that happen, Nelle plowed right over Jane, knocking her flat. "Like a freight train," Jane recalled. Nelle was also wild about football, and played center on her hometown 4th grade football team. My kinda gal!

I found Harper Lee's insecurity about her writing, refreshing. Reading through the early years of her life, it was easy to see the huge influence played by her supportive father; even if he did think giving up law school to move to New York to write, was an "unpractical profession." He thought she'd be much happier staying in Alabama writing for the Monroeville Journal. Had it not been for the encouragement of an old friend, Truman Capote, perhaps she would've backed out and the world might never have read, "He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning." (I still get chills when I read this final sentence)

Harper Lee was and, according to all accounts, still is her own person; a small-town, Southern girl who took a chance moving to New York to pursue her dream, when staying in Alabama, writing for the hometown newspaper, would've been the safe choice. Every time I re-read To Kill A Mockingbird, I thank her for that decision.

To learn more about Harper Lee, I'd recommend Kerry Madden's biography, Harper Lee: Up Close Amazon

***************

For more Women Only Over Fifty thoughts & stories:

WOOF available through Amazon and Echelon Press!

Buy New WOOF Download Companion

Accentuate The Pawsitive!