Rest in Peace Harper Lee (1926-2016)
Friday, February 19, 2016 at 8:30PM The world has lost one of its most important literary and cultural figures with the death of author Nelle Harper Lee. There’s very little to say about the importance of “To Kill a Mockingbird” that hasn’t already been said, both today specifically and in the nearly fifty six years since the novel’s publication. Having attended both high school and college in Georgia, I saw firsthand how much the novel rattled the consciousness of the deep South to its core. It’s still banned and its literary merits are still contested in many places in the South, demonstrating how much weight and resonance the novel still carries—we often turn away from truths that are too ugly to face.
Gregory Peck and Brock Peters in Robert Mulligan's 1962 Film Adaptation of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Though her impact in the realm of literature is clear, she also helped to shape the world of cinema. The 1962 screen adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird (which netted three Oscars, including a Best Actor trophy for Gregory Peck and a Best Adapted Screenplay prize for Horton Foote) left an indelible mark on the medium. She was also an uncredited researcher on her friend Truman Capote’s book In Cold Blood, which has been adapted many times over—most notably in Richard Brooks 1967 film.
For cinephiles, it’s hard to consider Harper Lee without thinking of Catherine Keener’s staid, impressive and underrated portrayal of the prize-winning author in Bennett Miller’s Capote. She played Lee as smartly observant, terse but incredibly perceptive. The scene on the train where Lee quietly picks up on the fact that Capote has paid the ticket agent to compliment his work is one of the film’s choice moments and is a wonderful (albeit fictionalized) window into the friendship of these two authors.
For what she gave to the world of literature, American culture and (inadvertently) the world of cinema we all love, we say to Nelle Harper Lee—thank you and farewell. Today will certainly not be the last time her name is spoken.
Reader Comments (17)
OH MY GOD NO!
Rest In Peace Harper Lee.
Thank you for To Kill a Mockingbird.
Such a great scene. Keener was exactly what I'd expected Harper would be like. She was another victim of category fraud.
we often turn away from truths that are two ugly to face
There's an error here can you spot it.
I do enjoy To Kill A Mockingbird. I do think it's an important novel. But best/most important of the century? No. Gravity's Rainbow. A Dance to the Music of Time. Underworld. Invisible Man. Infinite Jest. All better and more important twentieth century novels.
I remember reading To Kill a Mockingbird in English and loving it! I want to give it a re-read sometime soon. Harper Lee will be missed!
However, I don't think Catherine Keener's performance is all that great. She's solid, but nothing spectacular or Oscar worthy. She stole a spot, in my opinion, from the likes of Gong Li, Thandie Newton, Lisa Kudrow or Glenn Close.
Sandra Bullock's portrayal in Infamous was waaaayyyyyyy better! Definitely more nuanced, with more layers than Keener's stoic, mute portrayal.
Bhuray: Keener's nomination was probably a subtler version of the Richard Dreyfuss situation. They knew she was actually better in, and genuinely WORTHY of nomination for, The 40 Year Old Virgin, but that would involve anyone in the Academy admitting they'd actually watched something called The 40 Year Old Virgin. (They would commit to something much more embarrassing the following year: Actually giving Borat an Adapted Screenplay nom, because, "no, we see nothing wrong with clogging up a writing category with a clearly heavily improvised movie. After all, we've let two Mike Leigh films get Original Screenplay nominations at this point and we don't see a problem with his improv process clogging things up there.")
"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a great coming of age story. To follow Scout & Jim for that year is to enter the adult world of political and moral consciousness and hypocrisy. Most of us emerge with more understanding and awareness of the problems of poverty, prejudice, and racism. And also hope, let's not forget how influential Atticus Finch is.
The book is up there with "Diary of Anne Frank" in terms of world wide readership and influence.
I will always be grateful to Gregory Peck for bring Atticus to life on screen.
Thank you and RIP Harper Lee.
"However, I don't think Catherine Keener's performance is all that great. She's solid, but nothing spectacular or Oscar worthy. She stole a spot, in my opinion, from the likes of Gong Li, Thandie Newton, Lisa Kudrow or Glenn Close."
Bhuray, which Close performance are you thinking of?
Maybe it is understandable, but nobody has mentioned Go Set a Watchman, the infamous "sequel" to To Kill a Mockingbird. I was so thrilled when it was announced that the manuscript had been found and it would be published. But then there was all the fuss and controversy that is was actually a draft for To Kill... and that Harper Lee was now nearly deaf and blind and was manipulated by her agent to authorize publication. So far I haven't dared read it. Has anybody?
Bhuray, which Close performance are you thinking of?
Nine Lives.
It is kind of funny how much people seem to hate Go Set A Watchman. I am was planning on reading it during Christmas holidays but was too busy, maybe I should read it now. The book got great reviews in my country, here To Kill A Mockingbird is not so well known so people are not quite as emotionally attached to it people are in the US.
RIP,The Keener nomination is one of my faves ever,Mcdormand is taking up room there.
I'd like to put in a good word for Sandra Bullock's competing performance as Nell Harper Lee in "Infamous."
"Capote" is the more polished, classy film of the two Lee-and-Capote-research-In-Cold-Blood films that were released at nearly the same time, in the bizarre tradition of Armageddon vs. Deep Impact and Volcano vs. Dante's Peak. But "Infamous" finds interestingly different notes from "Capote", starting with Toby Jones' more external, slightly caricatured take on Truman Capote, and a warmer performance by Jeff Daniels as the sheriff than Chris Cooper's in "Capote". It also pays more attention to Capote's NYC friends than "Infamous." Anyway, Bullock's Nell is essentially similar to Keener's Nell, though a bit more perky and sparkly, because Bullock just can't help projecting her likability.
"Infamous" also scores a bunch of extra casting points for its two murderers - Lee Pace and Daniel Craig!
Anyway, I am endlessly fascinated by these two films, which tell the exact same story a little differently. "Capote" may the Oscar winner, but "Infamous" is a worthy companion.
I'm in the Bullock camp over who was a better Harper Lee. I will never understand Keener's nomination and the defense of it while Queen Latifah's coaster nomination is derided in some circles. Part of it is just Keener didn't have anything to do in Capote.
Morgan -- I definitely agree with you on that!
matt & 3rtful -- Not Glenn's performance in Nine Lives, but her one in Heights.
@Marcos I am late on this so I hope you reread the blogs sometime and find this.
I taught To Kill a Mockingbird and personally think it is one of the top 3 American novels of the 20th century…
I began to read Go Set the Watchman … it is poorly written and if you love Atticus from TKAM … do not read this novel. He is a totally different character and quite unloveable
Just remember the original which I believe was written entirely with the help of Truman Capote… I have read his novels and short stories … and the style is amazingly close.
In new GSTW… it his a totally different manner of writing and not a good one.
Harper Lee is one of the best authors, and "To Kill a Mockingbird" is my favorite novel. I've read it twice already, and the last time I read and analyzed it in my literature course. So many issues are described there, and I think that each person should read it at least once. I can also recommend one resource where you can Get more information about it if someone is interested. There are different short papers describing different aspects and issues of that novel. Yesterday I read an article dedicated to the problem of racism and opened some new facts for me, although I've already read the novel, but it opened my eyes to some things I've not noticed before.