A native of Jonesboro, Arkansas, John Grisham graduated from Mississippi State University in 1977 and the University of Mississippi Law School in 1981. A popular author of legal thrillers, Hollywood has adapted a number of Grisham's bestselling books to the movie screen. This exhibit features movie posters, promotional materials, a mock University of Mississippi diploma used in the movie A Time to Kill, one page from a manuscript of The Chamber (1994), and a note card from Richard Howorth of Square Books promoting the book, A Time to Kill.

Grisham's first novel, A Time to Kill, is based on an actual court case he witnessed in Southaven, Mississippi. Adapted to the silver screen in 1996, director Joel Shumacher shot the film on location in Canton, Mississippi. Samuel L. Jackson stars as Carl Lee Hailey, a father on trial for the murder of two white men who raped his ten-year-old daughter. The case also includes Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Kevin Spacey, Kiefer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, and Ashley Judd.

The Firm (1988) stayed on the New York Times "Best Sellers List" for forty-seven straight weeks. The 1993 film version stars Tom Cruise who plays Mitch McDeere; a recent Harvard Law School graduate at a prestigious law firm in Memphis, Tennessee. Mitch soon discovers the firm is a front for the Mafia. The movie cast also includes Gene Hackman, Jeanne Tripplehorn, and Holly Hunter.    [go to page 2 >>]