To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Perhaps the best adaptation of a novel (by Harper Lee) to the screen ever (won the appropriate Writing Oscar) featuring the role with which Gregory Peck will always be identified Atticus Finch (AFI’s #1 hero); he won the Best Actor Oscar on his fifth and last nomination. The film its director and child actor Mary Badham (“Scout”) were also nominated. An outstanding film about fathers values and the courage to stand up for what’s right against the odds and public opinion. Added to the National Film Registry in 1995. #34 on AFI’s 100 Greatest Movies list. #17 on AFI’s Top 25 Film Scores list. #2 on AFI’s 100 Most Inspiring Movies list.

Peck is the Southern lawyer father of two young children and surrogate to a third “Dill” (modeled after the author’s real-life friend Truman Capote) who play games and make up stories about their mysterious neighbor an older “child” they dub “Boo” Radley who isn’t shown till late in the film and is played by Robert Duvall in his screen debut. When a Black man (Brock Peters) is accused of raping a white woman Peck’s Finch defends the “Negro” against all odds and the community’s prejudice. Frank Overton gives a strong performance as the town’s sheriff.

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