“One time Atticus said you never really knew a man until you stood in his shoes and walked around in them; just standin’ on the Radley porch was enough. The summer that had begun so long ago had ended, and another summer had taken its place, and a fall, and Boo Radley had come out.”
We live in a time of super heroes and intergalactic adventurers, but according to the American Film Institute, the greatest hero in film history doesn’t wear a cape, carry a gun or crack a whip: He’s Atticus Finch, played with soft-spoken, gentle conviction by Gregory Peck in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.
The greatest movie hero of all time doesn’t wear a cape, carry a gun or crack a whip – he’s Atticus Finch, the soft-spoken Southern lawyer at the center of To Kill a Mockingbird. Named the screen’s greatest hero by the American Film Institute, Atticus is played by Gregory Peck in director Robert Mulligan’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The unforgettable film returns to the big screen for two days only – on March 24 and 27 – as part of the TCM Big Screen Classics series, featuring newly produced commentary from TCM Primetime Host Ben Mankiewicz.
Told through the eyes of Atticus Finch’s young daughter, Scout (Mary Badham), the black-and-white film explores how the small-town idyll of the Finches’ Southern town is shattered when educated, affluent Atticus defends a poor black man (Brock Peters) accused of rape. Nominated for eight Academy Awards®, To Kill a Mockingbirdwon three Oscars, including Best Actor (Peck) and Best Adapted Screenplay for Horton Foote’s nostalgic, moving cinematic version of the seminal novel.
WHO:
Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies and Universal Pictures
WHEN:
Sunday, March 24, 2019 – 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. (local time)
Wednesday, March 27, 2019 – 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. (local time)
WHERE:
Tickets for To Kill a Mockingbirdcan be purchased at www.FathomEvents.comor participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in more than 600 select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
“One time Atticus said you never really knew a man until you stood in his shoes and walked around in them; just standin’ on the Radley porch was enough. The summer that had begun so long ago had ended, and another summer had taken its place, and a fall, and Boo Radley had come out.”
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD plays at The Hi-Pointe Theater ( 1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63117) Saturday, August 8th at 10:30am as part of their Classic Film Series
Come to the Hi-Pointe Saturday and see Atticus Finch before he became a racist! Harper Lee’s new book Go Set a Watchman – written in the 1950s but only now being published – is turning out to be a hugely controversial. In Watchman, we discover that Atticus Finch, the heroic father figure from Lee’s beloved 1960 Southern novel To Kill a Mockingbird, is a bigot who attends KKK meetings! Yikes! For fans of the book and the beloved 1962 film adaption, it’s like learning there is no Santa Claus.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is one of the few examples where novel and movie for one really have something to say and where both versions are outstanding achievements in their own right. Harper Lee’s bestseller won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and the movie – made with Lee’s full support and produced with the same love for the material – received eight well deserved nominations for the Academy Award. The film won three, including Best Actor for Gregory Peck, a portrayal tailored so convincingly after Harper Lee’s real life father that a lifelong friendship between actor and writer developed. Even Peck’s granddaughter would bear the name “Harper”, to appreciate the mutual appreciation. Family is also on the forefront of the film: Peck really epitomizes the role of the Southern lawyer Atticus Finch who is set to defend a black man (Brock Peters) accused of raping a while girl, convinced of his innocence. Finch has two children he needs to teach values of humanity, and these are based on compassion, courage and fighting for the right cause – against all odds. Actor and character shared these principles, and it shows.
What makes book and movie so special is that everything is seen through the eyes of the children rather than from a more objective perspective. That way the storytelling provides an unusual and fresh angle when we find ourselves stumbling into events more or less by accident and learn what’s really at stake as the youngsters go along. Yet while Atticus’ fight against prejudices may seem to be doomed, hope never dies – and it is a given that the viewer will walk away deeply moved by this picture. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is a masterpiece about childhood, racism, prejudice, integrity and love, and it excels in dealing with all of these issues.
Now you’ll have the chance to see TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD on the big screen when it plays as part of The Hi-Pointe Theater’s Saturday Morning Classic Film Series! Doors open at 10am TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD begins at 10:30! Admission is only $5!!
The Hi-Pointe is located at 1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63117. Their website can be found HERE
“One time Atticus said you never really knew a man until you stood in his shoes and walked around in them; just standin’ on the Radley porch was enough. The summer that had begun so long ago had ended, and another summer had taken its place, and a fall, and Boo Radley had come out.”
The Wildey Theater in Edwardsville, IL (just outside St. Louis) will be hosting two screenings of the beloved, Oscar-winning 1963 classic TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD on Thursday May 15that 3pm and at 7pm. They’re calling the event Memories of Mockingbird: An Evening with “Scout”.
Mary Badham, the actress who played Scout in the film will be attendance to answer questions and sign autographs. Guests will hear Badham’s perspective on the impact of this important film and have an opportunity to meet and get a “Selfie with Scout.” Ms Badham was just ten years old when she starred as Scout in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and was, at the time, the youngest actress ever nominated in this category.
Mary Badham went on to act in just a few more films including William Castle’s LET’S KILL UNCLE (1966) and THIS PROPERTY IS CONDEMNED (1966 – opposite Robert Redford and Charles Bronson). She also starred in “The Bewitchin’ Pool”, the final episode of the original Twilight Zone series.
Badham spent her adult career as an art restorer and a college testing coordinator. Married to a school teacher, and the mother of two, she enjoys traveling around the world recalling her experiences making TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD while expounding on the book’s messages of tolerance and compassion. Lucky St. Louisans won’t want to miss a chance to meet the star of a great film.
Order your tickets in advance. The Wildey only seats around 400 people and this event will sell out.
Wildey Theatre is located at 252 North Main Street, Edwardsville, Illinois
Doors open at 2:30 p.m. for the 3:00 p.m. showing and at 6:00 p.m. for the 7:00 p.m. showing. Movie Trivia will take place at 6:30 p.m. for prizes.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students (high school and younger) and senior citizens (65 and up). All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Wildey Theatre.
The American Film Institute, in conjunction with USANetwork and Universal Pictures, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at the White House on Thursday, April 5 and with the nation on Saturday, April 7. AFI was created in the White House Rose Garden in 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson set a national mandate to “bring together leading artists of the film industry, outstanding educators and young men and women who wish to pursue the art form as their life’s work.”
President Obama will introduce the film at a special screening in the White House Family Theater with an audience that includes children from DC area schools as well as Mary Badham, who portrayed Scout in the film; Gregory Peck’s family, including wife Veronique; and AFI Trustees Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman of Sony Corporation, Ron Meyer, President and COO of Universal Studios and Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, is also expected to attend. President Obama will then celebrate the film with the nation through a special primetime broadcast onUSA Network at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on April 7.
“I’m deeply honored that President Obama will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by introducing it to a national audience,” said Harper Lee, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel on which the movie is based. “I believe it remains the best translation of a book to film ever made, and I’m proud to know that Gregory Peck’s portrayal of Atticus Finch lives on – in a world that needs him now more than ever.”
“TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is an American treasure – a film of family and fatherhood, justice and equality – all so richly embodied in the character of Atticus Finch,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. “We are honored to screen the film in the White House, where AFI was born, and to partner with USANetwork and Universal Pictures to inspire generations of movie lovers to discover and rediscover this classic American film.”
AFI proposed the anniversary celebration to the White House in early January and learned last month that President Obama would be available to participate on April 5 – a timely date as it marks the late Gregory Peck’s 96th birthday. Peck had a long association with the American Film Institute, serving as Founding Chair of the AFI Board of Trustees from 1967 to 1969, and receiving the AFI Life Achievement Award– the highest honor for a career in film – in 1989.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD ranks 25th on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies list of greatest American films, and AFI named Atticus Finch the greatest hero in this history of American film when it announced itsAFI’s 100 Years…100 Heroes and Villains list in 2003. AFI also recognized the film for its #1 ranking of Best Courtroom Dramas in AFI’s 10 Top 10 list and its #2 ranking on AFI’s 100 Years…100 CheersAmerica’s Most Inspiring Films list, just behind IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. The film, which premiered inLos Angeles on Christmas day in 1962 and opened wide in 1963, was directed by Robert Mulligan and produced by Alan J. Pakula.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will showcase a new digital restoration of “To Kill a Mockingbird” in celebration of the film’s 50th anniversary on Wednesday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The evening will feature an introduction by talk show host Tavis Smiley and an onstage discussion with Oscar®-nominated actress Mary Badham. The digital restoration is courtesy of Universal Pictures, which is marking its centennial this year.
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee, “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962) became as much of a classic as its source, and the defining film of Gregory Peck’s career. Produced by Alan J. Pakula and directed by Robert Mulligan, the film features Peck as a Depression-era lawyer struggling against a prejudiced system to exonerate an African-American man falsely accused of rape.
For his iconic portrayal of Atticus Finch, Peck earned his fifth Best Actor nomination and only Oscar. Co-star Robert Duvall made his film debut as the mysterious Boo Radley, while a 10-year-old Badham also made her first screen appearance as Atticus’s daughter Scout. The film unfolds as a coming-of-age story, as Scout learns about injustice, human frailties and the definition of heroism. Badham’s Oscar nomination for her performance made her the youngest actress with that honor at the time.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” earned a total of eight Academy Award® nominations and won three awards. In addition to the aforementioned, it received Oscars® for Black-and-White Art Direction (Alexander Golitzen, Henry Bumstead; Set Decoration: Oliver Emert) and Adapted Screenplay (Horton Foote), and nominations for Black-and-White Cinematography (Russell Harlan), Directing (Mulligan), Original Score (Elmer Bernstein) and Best Picture (Pakula, producer).
The celebration will continue the following day, when the Academy will screen “To Kill a Mockingbird” for 400 Los Angeles Unified School District high school students as part of its ongoing Media Literacy Program. The film’s remarkable ability to connect with viewers of all ages and backgrounds has made it a versatile teaching tool.
Tickets for “To Kill a Mockingbird” are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID, and may be purchased online at www.oscars.org, in person at the Academy box office, or by mail. The Samuel Goldwyn Theater is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. All seating is unreserved. For more information, call (310) 247-3600 or visit www.oscars.org.
Digitally Remastered and Fully Restored with Over Three Hours of Bonus Materials Including Two Full Length Documentaries
To Kill a Mockingbird, one of the screen’s most beloved and critically acclaimed films, celebrates its 50th anniversary with a commemorative Limited Edition Collector’s Series Blu-ray™ Combo Pack as well as on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment on January 31, 2012. The powerful and poignant adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel hits the half-century mark, digitally remastered and fully restored from high resolution 35MM original film elements, plus more than three-and-a-half hours of bonus features chronicling the making of the cinematic masterpiece.
The Limited Edition Collector’s Series Combo Pack of To Kill a Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition will include a Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy of the film, packaged in a hardcover book featuring exclusive movie memorabilia including script pages with Gregory Peck’s handwritten notes, storyboards, poster art and much more.
Released theatrically in 1962, To Kill a Mockingbird won instant accolades for its nuanced performances, splendidly crafted narrative and bold endorsement of racial tolerance, fairness and honor, a combination that still resonates with audiences today. It earned eight Academy Award® nominations and three wins including a Best Actor statuette for Gregory Peck in one of his most iconic roles asthe principled Alabama lawyer Atticus Finch, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Art Direction.
The prestigious American Film Institute lists To Kill a Mockingbird as one of the 100 Greatest American Films and also names Atticus Finch as the No. 1 Film Hero of All Time. A timeless, enduring classic that remains as relevant and impactful today as it was at its release, To Kill a Mockingbird’s appeal continues to span generations.
In honor of its centennial anniversary, Universal Pictures proudly salutes 100 years of unforgettable films that have entertained audiences and touched the hearts of millions around the globe. In celebration of our first 100 years, Universal Studios Home Entertainment is proud to present a selection of our many beloved movies as part of an extensive year-long program that underscores the studio’s rich cinematic history and indelible cultural impact.
Blu-ray™ and DVD Bonus Features:
• Fearful Symmetry— A feature-length documentary on the making of To Kill a Mockingbird with cast and crew interviews and a visit to author Harper Lee’s home town.
• A Conversation with Gregory Peck— An intimate feature-length documentary on one of the most beloved actors in film history with interviews, film clips, home movies and more.
• 100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics— An in-depth look at the film restoration process
• Academy Award® Best Actor Acceptance Speech— Gregory Peck’s speech after winning the Academy Award® for his performance as Atticus Finch.
• American Film Institute Life Achievement Award— Gregory Peck’s memorable remarks upon receiving the AFI Life Achievement Award.
• Excerpt from “Tribute To Gregory Peck” — Cecilia Peck’s heartwarming farewell to her father given at the Academy in celebration of his life.
• Scout Remembers — Actress Mary Badham shares her experiences working with Gregory Peck.
• Feature Commentary with Director Robert Mulligan and Producer Alan Pakula
• Original Theatrical Trailer
Bonus Features Exclusively on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack:
• DIGITAL COPY: Owners of the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack can also download a digital version of the full-length movie from participating digital retailers to enjoy on a choice of popular electronic and portable devices.
• U-CONTROL: SCENE COMPANION: Available on To Kill a Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition for the first time, viewers can watch interviews, see photos and more during key scenes with this picture-in-picture companion featuring narration by Gregory Peck’s Family.
• BD-LIVE™: Access the BD-Live™ Center through your Internet-connected player to watch the latest trailers and more!
• pocket BLU™ app: The groundbreaking pocket BLU™ app uses iPad®, iPhone®, iPod® touch, Android™, PC and Mac® to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-ray™ player. Plus iPad® and Android™ tablet owners can enjoy a new, enhanced edition of pocket BLU™ made especially to take advantage of the tablets’ larger screen and high resolution display. Consumers will be able to browse through a library of Blu-ray™ content and watch entertaining extras on-the-go in a way that’s bigger and better than ever before. pocket
BLU™ offers advanced features such as:
• ADVANCED REMOTE CONTROL: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease.
• VIDEO TIMELINE: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film.
• MOBILE-TO-GO: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
• BROWSE TITLES: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray™. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
• KEYBOARD: Entering data is fast and easy with your device’s intuitive keyboard.
• uHEAR™: Never miss another line of dialogue with this innovative feature that instantly skips back a few seconds on your Blu-ray™ disc and turns on the subtitles to highlight what you missed.
SYNOPSIS
Experience one of the most significant milestones in film history like never before with To Kill a Mockingbird 50th Anniversary Edition. Screen legend Gregory Peck stars as courageous Southern lawyer Atticus Finch – the Academy Award®-winning performance hailed by the American Film Institute as the Greatest Movie Hero of All Time. Based on Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel about innocence, strength and conviction and nominated for eight Academy Awards®, this beloved classic is now digitally remastered and fully restored for optimum picture and sound quality and boasts hours of unforgettable bonus features. Watch it and remember why “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
CAST AND FILMMAKERS:
Cast: Gregory Peck, Robert Duvall, Brock Peters, Mary Badham, John Megna, Rosemary Murphy,
William Windom
Directed By: Robert Mulligan
Screenplay By: Horton Foote fom the novel by Harper Lee
Producers: Alan J. Pakula
Director of Photography: Russell Harlan
Edited By: Aaron Stell
Costume Designer: Rosemary Odell
Original Music By: Elmer Bernstein
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
BLU-RAY™
Street Date: January 31, 2012
Copyright: 1962 Universal Studios
Selection Number: Limited Edition Collector’s Series Combo Pack: 61121056, Blu-ray™ Combo
Pack: 61121057, Canadian Collector’s Series Combo Pack: 61121286000, Canadian Blu-ray™
Combo Pack: 61121285
Running Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes
Layers: BD-50
Picture: Black and White
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 1.85:1
Rating: Not Rated, Canadian: PG, Quebec: G
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 / DTS 2.0 Mono, French DTS 2.0 Mono
DVD
Street Date: January 31, 2012
Copyright: 1962 Universal Studios
Selection Number: 61115344, Canadian: 61120630
Running Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes
Layers: DVD-9
Picture: Black and White
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 1.85:1
Rating: Not Rated
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Sound: English Dolby Digital 5.1 / Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, French Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
