Posted by Larry Gleeson
Small-town Alabama, 1932. Atticus Finch (played by Gregory Peck) is a lawyer and a widower. He has two young children, Jem and Scout, portrayed by Phillip Alford and Mary Badham. Atticus Finch is currently defending Tom Robinson, a black man (played by Brock Peters) accused of raping a white woman and his children from prejudice.
Meanwhile, Jem and Scout are intrigued by their neighbors, the Radleys, and the mysterious, seldom-seen Boo Radley (played by Robert Duvall) in particular. The messaging that unfolds is timeless.
Nominated for eight Academy Awards and winner of three. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is today’s AFI Movie Club selection.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is a beloved film that appears on five of AFI’s lists of the greatest American films – and Gregory Peck’s iconic character, Atticus Finch, was named the greatest screen hero of all time by the American Film Institute.
The movie is based on a beloved book by Harper Lee, which appears regularly on lists of the greatest American novels.
The movie doesn’t end at the credits. Engage with your family, friends, and others like you who love movies. Check out the AFI Movie Club Discussion Questions for this movie and post your responses in the comment section!
-Atticus says, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” From whose point of view is the story told – and how does that affect the story?
-How would the film be different if it were told from a different character’s perspective?
-TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is a story of a different time in America – but which of its themes and messages are still relevant today?
-How would you rate TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD?
INTERESTING FACTS
Gregory Peck won his first and only Oscar® for his performance as Atticus Finch.
Gregory Peck’s climactic speech – one of the most iconic in American film, running for six minutes and 30 seconds – was done in a single take.
The film’s Scout – Mary Badham – was chosen from hundreds of children in a talent search of the American South. Badham had no prior onscreen acting experience and was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her performance.
I hope the AFI Movie Club brings some inspiration and entertainment during this uncertain time when we are reminded “There’s no place like home.” AFI has created a global, virtual gathering of those who love the movies where each day’s film – announced by a special guest – is accompanied by fun facts, family-friendly discussion points and material from the AFI Archive to bring the viewing experience to life. As a non-profit, AFI Movie Club is a member-powered organization, dependent upon the support of its movie fans. To support AFI Movie Club please consider becoming a member or donating.
About AFI Movie Club
AFI Movie Club is a newly launched free program to raise the nation’s spirits by bringing artists and audiences together – even while we are apart. AFI will shine a spotlight on an iconic movie each day, with special guests announcing select AFI Movies of the Day in short videos posted on AFI.com and social media platforms. Audiences can “gather” at AFI.com/MovieClub to find out how to watch the featured movie of the day with the use of their preexisting streaming service credentials. The daily film selections will be supported by fun facts, family discussion points and exclusive material from the AFI Archive to enrich the viewing experience. Audiences can continue the conversation online using the hashtag #AFIMovieClub. Learn more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/
