TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
Based on Harper Lee’s renowned novel, Robert Mulligan’s classic To Kill a Mockingbird is widely recognized as one of the greatest films ever made. Despite being released more than five decades ago, the film’s approach and view towards real world issues such as racial equality and rape are still relevant to this day. To Kill a Mockingbird tells the story of a widowed lawyer and father of two named Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) who’s assigned to defend a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. The film’s enormous critical and financial success can in a large part attribute to Peck’s impeccable performance as Atticus Finch. He’s authoritative, yet full of warmth. To Kill a Mockingbird also opts to tell the story through the eyes of Finch’s daughter, Scout (Mary Badham), allowing the audience to view Atticus Finch as, first and foremost, a father. Peck would eventually win an Academy Award for the role of Atticus Finch, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s the type of father every man aspires to be, and the kind of man every father hopes to live up to.