Gregory Peck tells a story about Harper Lee while filming TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

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In this clip from the AFI Archive, Gregory Peck tells a story about Harper Lee while filming TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.
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[@sunny_zeddy_cy]

The most ruggedly beautifully handsome actor EVER with such a grand stature and his mountain-thunder voice always expressing himself so eloquently, Greg was a real intellectual and such a social & organizational leader in his industry, and he gave so many superb iconic screen portrayals.

[@lahaza6515]

I agree completely! Years ago I BRIEFLY:)) tried online dating & in my profile I wrote that "the quiet, intelligent authority of Atticus Finch would be the sort of man I'd like to go to dinner with." Needless to say I never met an Atticus on there!

[@lahaza6515]

Gary Cooper had that similar type of look & elegant, quietly masculine way about him.

[@sunny_zeddy_cy]

I would have LOVED to date Greg : the GREAT GRAND & GORGEOUS Gregory Peck the most ruggedly soulfully beautifully handsome & thoroughly incomparably magnificent. He is the one & only cinematic love of my life, for 44 years now since I was 10 y/o. Its his birthday tomorrow

[@TedsHoldOver]

Well said.

[@peggypeggy4137]

@@lahaza6515 Yes , you are totally right. Hate to say it but that seems rare these days in Hollywood. Maybe Harrison Ford?

[@NicoLoveswater]

One of the Greatest Films of All Time!

[@rkninrknin4610]

One of the greatest actors rip gregory peck

[@ronlacker326]

Nah. Just more Marcist, anti-white racist propaganda.

[@Thisbirdhasfl0wn_]

Gregory peck Is the most beautiful man in Hollywood ever AND HIS VOICE IS SO CALMING 💕😭

[@muffs55mercury61]

And he never changed. He left a great body of work.

[@Susanluc59]

I just listented to the audiobook, and my heart broke at how many comments were from high school kids that were grousing about 'having' to read the book. I read it in grade 10, in 1980, and have probably read it a good twenty times since then, and I fall in love with it again every time I do.

[@kellyford5903]

Sue…..Man ‘O Man I’m with you!! I STILL read it at least twice a year - WONDERFUL!!!

[@BBQ_Jackfruit]

I didn’t enjoy very many of the assigned readings in high school, but I adored “To Kill a Mockingbird.” I think it’s the greatest American novel. My heart breaks at school districts removing the book from the curriculum because of “racism.” Way to miss the point.

[@flannerymonaghan-morris7461]

@@BBQ_Jackfruit I do too, and I was one of those weird kids who loved assigned reading in high school. It was/is one of my mom’s favorite books, and it pains me to see it being removed because people miss the point of it all. Thankfully, that has never really happened in my high school-we haven’t had many books banned or removed.

[@RiceBBinka]

That feels so weird for me as only last year I was in 10th grade, I read this book too. At first I was a little annoyed from having to read it but now I don’t think its so bad and I’m glad I read it. I find it amazing I read this the same age a whole 41 years later than you.

[@bonnischnabel2026]

Me too……

[@umeshchandrasharma314]

My most favorite Hollywood actor talking about one great movie based on a great novel - To kill a mocking bird.

[@odysodys1098]

Cute story! Gregory Peck was an impressive man. A childhood hero.

[@Brough1111]

One of the greatest movies and books, Harper Lee and Gregory Peck pure genius

[@ericfreund3496]

Great Story !!! I can’t image anybody else playing Atticus Finch…he was incredible.

[@patriciagraham2287]

Gregory the Great! A true gentleman and a gentle man - I loved him! ------still do!

[@sunny_zeddy_cy]

yes !!! the GREAT GRAND & GORGEOUS Gregory Peck the most ruggedly soulfully beautifully handsome & thoroughly incomparably magnificent of all filmstars. He is the one & only cinematic love of my life, for 44 years now since I was 10 y/o. Its his birthday tomorrow

[@TheStockwell]

During a public appearance by Peck, an audience member said that he became a lawyer because of seeing Gregory Peck's performance in "To Kill a Mockingbird." It gets even better than that: he named his son Atticus. You can't make up things like that!

[@TrequartistaFM]

I’m not in law, but my boss named his son atticus too.

[@WolfeTone66]

And apparently he also bought a bird from the pet shop, a Finch..🙄

[@majorlaff8682]

@@WolfeTone66 And named it Scout. Or was it Jem?

[@Naila.360]

The Million Pound Note (1954) I watched it today and I love him so much, can't believe he is no more, ... he will be missed always and forever

[@sunny_zeddy_cy]

nobody and I mean NOBODY EVER looked as gorgeous as Greg did in that movie. WOW. He really is the GREAT GRAND & GORGEOUS Gregory Peck the most ruggedly soulfully beautifully handsome & thoroughly incomparably magnificent of all filmstars. He is the one & only cinematic love of my life, for 44 years now since I was 10 y/o. I've seen all his films and there's over a dozen of them I've rewatched multiple times. Its his birthday tomorrow

[@gwynnielsen5081]

The book and movie are iconic. Some want high schools to remove it from their English curriculums, which would be a crime as it is used to teach about the ills of racism.

[@CPAndy-x5x]

Black students don't want to read it because "it's not about ME."

[@patrickobrien8851]

Yes, I think it is a mistake to remove books from curricula. However, newer editions of the book should have some later commentary that references Lee's other book, Go Set A Watchman, where the real Atticus Finch is portrayed as the bigot Lee's father actually was. With this truthful proviso, newer editions of TKAM would describe (a) the ills of racism, as you say, and (b) the lies of those who are racist, as Go Set A Watchman clarifies.

[@davidp4043]

A very fine actor.

[@Mooney82]

Gregory a legend of classic Hollywood

[@DATo_DATonian]

For those who may be interested: There is a marvelous book called simply, 'Mockingbird' by Charles J. Shields which is a biography of Harper Lee's life. Of course it contains a ton of details concerning Harper Lee's early life as well as the writing of the book and the making of the movie. It was an absolutely fascinating and illuminating read and I can heartily recommend it to anyone who is a fan of this story or Harper Lee.

[@americanwoman7078]

Thank you

[@joevasquez6375]

A very humble and personable actor.

[@onetrueslave]

Another reason why it may have felt like swimming downstream for him while making this film was likely because, as someone who knew him well once put it (paraphrasing here...) "Gregory didn't need much acting for his portrayal of Atticus Finch because that was simply who he was in real life." -Likely referring to his being a humble, soft spoken, decent and honorable man.

[@SpeckInTheUniverseMihirSemwal]

Miss such old charm in our times 😪

[@carefulpilgrim]

I love that he could laugh at himself and tell an unflattering story!

[@beatricepalmer2763]

The most perfect movie and actor!

[@kj6216]

I absolutely love the book and movie

[@flaviagoncalves8215]

I could hear his voice forever

[@maguffintop2596]

Now this is the greatest American novel.

[@James19780]

Love you Gregory peck ❤❤❤❤

[@leahstepp4098]

Love his voice❤

[@captainmw8885]

That voice! He was truly Atticus!

[@MyLateralThawts]

A little pot belly? “Well Harper, that’s just good acting.” A quote from Greg giving another interview.

[@stevewilliams3850]

I wish I could have gotten to meet HarperLee. She and my grandfather were first cousins, even though there was thirty-two years difference between them. Granddaddy was born in 1894 and she was born in 1926. Her father and Granddaddy's mother were brother and sister. There were seven of the Lee children; the children of Cader Alexander Lee and Theodosia Euphrattes Wyndham Lee. There were three girls and four boys. I knew Steve Lee. There was Arthur Lee, Henry Lee, Ammassa Coleman Lee (Harper's father); and Cossie Lee, Fannie Lee and my great grandmother, Jesse Lee. And Jesse Lee Williams, and A.C. Lee (Harper's dad) were brother and sister. Uncle Cole Lee was pretty old when he started his family. But Then, my great grand mother, Jesse, might have been a lot older than him. I have a first cousin who has letters that Uncle Cole Lee had written to my grandfather. Granddaddy took care of his mother when she got old.

[@robertmcghintheorca49]

It's no wonder he's number one on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest heroes in history.

[@critical_analysis]

Gregory Peck, the most handsome man to ever grace Hollywood. He was "MANLY" Handsome unlike the flakes of today! This man had everything! Dashing looks, majestic presence, commanding voice, incredible acting skills and a wonderful and kind nature. He had great courage and integrity and all his life fought for various social causes as well. A beautiful man both inside and out. My favorite person in whole of films. 1. One of the first stars to reject studio contract system as he didn't want to be a slave and wanted to be an independent man. The boss of MGM Louis B.Meyer who was known to "generate" tears at will, put on a great show to convince Greg to accept the studio contract. Greg stuck to his guns and refused the contract; 2. One of the first stars to act in a film which exposed the currents of anti-Semitism during the time. Many of his friends and Hollywood people asked him to reject that movie as it may spell an end to his career. But, again Greg stuck to his principles and acted in the film called "Gentleman's Agreement"; 3. One of the major stars to relentlessly fight for social causes like racial equality which culminated in the masterpiece of a film "To Kill a Mockingbird"; The greatest tribute for Greg came from the author Harper Lee herself who remarked "Gregory Peck was perfect for the role of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. She said that Peck "played himself" in the role"; 4. Greg is remember as a trusted and lifelong friend. His colleagues, and even smalltime technicians have only wonderful words to say about him. Several of the stunning ladies and biggest stars of the Hollywood's golden age like Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner, Lauren Bacall and so on have mentioned numerous times in their biographies and elsewhere about the wonderful and kind nature of Greg. Ava Gardner just before her death, phoned Greg and raised concern about what will happen to her housekeeper and dog after her death. Greg promised her he will take care of them and true to his word he took care of them after her death; I can go on and on about this wonderful man but it will still not suffice to praise him. No ONE will ever come near to this legend in Hollywood. Quite simply the BEST. Gregory, forever!

[@Anonymous-ng4wc]

Tbh the pot belly makes him even hotter

[@CPAndy-x5x]

That part forever belongs to HIM.

[@berthabridges3483]

To Kill a Mockingbird changed my life in so many ways. History was passed down orally in the Black community's because not everyone could read. She wrote a book 📖 that gave voice to those stories of years of injustices and the silence of the "good people." There were very brave white southerners, and Haper Lee's father was one of them. Please, don't allow anyone to ban her book. That would be yet another American tragedy. 🕊 Let your children read the book or listen to it on Kindle. You can't change history by covering over it but by recognizing your mistake and changing it. 💯

[@hackbritton3233]

The impeccable gentleman.

[@WindOnMyWings]

This is a pearl...

[@rmm1774]

If Clarke Gable was 'the King', Gregory Peck was the heir apparent.

[@steveadams1576]

That was perfect ❤

[@anoushkaarmstrong7673]

He certainly knew how to tell a story :-> My mother was the most avid reader i have ever met. She also loved movies. She would always say how the book is always better than the movie. Until it came to " To Kill A Mocking Bird". ~

[@brucekuehn4031]

It is no secret that the character Dill was based on Truman Capote from Ms Lee’s childhood. The future author was the odd little boy who lived with his aunt and they became good friends in real life. His mother moved him back up to New York, but he continued to spend his summers down in Alabama.

[@altheapalis]

my forever crush

[@Tabitha-7]

Honorable man

[@tom7530]

Lovely

[@flannerymonaghan-morris4825]

And to think he was, what, in his 80’s here? Man, he looked good for an 80 something year old fella, could have passed for mid to late 50’s early 60’s at the most. I also must add, he is also the 2nd oldest winner of the Best Supporting Actor-TV Miniseries or Movie award at the Golden Globes at the age of 82. The oldest winner in that category is still John Gielgud, who was 84 at the time of his win. The youngest winner in that category by contrast is Chris Colfer, who was only 20 when he won the award, beating out James Franco (the previous record holder by nearly 10 years), who won at age 23, who then beat out James Brolin, the previous record holder for 31 years (he won at age 30).

[@AdventuresByKyssa]

There will only ever be one person who could play Atticus Finch and that is this guy; nothing against Jeff Daniels, but you can't compare or compete with Gregory Peck

[@jcatvelazquez]

They don’t make movies stars like Peck these days

[@TheStockwell]

Not in the American film industry, anyway.

[@jerryblake4088]

He's next to actor Jsmes Mason,remarkable men😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@knitchywa]

Atticus❤

[@peasblossom1973]

Nobody called her "Harper" though - she was called by her real first name, Nell. Wonderful movie.

[@rextrek]

51st his grandson resembles him ...... he plays SPOCK on StarTrek Strange New Worlds

[@dvjoshi764]

Just having the right to say, “I am Atticus Finch”

[@patrickobrien8851]

Folks might very well be disappointed to learn that Atticus Finch is a very much cleaned up version of Amasa Lee, Harper Lee's father. Amasa was a lawyer and, as a local historian put it, a "gentleman bigot". Harper Lee's "other novel", Go Set a Watchman, published in 2015, is frequently interpreted as a first draft of To Kill A Mockingbird, and the 2015 book paints a realistic picture of the real Atticus Finch and, it is not a pretty picture. Of course, Gregory Peck could not have known this during his lifetime, and Harper apparently didn't go out of her way to let him in on the family secret. From simple probabilities alone, a W gentleman in the American south during the 1930s would likely not have been as any way as liberal or as compassionate as the character Atticus Finch in the TKAM novel.

[@mrrooz190]

I didn’t get the joke can someone explain?

[@garyspence2128]

No...ask you best American friends...

[@deadhardy]

The joke is that Gregory Peck thought she was tearing up due to their great acting when, in reality, she was tearing up because Gregory's round stomach reminded her of her own father

[@RandolphStephenson-q1l]

ALAS ! Ladies and Gentlemen. The Real Atticus Finch!🤗😇🫴