# To Kill a Mockingbird **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 21, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584 "2005-12-21T04:27:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/41 "2005-12-22T06:17:58Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I have [bad news](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0149266/) for ya’ll. It’s worse than you think. [Here](http://www.clipsquips.com/images/misc/evan_face.jpg)’s the guy who played Atticus. He has one other IMDB credit: The Late Show with David Letterman–“audience services.” Doesn’t that mean usher? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/42 "2005-12-22T06:23:21Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > It’s worse than you think. [Here](http://www.clipsquips.com/images/misc/evan_face.jpg)’s the guy who played Atticus. He has one other IMDB credit: The Late Show with David Letterman–“audience services.” Doesn’t that mean usher? All in favor of never dicussing [Armen Tamzarian](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour_Skinner) again say nothing. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/43 "2005-12-22T13:07:49Z")
Another great actor is **Frank OVerton** who played Sheriff Heck Tate. His classic speech at the end of the movie (Bob Ewell fell on his own knife) is a work of art. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/44 "2005-12-22T13:23:32Z")
[Levon Helm](http://www.artistdirect.com/Images/Sources/AMGPORTRAITS/music/portrait200/drp100/p135/p13501i2lv7.jpg) Arkansas’ own from _The Band_. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/45 "2005-12-22T17:08:28Z")
Another fan checking in. To me it’s a movie which appeals to the best in human nature. CJ ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/46 "2005-12-22T18:06:36Z")
> [@brian\_ax](#): > > There was a comedian who had, as part of his routine, Gregory Peck doing a scene from \Taxi Driver\. > > “Excuse me. Are you speaking to me?” > > Well, it’s funny if you hear it with Gregory Peck’s voice… “Go away. Beverly is busy.” ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/47 "2005-12-22T18:19:02Z")
> [@Slithy Tove](#): > > “Go away. Beverly is busy.” Wasn’t that Steve Landesberg? lol VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/48 "2005-12-22T18:22:22Z")
> [@Veuve\_ClicquotNJ](#): > > Wasn’t that Steve Landesberg? lol > > VCNJ~ My god that was him, I forgot that line. Wasn’t it in the his first appearance? ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/49 "2005-12-22T19:31:43Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > My god that was him, I forgot that line. Wasn’t it in the his first appearance? I don’t think it was on “Taxi” though. Wasn’t it when he was playing Detective Dietrich on “Barney Miller”? VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/50 "2005-12-22T19:44:41Z")
Great book. Great movie. How many book/movie combinations can you say that about? One thing that I don’t remember as ever being covered: How did Atticus’ wife die? I’ve always wondered whether that had anything to do with his aversion to guns. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/51 "2005-12-22T19:48:57Z")
Mrs. Finch wife’s cause of death was never mentioned. Since the story was told by Scout, who was two when her mother died, she might not hae even known. The think _The Green Mile_ and _Rosemary’s Baby_ are two great books made into great movies. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/52 "2005-12-22T19:49:36Z")
He didn’t dislike guns actually. After he shot the dog so neatly, much to his kid’s surprise, Calpurnia told them about how their daddy was a crack shot, better than anyone around. He used to hunt but gave it up, figuring he had an unfair advantage that he’d been given. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/53 "2005-12-22T20:26:42Z")
> [@Veuve\_ClicquotNJ](#): > > I don’t think it was on “Taxi” though. Wasn’t it when he was playing Detective Dietrich on “Barney Miller”? > > VCNJ~ Definitely Barney Miller, possibly my favorite sitcom of all time. Thanks for the reminder. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/54 "2005-12-22T21:43:28Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > He didn’t dislike guns actually. After he shot the dog so neatly, much to his kid’s surprise, Calpurnia told them about how their daddy was a crack shot, better than anyone around. He used to hunt but gave it up, figuring he had an unfair advantage that he’d been given. That’s right. He stopped shooting becuase he felt he had an unfair advantage. He didn’t want Jem to talk about it because of his modesty. Thank you - I had forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/55 "2005-12-22T22:16:15Z")
> [@Maus Magill](#): > > One thing that I don’t remember as ever being covered: How did Atticus’ wife die? I’ve always wondered whether that had anything to do with his aversion to guns. It’s been a while since I’ve read the book, but did it ever say for certain that she _was_ dead? In real life, Harper Lee’s mother was a mental patient away in a ward for much of her children’s childhoods (which was replicated on _I’ll Fly Away_, a show Lee had no involvement with but clearly copied her to some extent), so it’s possible that her death is implied rather than spoken. (Lee’s mother could be violent when ill and once tried to drown one of her children, while her father Amasa [who was definitely the inspiration for Atticus] was as mild mannered as his literary alter ego.) ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/56 "2005-12-22T22:52:58Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > It’s been a while since I’ve read the book, but did it ever say for certain that she _was_ dead? In real life, Harper Lee’s mother was a mental patient away in a ward for much of her children’s childhoods (which was replicated on _I’ll Fly Away_, a show Lee had no involvement with but clearly copied her to some extent), so it’s possible that her death is implied rather than spoken. (Lee’s mother could be violent when ill and once tried to drown one of her children, while her father Amasa [who was definitely the inspiration for Atticus] was as mild mannered as his literary alter ego.) I really like where you are going with this. My dad always reminded me of Atticus Finch, but that is neither here nor there… ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/57 "2005-12-22T22:58:32Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > I believe AFI rated Atticus as the #1 Movie Hero of all time. I thought that was a remarkably good choice. Yes, they did. Indiana Jones was #2 and then they cut to a commericial. We though who could be #1? They already mentioned names like James Bond and Han Solo (but not Luke?) and Superman couldn’t think who would make a better hero. Then they said his name. I was overcome with emotion and thought “Dammit, they found the right person”. Gregory Peck is one of my favorite actors. He had a small part in the Civil War series “Blue and the Gray” as Abraham Lincoln; stole the show. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/58 "2005-12-23T03:18:54Z")
When my 9th grade English teacher introduced this book to our class, she commented that it was one of her favorite books. Her only complaint after reading it was that the character of Atticus seemed too perfect. Then she saw the movie with Gregory Peck and never had that problem with the character of Atticus any more. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/59 "2005-12-23T03:31:36Z")
From Chapter One: > [@](#): > > Our mother died when I was two, so I never felt her absence. She was a Graham from Montgomery; Atticus met her when he was first elected to the state legislature. He was middle-aged then, she was fifteen years his junior. Jem was the product of their first year of marriage; four years later I was born, and two years later our mother died from a sudden heart attack. They said it ran in her family. I did not miss her, but I think Jem did. He remembered her clearly, and sometimes in the middle of a game he would sigh at length, then go off and play by himself behind the car-house. When he was like that, I knew better than to bother him. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584/60 "2005-12-24T03:03:24Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > It’s a \*great \* movie. Right from the opening credits (which are brilliant), you’re \*in \* it. [Gregory Peck](http://www.filmsite.org/oscars60.html) won the Best Actor Oscar for it. I believe it also won Best Adapted Screenplay and Art Direction. > > As an aside, my daughter, watched it for English earlier this year, and afterward, said to me “Gregory Peck is kind of, um, disturbingly attractive for an old man.” So of course I had to show her what a stunner he was as a \*young \* man, and we had a Gregory Peck filmfest that weekend. Now I’ve probably got the only fourteen-year-old in America whose room is plastered with pictures of Gregory Peck. Phew. I don’t feel so alone now - my friends teased me over my mini-crush in high school. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/336584.md?page=4)