Tribute: Harper Lee

In 1999, when there were top 100 lists everywhere of the best this and that of the 20th century, only one title was on both the list of best novels and the list of best movies: Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Today, we mourn the loss of Miss Lee, whose later-year troubles, with reports that her new book was published without her informed consent, will fade while the original book and movie will never dim.

When I was writing my first book about movies that help families discuss important values like integrity, courtesy, empathy, and helping others, I realized that I could have included To Kill a Mockingbird in every category. It is one of the best movies ever made that shows us how children see the world. It has one of the most beautiful and evocative movie scores, by Elmer Bernstein. It has Gregory Peck’s Oscar-winning performance as Atticus Finch, a lawyer so principled he inspired generations of idealistic college students to go to law school. (Their chagrin on seeing a different version of Atticus in the later book will fade as well.)

It is about race, family, honor, and standing up for what is right. It has Robert Duvall’s first movie appearance, where he breaks your heart without saying a word. And it has one of the most beautiful final lines in all of literature, again about Atticus, who was sitting by the bed of his injured son, Jeb. “He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.”