ATTICUS & SCOUT

I watched a rerun of “To Kill a Mockingbird” a couple of weeks ago, and for some reason I have thought of this movie off and on since then. But more than the movie, I have thought of the actors in the movie; most especially Gregory Peck, who portrayed “Atticus Finch” and Mary Badham, who portrayed “Scout Finch,” his daughter.

I would love to see the current Broadway play by the same title. Jeff Bridges plays the “Atticus” character and Celia Keenan-Bolger plays the “Scout” character.

However, if I had my choice, (and had it been possible) I would have chosen to stand on the sidelines during the making of that 1962 movie. I was 13 at the time, whereas the actress who portrayed Scout was 10, (and at this writing is still with us and is 68 years of age).

Mary Badham was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Supporting Actress for “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the first movie role in which she had ever appeared. (However, the 16 year old Patty Duke won the Oscar that year for her portrayal of Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker”). Badham appeared in a few movies after “TKAM,” but none as memorable and enduring as her first. In 2016 she was invited to a White House screening of that old movie, and “rubbed shoulders” with President Obama and his wife. Today she is an art restorer and college testing coordinator, though she remains open to appearing in what she would characterize as “suitable” acting roles, (as she deplores the language and sexuality rampant in modern movies).

Pt. 2

However, all my previous meanderings are just an entre to what I wish to now share with you.

For you see, something almost magical happened during the course of the making of the movie which led to an irrevocable and ongoing connection between several of the main actors.

“Scout” has maintained a relationship with her movie brother, “Jem,” (Phillip Alford), and with “Tom Robinson,” (Brock Peters) until his death in 2005. However, given the roles they played in the movie, perhaps the tenderest and most abiding connection existed between Mary Badham and Gregory Peck; who passed away four decades after the release of the movie.

For you see, “Scout” continued to call Gregory Peck “Atticus” in their private conversations, as well as when referring to him in interviews and public conversations. Simply put her movie father was and would always be her “Atticus.” From Mary Badham’s perspective a significant symmetry and correlation existed between her movie father and the real man, and the traits of the “Atticus” character spoke volumes about those of the legendary actor.

But I think anyone who has watched “TKAM” would agree that “Atticus Finch” (and by implication Gregory Peck) comes across as a courteous, courageous, and caring man; (the three primary attributes I take away from the primary man of the movie).

Pt. 3

I did a little research before I “put pen to paper,” and what was so compelling to me were several dozen quotations of and about the mythical “Atticus Finch,” and upon which I conveniently assign Badham’s assessment of the man who portrayed him in the movie.

Following are some of “Atticus” words, as well as words people said about him in the movie:

“Sometimes we have to make the best of things, and the way we conduct ourselves when the chips are down—well, all I can say is, when you and Jem are grown, maybe you’ll look back on this with some compassion and some feeling that I didn’t let you down.”

“It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.”

“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.”

“He’s the same in the court-room as he is on the public streets.”

“The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”

“Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in, not about what you were interested in.”

Pt. 4

I honestly don’t think it’s for nothing that the child actress continued to call Gregory Peck by his cinematic name of “Atticus” for the four decades which elapsed between the making of the movie and the day he went on to his reward.

And based on the content of the movie quotes, three of the character’s (and the actor’s) key attributes were Courtesy, Courage and the natural wherewithal to Care about people.

Scripture is replete with admonitions related to these attributes.

Speaking of Courtesy, in Gal. 6:10 we read,

“As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good to all men…”

Speaking of Courage, in Deut. 31:6 we read,

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

And speaking of a Caring spirit, in Matt. 7:12 we read,

“Whatsoever you would that men would do to you, do you even so to them.”

I like to think that Gregory Peck was both righteously proud and humanly humbled when Mary Badham called him “Atticus.” I like to think her characterization of him “kept him on his toes” and caused him to redouble his efforts to emulate the “Atticus” character. I like to think that Mary’s use of the “Atticus” moniker conjured up some of the lines he once learned and spoke in the movie.

I think we all have something we can learn from “Atticus.”

by William McDonald, PhD. Copyright pending