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President Obama to introduce ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ on TV

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President Obama will introduce a new restoration of the 1962 courtroom drama ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ on April 7 on the USA Network.

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ tells the story of white Southern lawyer Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck), who defends a black man accused of rape, Tom Robinson (Brock Peters).

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The airing on USA marks the first national broadcast of the movie since it was digitally remastered and restored by Universal Pictures and the American Film Institute in conjunction with Universal’s centennial this year.

‘I’m deeply honored that President Obama will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by introducing it to a national audience,’ Lee said in a statement. ‘I believe it remains the best translation of a book to film ever made, and I’m proud to know that Gregory Peck’s portrayal of Atticus Finch lives on -- in a world that needs him now more than ever.’

USA is broadcasting ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ as part of its ‘Characters Unite’ public-service campaign, a bid to combat discrimination through on-air programming, digital content and events.

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ won Peck an Academy Award for best actor. The film also won Oscars for adapted screenplay and art direction.

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-- Rebecca Keegan
twitter.com/@thatrebecca

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