Oliver Peoples & To Kill A Mockingbird

One of my favorite books of all time is Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird. Shortly after it was published in 1960, it was turned into a movie (1962) in which half of the money needed to make it was provided by actor Gregory Peck. Peck had such great respect for Harper Lee’s only published piece of literature, that one of his grandson’s was named Harper as a way to pay homage.

The film To Kill A Mockingbird earned Peck an Academy Award for best actor for playing Scout’s father, Atticus, which he has said was one of his favorite roles. As testament to this fact in some small way, the gentleman who played Tom Robinson (Brock Peters), the character Peck’s character defended, read Peck’s eulogy at his funeral in 2003.

With the 50th anniversary of the film right around the corner, the founder of Oliver Peoples eye glasses, Larry and Dennis Leight, are introducing a Gregory Peck frame.

After being approached by Gregory Peck’s son, Anthony Peck (who is also a loyal customer of Oliver Peoples) who now has the famed “Atticus” frames, he felt such a style would be something well-recognized and appreciated by the public.

 

Images via The Times Magazine

Memorable Battle

 

With the Academy Awards show just around the corner, I have been thoroughly enjoying the last few weeks on Turner Classic Movies channel.  It seems during this time each year I happen upon a classic movie that I either didn’t know about, or have heard about, but have yet to see.  And more times than not, I am thrilled with what I discover.  Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall in the 1957 film Designing Woman was no exception recently as I was enjoying a lazy Sunday morning.

This classic, yet comical battle of the sexes is engaging, not only because of the talent on screen, but because of the decor in Lauren Bacall’s apartment and the fashionable world she works in every day. The comedy is thoroughly enjoyable and the drama light-hearted, despite the fact that it involves an attempted hit on Mike Hagen’s (Gregory Peck) life. In other words you will have no problem going to sleep at night.  The co-mingling of their polar opposite worlds – Peck is a sports writer and Bacall a fashion designer - logically brings with it some hiccups, and there lies the comedy. And of course each of the characters’ former flames play a role, bringing an extra source of entertainment.  For example this line hints at one character in particular who Marilla Hagen (Lauren Bacall) isn’t necessarily a fan of:

Mike Hagen ............Gregory Peck

"So, what's for dinner? "

Marilla Hagen ............Lauren Bacall

"Lori Shannon. "

Mike Hagen ............Gregory Peck

"For dinner?"

Take a peek at the trailer to see if this film would be something you might enjoy by clicking here.  I couldn’t help but notice how much trailers have changed in the last fifty years, but never the less, the right message is shared with potential viewers.  I think you might just like it. Start popping the popcorn!

Dolores Gray playing Lori Shannon.

Marilla Hagen’s apartment

Images: (2) Paris Apartment (3) TCM (4) Film Posters (5) IMCDB (6) Habitually Chic