President Obama will deliver an introduction to USA network’s telecast of “To Kill a Mockingbird” on Saturday, April 7 at 8 p.m. ET, the network announced Tuesday.
Based on Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the film tells the story of lawyer Atticus Finch, played by Gregory Peck, and his struggle for justice in the small fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, in the 1930s.
“With its bold portrayal of racial injustice and strong message of tolerance, fairness and honor, the movie still resonates with audiences today,” USA noted Tuesday.
The basic cable network said the telecast of the 1962 flick underscores its commitment to its public service campaign “to combat hate and discrimination, and promote greater understanding and acceptance.”
In 1995, the Library of Congress selected “To Kill a Mockingbird” for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, deeming it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
The telecast marks the first national broadcast of the digitally re-mastered film from Universal Pictures which, like USA network, is owned by NBC Universal which, in turn is owned by Comcast.
Lee said Tuesday she’s honored Obama will introduce the telecast, adding, “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.”
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