To Kill a Mockingbird

A well-known book as a well as a movie, To Kill a Mockingbird is a heartfelt film telling of the evils within racial prejudice. The film follows Scout and Jem, the children of a lawyer named Atticus. The film goes as we watch the many struggles that racial prejudice ensues and many lessons are learned by Scout. Atticus is placed to defend a falsely accused black man for the rape of a white woman. The film plays out with the narration by the voice of an older Scout Finch. The audience watches as the town demonstrates prejudice and Atticus struggles against it.

The film was made in 1962 off the Pulitzer-Prize winning novel written by Harper Lee. The film ran for two hours and 10 minutes, receiving 8 Academy Award nominations and winning 3 of its nominations. Atticus is played by Gregory Peck, who received a Best Actor award for his moving performance. This movie was the peak of his career. Gregory Peck made lasting friendships through this film that carried on through his death in 2003.The film also marked the debut of the well-renowned actor Robert Duvalle as the hero Boo Radley. Although he is only in a few minutes of the film, he plays possibly the biggest role.

Greed and Gold

Another classic Humphrey Bogart film, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, is a western film about 3 prospectors searching for gold and finding the greed that surrounds it. Although they are warned of the changing nature of the gold, they do not heed the warning and are punished for it later. Greed is not their only enemy. Bandits meet them along the rode. Within the exchange of words and later gunfire, the classic line, “Badges?…I don’t have to show you no stinkin’ badges!” is delivered by the lead bandit. The film embodies the harmful nature of greed and how something such as gold can change people for the worst.

The film had some unique characteristics within the casting and directing. The director, John Huston, cast his father, Walter Huston, for the second time and this time his father received an Oscar for his performance, making John the first director to direct his father to an Oscar. Also, since both John and Walter Huston received Oscars, they became the first son and father winning in the same year. (John later directed his daughter to an Oscar in a separate film.) As usual, Bogart delivers an excellent performance along with the others, but he did not receive any nominations.

White House

The critically-acclaimed classic and a with stander of time, Casablanca consistently makes it on top 10 movies of all time. Casablanca is a black and white film that displays a vivid story of love and war. Set in the Word War II era, the movie illustrates a classic love triangle. The great Humphrey Bogart plays as the protagonist and does an outstanding job while delivering the famous line, “Here’s to looking at you, kid.” The famous line was said to have began with a card game off set; Bogart would say it to the lead actress, Ingrid Bergman, and then later said it on set. Something unique about this movie was that it was filmed almost entirely on studio sets, and the script was being written as it was being filmed. So for most the time, the cast did not even know the ending.

The film was nominated for 8 Academy Awards and was awarded 3 for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. Bogart was nominated for Best Actor but surprisingly lost, even though his character, Rick, is one of the most loved characters in cinema. The movie is referenced throughout cinema with many movies paying homage to it in one way or another.