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The president will make his comments for USA Network’s broadcast of the iconic film about racial tolerance on April 7. It’s the first time Mockingbird will be nationally shown after being digitally remastered and restored, and marks the film’s 50th aniversary. USA’s corporate cousin, Universal Pictures, recently released the restored version of Mockingbird — as well as three hours of bonus materials including two full-length documentaries — on Blu-ray as part of a series that includes 12 other classic films. “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,” the book’s author Harper Lee says. “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.”
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I am shocked Hollywood hasn’t made a remake…. yet. This film is different from the book but it still works well with the small changes. If they ever make a remake, they should use the original films script with minor updates.
Help us Atticus Finch. You’re our only hope.
Who gets to play the drone pilot? Kiefer Sutherland?
Glad to see President Obama could find time in his busy schedule to focus on something as really important as doing an introduction for a movie.
I’ve never understood this sort of criticism. Media is one of America’s greatest exports and the entertainment industry one of our important private sectors. I’m glad that the President occasionally takes the time to engage in such an important part of American commerce and culture. It’s almost as if that’s part of the job he was elected to do.
True, he should hide in the White House until we’re out of Afghanistan, we’ve balanced the budget, we’ve ended unemployment and we’ve put a colony on the Moon. How dare he take 15 minutes to address art or social issues. No wonder this country is in such a mess.
On the one hand, I agree. I was shocked and outraged when I heard about some of the bills and measures debated by the California State Legislature which diverted attention from the state’s fiscal crisis (“No Cuss Week” and “Motorcycle Awareness Month” come to mind). On the other hand, Mockingbird, as a literary work, (to a lesser extent) as a film, but most importantly, as a symbol, is an important part of American history. And even though Obama himself has made little of being the first Black President of the United States, his being such is a part of that same important historical lineage.
Unlike, say, finding time to INVADE IRAQ! Oh, sorry. Wrong president.
It’s not just “a movie”, this book and its film helped to change America. As we celebrate its 50th anniversary perhaps you should finally make the time to see it.
I just finished reading Harper Lee’s book. Can’t wait to see the movie.
I have yet to read the book and I just saw the PBS documenatary on the book and movie. It was quite moving and I am surprised how so many years have gone by without me ever reading this. I am Canadian so that might have something to do with it. I am actually kind of glad because I haven’t really seen the movie either so I think I shall give this book a read, now that I have an understanding of the geographical and historical references.
I agree that it is inappropriate for a U.S. President to devote time to things like this, regardless of party affiliation (Nixon shouldn’t have gone on “What’s My Line?” either). An occasional ‘fun’ appearance is OK but Obama has landed on far too many late-night talk shows, morning talk shows, basic cable documentaries… it’s a bad precedent.
if you disagree with me, then perhaps we should assemble a list of all of the organizations and individuals around the globe who have requested the time of the President only to be turned away because of his “busy schedule.”
Among the core jobs performed by the President are the roles of Chief of Party and Chief of State, requiring him to, you know, communicate with this citizenry. That can mean appearing with Leno, taking questions from Matt Lauer, and taping a 5-minute intro for a movie of cultural importance. It’s not like the government shuts down when he grants a moment to the media, which, again, is part of his job.
I’m sure there are tons of invitations he turns down. I’m sure that information is publicly available. Maybe you could hunt down that info yourself. You said it. The burden of proof is on you.
While a good President should be a good communicator, he is more importantly the head of the Executive Branch of the government, which means he has been elected to “execute,” or more accurately, govern. What you describe is more appropriate for the job of Press Secretary. It may be true that the President’s job is increasingly like a celebrity’s, but that is not a particularly good thing.
The inevitable consequence of the President being a celebrity is that someone behind closed doors, perhaps someone unelected, will make executive decisions while the President is busy doing press tours or appearing on “The Daily Show.” And that would be antithetical to both “transparency” and even democracy.
Oh please. Seriously. Others making decisions behind closed doors while the president is on the daily show? You’ve heard of the cell phone? Email? The staff that travel with the president and keep the president informed? He (and anyone else in the job these days) has access to all the matters and decisions requiring the president’s attention, pretty much where ever they go and whatever they are doing.
Also, by the way, he is running for re-election, which every first term president does around this time in the first term. All those appearances are part of the job of campaigning and the job of trying to explain and gain support of policies (and, each administration hopes, will push congress in the direction the president wants to go). The presidents that are better at (and like) doing these appearances do more of them, the ones afraid of tripping over their own tongues do fewer.
Exclamations like “Oh please” and “Seriously” weaken your point, and I’m not saying that to be cross; I’m saying it to help you out.
I would say you are underestimating the busyness of the President’s schedule. Everyday is literally choreographed by the minute, so he needs to use each day to it’s maximum effect. Even if campaigning and PR are of paramount importance to him (an unfortunate reality), he needs to be more selective about his appearances. Granted, it’s all a matter of opinion and degree, but I would use the following as a general measuring stick for a U.S. President:
Charlie Rose = Yes, but not more than once per term.
The Today Show or GMA = Avoid, maybe do a surprise drop-in appearance.
Oprah = Maybe, and not for O.W.N.
Jay Leno = Probably not.
The View = Definitely not.
The Daily Show = Absolutely not.
An Intro spot for a cable movie = Hell no.
None of this will matter after November. He’ll have plenty of time to do sitcoms and kids awards shows.
If only. I’m so sick of this celebrity president. I don’t give a crap about his Final 4 picks or all of the musicians who have come to the White House to perform or doing intros for film that he deems important. What is he going to do about lowering gas prices?
The President doesn’t control gas prices. Do some research.