It had to be Gregory Peck.

Atticus Finch, the character widely referred to as the greatest heroic protagonist in American cinema, needed a solid actor who could be both firm and honourable as well as spirited enough to be a folk hero -- and all this while being a lawyer.

Author Harper Lee, the woman behind the classic novel, loved Peck's performance -- she lent him her father's watch for the courtroom scene -- and, at his eulogy, said that "Finch gave him an opportunity to play himself."

Viewed from the invaluable perspective of a spunky six-year-old, Mockingbird is an enthralling look at prejudice in 30s Alabama.

The film works on several strongly-delineated layers: as a coming-of-age story for the girl, Scout (played superbly by Mary Badham); as a racial drama about a young black man accused inaccurately of rape, and facing an all-white jury; a human drama about how we are afraid of the unknown -- till we get to know it.

As Atticus tells daughter Scout, "You never know someone until you step inside their skin and walk around a little."

Robert Mulligan's film, aided massively by Elmer Bernstein's music, is all these things and more: it is an exploration into race, into America, into morality, and, as a result, a courtroom drama that remains unparallelled to this day.

Here, then, is a scene encapsulating the film's spirit -- and one guaranteed to give you goose-pimples. Click here for the video.

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