The Keys of the Kingdom 1944 Directed by John M. Stahl 20 th Century Fox B/W

Greg had been totally miscast in his first film (Days of Glory) which got mediocre to bad reviews with the exception of his performance. However he felt he had a handle on the persona of Father Francis Chisholm after his years with Irish clergy at school. He also made fast friends with the film’s consultant, Father Albert O’Hara, a Jesuit missionary who had spent years in China where this story was based. In fact, Greg learned his role so well the book’s author, A.J. Cronin, was overwhelmed.

The supporting cast was sterling, too….Thomas Mitchell, Vincent Price, Roddy McDowell, Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Edmund Gwenn. The New York Times said “Not since Clark Gable crashed upon the scene over a dozen years ago, has the arrival of a young leading man created so much commotion….” .

Gregory won his first Oscar nomination as Best Actor!

Also:

Although the story is set in China, the movie was shot entirely on the studio lot!

A major problem for the publicity department arose with Greg’s 4-F draft status. Unable to bring himself to let the press know that this rugged star had incurred a permanent back injury in dance class, Zanuck told them he was hurt on the college rowing team.

Spellbound 1945 Directed by Alfred Hitchcock United Artists B/W

The problem for Greg was the director’s emphasis on techniques rather than characterization but he learned to work around the problem. Rumors persisted he was also having an affair with his leading lady but since both Bergman and Greg didn’t “ kiss and tell” nothing was ever printed about it.

The post-production of the movie took so long (one year after filming wrapped) that Gregory’s next film was already in the can. But it grossed over $7 million.

The Valley of Decision 1945 Directed by Tay Garnett MGM B/W

For Gregory, it was the first time he worked for MGM and the mogul who cried real tears when Greg turned down his offer of a contract. Tears often worked for L. B. Mayer but they didn’t do a thing for Gregory. Greg also regarded Greer as one of Mayer’s “red-haired favorites” (Jeanette MacDonald was another one) but they got along very well. He loved her sense of humor and referred to her as “Big Red”.

Both interiors (especially that of the Scott mansion) and some exteriors were shot on location in Pittsburgh where the mansions of the steel barons still stood. Today those homes are nearly gone and the area is home to a college campus.

Duel in the Sun 1946 Directed by King Vidor Selznick Color

This was Greg’s fifth film and first Western but once again it was delayed ( by a strike)and his fifth film (“The Yearling) was released first.

The story was based on a novel by Nigel Busch and set in the Texas of the 1880s. Jennifer Jones was cast as the volatile half-breed Pearl Chavez, a departure from the saintly role she played in “The Song of Bernadette”. Another twist came with the roles of the two McCanles brothers. Joseph Cotton was chosen to play the good brother, Jesse and Greg landed the role of Lewt, rotten to the core. He told Hedda Hopper after the film wrapped “I never enjoyed any role more….”.

The film was shot on location at six sites beginning near Tucson and ending in the San Fernando Valley. But Selznick kept rewriting the script to further showcase Jennifer Jones in more alluring shots and the director, King Vidor, finally quit. William Dieterle was called in for the final scenes. But the tinkering ruined the picture. It had to be severely cut to satisfy the religious leaders who protested and it was banned inn Memphis. It was thereafter usually referred to as “Lust in the Dust”.

Greg got a second Oscar nomination for “The Yearling”

Gentleman’s Agreement 1947 Directed by Elia Kazan 20 th Century Fox B/W

Greg’s agent asked him to turn it down. Sam Goldwyn and Louis B. Mayer pleaded with Darryl Zanuck, the only gentile studio head in Hollywood, not to stir up trouble and cancel the shoot. But Zanuck felt it was about time someone addressed the issue of discrimination against people of Jewish origins.

Gregory played writer Philip Schuyler Green who took the name Phil Greenberg to flush out the bigots. Only his editor knew about the plan. John Garfield who played his friend, Dave Goldman, knew both reel and real aspects of bigotry. The movie became a landmark film in the fight against bigotry and prejudice and was also a huge box office success.

Gregory was nominated for the third time for the Best Actor Oscar but again he went home empty-handed.

Twelve O’Clock High 1950 Directed by Henry King 20 th Century Fox B/W

In 1947 an unpublished script somehow found its way to Darryl Zanuck’s desk. It was the story of Brigadier General Frank Savage who directed the first US precision bombings behind German lines in WWII. Zanuck called it the “best script I ever read” and called in screenwriter Sy Bartlett to get it ready for the screen.

Then he had to get permission from the Air Force to use military planes. He especially needed the hard-to-find WWII B-17s. The Air Force agreed only if they could make any script changes they felt necessary particularly the ones involving Savage’s mental breakdown. This would be the first movie to view the war with all its emotional complexities and the effect it had on even the bravest of men.

Greg was in the middle of filming when Greta went into labor with their third child Carey. He rushed to the hospital to greet his newest little boy and then went right back to the set.

Here we go again! Gregory didn’t win the golden prize even after his fourth nomination.

The Gunfighter 1950 Directed by Henry King 20 th Century Fox B/W

Written by Andre de Toth and William Bowers, this script seemed tailored for Gary Cooper. The story of a Western gunfighter who was constantly challenged by fast-draw wannabes and fated to die by the gun seemed too gritty for a Hollywood sex symbol like Gregory Peck. But Darryl Zanuck thought otherwise. He almost changed his mind when he saw what Greg, director King and the make-up department did to his handsome star.

After researching the character and the era thoroughly as he usually did, Greg decided to look like a real old western gunfighter, not the Hollywood version that usually appeared in films. His unkempt old clothes, soup bowl haircut and handlebar mustache caused Zanuck’s assistant, Spyros Skouras, more than a tension headache. Even Zanuck himself thought it was going too far. But the look stayed.

The movie won critical accolades and has proved to be a favorite over the years. But the box office receipts were weak and the studio blamed it all on Greg’s mustache.

Captain Horatio Hornblower 1951 Directed by Raoul Walsh Warner Bros. Color

Novelist Cecil Scott Forrester wrote the screenplay for this film by using the material from three of his novels about the British naval hero (“Beat to Quarters”, “Ship of the Line” and “Flying Colors”). And it was filmed on location in and about London, Greg’s first overseas location.

A total of 5 ships were used in the production but most of the shipboard footage was done on a full-size reconstructed model with hydraulic rollers to simulate the motion of a ship at sea. It weighed more than 50 tons.

The British, skeptical about an American playing one of their national heroes, were very impressed. “Mr. Peck not only gets under the skin of the character, but wears the uniform…as though he had lived in it…”(British Today). Perhaps they didn’t realize that Gregory did literally live with his character long before he got on the set.

His leading lady was also very impressed with him. Virginia Mayo called him “a beautiful, sensitive man: what he gives you as an actor, he gives with gentility and kindness”.

Only the Valiant 1951 Directed by Gordon Douglas Warner Bros. B/W

Gregory vehemently protested against doing this picture but Selznick had sold his final contract commitment to Warners because of a cashflow problem. Greg grudgingly agreed but he hated every moment of it. Produced by James Cagney and his brother William on a very slim budget, Greg viewed it as just another second-rate Western.

His unhappiness with the shoot did nothing to help things at home. Greg and Greta were growing farther apart and as a child of divorce himself, he dreaded what looked like the inevitable. To create even more havoc, his leading lady was luscious, always available Barbara Payton. It was like dry tinder and a ready match. But when rumors of the affair began circulating even off the set, Greg had Barbara banned from the set unless she was in the scene. If Greta heard about it, she never discussed it and neither did Greg.*

*Barbara Payton sold the story of her affair with Peck to the scandal magazine

“:Confidential” where she didn’t keep anything private. But again, when questioned, Gregory refused to discuss it at all.

David and Bathsheba 1951 Directed by Henry King 20 th Century Fox Color

This film was the first on Greg’s new 3-picture contract with 20 th Century Fox. Screenwriter Philip Dunne, who adapted a Broadway play into the more in-depth story of David, wanted Olivier for the role. But Zanuck insisted on Peck. He promised Gregory it wouldn’t be the same old Biblical re-hash and promised the actor he could do all the background research. That was the deal closer. Greg found the character much more complex and multi-faceted than he first believed. Here was a brave warrior, a humane ruler, an adulterer and a murderer all in the same role!

Susan Hayward was chosen to play the sensuous Bathsheba but off the set there wasn’t any camaderie. It was possibly due to Susan’s trouble at home and Greg’s preoccupation with the character. But the movie was the biggest hit of the year!

The Snows of Kilimanjaro 1952 Directed by Henry King 20 th Century Fox Color

Gregory plays no-last-name Harry in a screen adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s story about a man facing death in Africa. We learn from a series of flashbacks about his misbegotten life and meaningless relationships while his wife Helen (Susan Hayward) struggles to keep him alive. The seriousness of his condition is punctuated by the sight of buzzards gathered for the finale. Ugly fowl!

Gregory had three leading ladies in this picture….Ava Gardner, Susan and Hildegard Neff with whom he reportedly had an affair. The picture covered Africa, Paris, Madrid and the French Riviera and…never left the Fox lot. All the exterior footage was filmed by a second unit on location. Nonetheless, Gregory managed to get hurt trying to pick Ava up during her death scene…..a torn ligament that held up the shoot.

The movie had mixed reviews but was the fourth biggest hit of the year.

Roman Holiday 1953 Directed by William Wyler Paramount B/W

It was back to Europe for Gregory for this film shot entirely in Rome. He took Greta and the kids along because, in order to get the tax advantage promised in the 1950s, he had to stay 18 months.

He stayed 3 ½ years.

The script for this film was actually written by Dalton Trumbo, one of the infamous Hollywood Ten blacklisted by the HUAC. He wouldn’t get his Oscar for it until 1963, posthumously!

Gregory was to play Joe Bradley, a writer, who pursues a visiting princess in order to get a story and falls in love with her. When the first choices for leading lady were not available, Wyler decided to go with an unknown. Peck’s star status would carry the film. .As luck would have it, he settled on Belgian-born dancer, Audrey Hepburn to play Princess Anne. Halfway through filming, Gregory was so impressed by his co-star that he asked that she get equal billing. At first his agent protested but Gregory got his way. Audrey’s name appeared above the title and…she won an Oscar for her performance.

It was while he was in Europe he first met Veroniqe Passani.

Moby Dick 1956 Directed by John Huston Warner Bros. Color

Herman Melville’s classic had been done before…as “The Sea Beast”, a silent film in 1926 and as “Moby Dick” complete with sound in 1930. John Barrymore played Ahab in both pictures but neither had the scope and impact as this epic version.

Filming began in July of 1954. Youghal, Ireland was to stand in for Bedford, Massachusetts but the houses there were made of stone totally unlike the clapboard seacoast cottages and buildings of New England. So they had to be covered in wood. Then the harbor proved to be too shallow to hold the ship they planned to use. So after all that work and money, the crew packed it up and moved to Fishguard, Wales. But there the weather was bad, the generators on the ship ruined the sound track and gale winds tore up the masts. Hampered by his “peg leg” Gregory was almost killed during his scenes on the giant rubber whale. It was a wonder anyone stayed around to finish it.

It took until June 27 th, 1956 before “Moby Dick” premiered in New Bedford. By that time, Greg and Greta had amicably divorced and Greg married his beloved Veronique.

The Big Country 1958 Directed by William Wyler United Artists Color

Greg and director Wyler were searching for a new project they could work on together under the banner of Greg’s new company Anthony Productions (named after his new baby son). The choice they made was a Western by Donald Hamilton called “Ambush at Blanco Canyon” that was later made into a novel titled “The Big Country”. It would be Greg’s most epic hero since Hornblower.

Greg played Jim McKay, a peace-loving seaman who came west to marry his sweetheart, the daughter of a big local rancher. To fill out the cast the team of Peck and Wyler went out and rounded up some of Hollywood’s best…Charlton Heston, Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Charles Bickford, Burl Ives and Chuck Connors. Shooting began 0n July 30 th, 1957 in the Goldwyn Studios (interiors) and at two California locations….Red Rock Canyon and Stockton.

But all did not go well. Greg and Wyler got into an argument over a retake and Greg threatened to walk off his own film. He didn’t…. but the feud continued even after the picture wrapped. In fact the two didn’t make up for 2 ½ years!

The Guns of Navarone 1961 Directed by J. Lee Thompson Columbia Color

It was off to the Greek island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea for this one. Columbia was trying for another blockbuster like their 1957 “Bridge Over the River Kwai. The story was adapted from Alistair MacLean’s novel and written for the screen by Carl Foreman (another blacklisted writer who couldn’t claim any credit for it). It followed the exploits of a small commando group of mixed nationals whose mission was to blow up two gigantic Nazi weapons blocking traffic through the Aegean and preventing the rescue of trapped British soldiers.

The scenes filmed in Rhodes were hard work but Greg, David niven and Tony Quinn broke the tension by playing chess between takes. Apparently the distaff members of the cast (Gia Scala and Irene Pappas) found other things to amuse themselves. The real test of endurance came later at Shepperton Studios in London where the storm sequences were staged in a indoor water tank. Greg, Niven, Quinn and Stanley Baker all sustained some painful bruises.

The movie received 6 Oscar nominations including Best Picture but it won only for special effects. It did become the biggest hit of 1961.

To Kill a Mockingbird 1962 Directed by Robert Mulligan Universal B/W

Producer Alan J. Pakula and director Mulligan sent a copy of Harper Lee’s novel directly to Gregory Peck. As soon as he read it, Greg knew the role of Atticus would fit him like a glove. What he didn’t know was that Gregory Peck and Atticus Finch would soon become synonymous.

Unknowns were chosen for the rest of the cast…Brock Peters as Tom, Robert Duvall as Boo Radley, and nine year old Mary Badham as Scout. Because the town of origin in Alabama had changed so much over the years, the film had to be shot entirely on the Universal lot where they could make it just the way it looked back in the time Harper had described in her book.

The film got 8 Academy Award nominations and…. Gregory Peck (and Atticus Finch) walked away with the Oscar for Best Actor! Finally!

MacArthur 1977 Directed by Joseph Sargent Universal Color

Like “Patton” in 1970, this film was based on one of America’s most controversial war generals. Gregory was now working for the son of his old boss, Darryl Zanuck. Richard Zanuck and David Brown were now heading up the production company for Universal Studio. Of course, they wanted George C. Scott for the role but Scott didn’t like the script.

It was an enormous challenge for Gregory and he dug into the man’s history deeper than he had ever done for a role. “I wanted to get inside the man’s head” he said and often fought hard and long for changes in the script where he felt it went off track. He wrote so many memos to that effect that Zanuck and Brown did little else but read!

Locations for the film were all in California except two importatant sequences. The Japanese surrender was done in Bremerton, Washington where the Missouri was now drydocked and the 1962 West Point speech was done at the Academy.

. Greg was filming one of the most famous scenes where MacArthur steps out of the boat, wades to shore and says” I have returned”. Greg rose up in the boat , stepped out and …sunk to the bottom. He had stepped into an underwater pot hole. The cast collapsed in laughter and Greg laughed about it for years.

Old Gringo 1989 Directed by Luis Puenzo Columbia Color

Greg and Veronique were living the life that many senior would love to be living….but Greg would have rather been acting. However, there weren’t many good meaty roles around in the new Hollywood for a 72 year old actor, even one of his stature. And Gregory Peck would never take run-of-the-mill roles in second-rate pictures.

Then suddenly, one of those rare prizes fell into his lap….or so it seemed. Two other actors had been offered the role of Ambrose Bierce but Burt Lancaster had to bow out for health reasons and Paul Newman was tied up with other commitments. One of the producers of the film felt Gregory would be a fitting choice. Her name was Jane Fonda and she was going to co-star in the film as well. The character of Ambrose Bierce was real. He was a aging writer who disappeared in Mexico in 1914 and was never heard from again. The story itself was fiction built around the legend by Carlos Fuentes.

While the movie was a bust at the box office, Gregory’s performance was widely applauded and the film has since become a cult classic.