Summer Under the Stars: Gregory Peck

Movie Dearest continues our daily previews of Turner Classic Movies' month long "Summer Under the Stars" celebration:

Now Playing Star Profile for Gregory Peck - Stardates: Born April 5, 1916, La Jolla, California; died 2003. Star Sign: Aries. Star Qualities: Imposing profile and rumbling voice, the poise of a born leading man, ability to personify decency and integrity. Star definition: "One of the most charming men I've ever met." -- Sophia Loren. Galaxy of Characters: Ezra "Penny" Baxter in The Yearling, Lewt McCanles in Duel in the Sun, Joe Bradley in Roman Holiday, Lt. Joe Clemons in Pork Chop Hill.

Tomorrow is National Friendship Day, and what better movie to watch to celebrate the occasion then one about a boy and his deer. Based on the acclaimed Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings novel of the same name, The Yearling is, like Bambi, much more then a movie about a deer.

Peck stars as the boy's father, giving a strong performance as a patriarch who will do anything for his family ... even wear a dress so his wife (Jane Wyman) can work on it. Both Peck and Wyman were nominated for Academy Awards, as was the film for Best Picture. It lost to The Best Years of Our Lives, but did win two technical Oscars, plus a special award for newcomer Claude Jarman Jr. as the young Jody Baxter.

The Yearling airs tomorrow on TCM at 5:45 PM EST.