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Actor Gregory Peck electrified Hollywood with his 1962 portrayal of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. Peck died in his sleep Thursday at his Los Angeles home. NPR's Renee Montagne talks about Peck's career with film historian Damien Bona.

The idea for a cancer "moonshot" did not originate with President Biden. Medical philanthropist Mary Lasker gets much of the credit. She was the first to push the idea 50 years ago.

May 25 marks what would be the 200th birthday of Ralph Waldo Emerson, a philospher, poet and essayist who helped define the Transcendentalist movement. NPR's Liane Hansen talks to historian Kenneth Sacks about Emerson's influence in the fields of writing, public speaking and pragmatic thought.

The new animated movie Finding Nemo tells the story of a fish family learning life's lessons. The computer-generated film is from Pixar Animation, the pioneering force behind Toy Story, A Bug's Life and Monsters, Inc. Film critic Ken Turan of the Los Angeles Times offers a review.

Host Bob Edwards talks with music commentator Miles Hoffman about the history and beauty of Moravian church music, which was first played in America during colonial times. A Moravian music festival is now under way in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. {Music played in the segment: Most of the music in this piece, including the introductory music and the ending music, comes from Lost Music of Early America - Music of the Moravians. Boston Baroque, Martin Pearlman, director (Telarc CD-80482) The lively cut of the wind ensemble (which Bob describes as "very festive") is from David Moritz Michael: Parthien 10-14 Pacific Classical Winds (New World Records 80580-2) The cut of the Civil War Moravian band is from A Storm in the Land Music of the 26th N.C. Regimental Band, CSA. The American Brass Quintet Brass Band. (New World Records, 80608-2)

Bob Hope turns 100 years old today. To commemorate the birthday of this great entertainer, All Things Considered re-broadcasts a speech Hope gave at the National Press Club, first aired on NPR twenty-three years ago when he was 77.

An original, annotated manuscript of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony fetches $3.5 million in a Sotheby's auction. NPR's Jeffrey Freymann-Weyr looks at the place that this symphony, with its "Ode to Joy," holds in Western culture.

Ever since a young Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland decided they just had to put on a show, the movies have loved to portray young people performing. The latest example is the new movie, Camp. Morning Edition and Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

Celia Cruz, who helped define the sound of Afro-Cuban music, dies of a brain tumor at the age of 77. The "Queen of Salsa" recorded more than 70 albums and was nominated for more than a dozen Grammy Awards. NPR's Neda Ulaby has a remembrance.

Singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen is on tour with a new album that combines his signature story-rich songs with country riffs, bluegrass and the blues. The album, Farm Fresh Onions, was released this week. Keen talks with NPR's Melissa Block.