Meet John Doe

Meet John Doe
Released Date: May 3, 1941
Director: Frank Capra
Actors: Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward Arnold, Walter Brennan, Spring Byington, James Gleason, Gene Lockhart, Rod La Rocque, Irving Bacon, Regis Toomey, J. Farrell MacDonald, and Warren Hymer

     I would like to start this post by saying that after long searching, there is no longer version of this picture. A lot of film historians went through files and could not find a longer version. What actually happened, and the reason so many believed there was a longer version, was that when this movie was first released, it was said that the movie was 132 minutes long. It wasn't, the movie is 123 minutes long. Which just simply means that the last two numbers were switched. This movie is so well made though, that you don't feel like it is too long. Despite there being a nine minute difference in time, the movie is still a little over two hours long. It was neat to find out that the director didn't want anyone to play John Doe, except Gary Cooper. Cooper said yes to playing the part because he loved working with Capra (which he already worked with in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town) and he also always wanted to work with Miss Barbara Stanwyck. All made a deal in this movie, didn't they. Miss Stanwyck always said that Frank Capra told her to act, not just with words, but with her eyes as well. Something that she always believed to be the best advice she was given.

     Ann Mitchell (Barbara Stanwyck) has just been fired from her newspaper job. And to give her boss a piece of her mind, and a great parting gift, she writes a letter. The letter states that this man, a one John Doe, is jobless and wants to commit suicide on Christmas Eve. Ann makes sure her boss gets the letter, and not only that, but has it published for the newspaper. Ann goes into her bosses office a few days later and tells him the truth. But because the story is so big, what will they do to tell the public? Ann recommends that they look for a regular American who won't give their secret away. Her boss enjoys this idea, not at first, but after some heavy thinking (smoke coming outta his ears and everything) he decides to do it. There is a huge line of men outside of his office, all claiming to have written the letter. Ann says that they should interview them all and pick out the right John Doe. They decline the first bunch when the perfect man walks through the door. Their John Doe (Gary Cooper). Not only is he tall and handsome, also in need of money, but he use to play baseball. What could be more American than that? He agrees to be Doe. He also needs his arm fixed, he stopped playing baseball after a major arm injury. His arm can be fixed and better yet, he can play baseball again. Everything looks great, but what about one small detail, once it is finally out that he lied, he probably won't be playing baseball after that. Will he go through with it? Find out, by watching Meet John Doe!!!

     This movie is super cute and also has a warm Christmas feel at the end of the movie. With a black and white Christmas, you can never go wrong.

American Madness

American Madness
Released Date: August 15, 1932
Director: Frank Capra
Actors: Walter Huston, Pat O'Brien, Kay Johnson, Constance Cummings, and Gavin Gordon

     This film is based around the Great Depression. Which made everything in America go haywire. Including, and most involved were the banks. The movie is about a man named Tom Dickson (Walter Huston), he is the head of a bank, Union National. He has the head of the Union Bank, and he wants to be in charge, but most importantly he wants to stay in charge. Board of directors make a little visit one day and tell them that they think he is not the right guy for the job. And to make things worse, Mr. Dickson's wife (Kay Johnson) feels that her husband is more married to the bank. That same night the board gave Mr. Dickson what for, the bank gets robbed. Now it is up to Tom to clear the bank of any issues, to keep his clients feeling safe from the robbery by making sure they understand that all of their money is still safe. But to make matters worse, Tom finds out that his wife ALMOST has an affair. Watch this crazy fast movie come to an end, and see how everything unfolds.

     The movie is only one hour and fifteen minutes. One very fast, movie with a lot of action in it. Walter Huston who plays the lead in the movie was on loan from MGM, and was only to work four weeks and six days on the production. Frank Capra made sure that the movie got done in that amount of time. Almost all of Frank Capra films are feel good movies that end making you smile. They also make you feel good about yourself and that is one reason why I love watching his movies so much. My absolute favorite by him is It's A Wonderful Life. And this comes in second.

Arsenic and Old Lace

Arsenic and Old Lace
Released Date: September 23, 1944
Director: Frank Capra
Actors include: Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane, Raymond Massey, Jack Carson, Peter Lorre, Josephine Hull, and Jean Adair

When you are a young child, you usually have fears about your parents or any of your family. I use to think that when I went to bed at night, my family would grow antlers and run around outside becoming one with the animals. I use to wonder if they would ever tell me about their weird ways. But can you imagine having two sweet, old aunts that murder people and that is their biggest secret?

Cary Grant is the main character in this movie and is very funny in it. His quick whit and humor make the movie that much more special. Everything about this movie is hilarious and if I ever found out a secret like that from my own family, I fear it would not be as funny. The little old ladies are very sweet and mean well. But their ways of being sweet and helping out their community is, well dwindling the population by a dozen.

Cary Grant did not like this movie, he thought that the acting was over the top. And maybe it is, to our standards but it very funny none the less. The movie has a great cast. And with Halloween coming up, I hope that this is one film you will find a way to watch. The movie is set on Halloween too.

The little old ladies, and as funny as this movie is, live next to a grave site. One of the tombs that Cary Grant stands near has the name Archie Leach, which is Cary Grant's real name. He has two brothers in the movie, one is a scary fellow who Cary Grant tries to act tough towards and ends up saying a very funny line: "when I come back, I want you gone" and as he runs out the door he says "wait for me." Another funny line, that I think you would enjoy is, one from another brother. He has clearly lost his mind at one point in his life. He goes by the name Teddy Roosevelt and he honestly thinks he is. But the Reverend from the movie sneezes and Teddy says "my I must be catching cold" his sweet aunt replies "no dear, it was Reverend Harper that sneezed."

I hope you all enjoy this movie as much as I do. :) Please watch and let me know what you think.