I think one measurement of a documentary like
this is whether it makes you want to see the films talked about. I probably
won't because I have seen Capra's classics so many times, but the urge is
within. Capra is one of America's greatest filmmakers and his films still
resonate today - our wish for a better world, for happy endings, for emotional
connections, pushing against the powerful and wealthy - that sort of thing
never gets old. Watching a few of the clips also reminded me how politically
they are still relevant today - the corruption in Washington, the media hit
jobs but in particular with Meet John Doe, the ability of a phony populist
to fool the people. His films are also just so well made - great writing,
some of the best actors of the time, technically seamless and imaginative.
He was an immigrant from Italy at a young age and he grew up loving his country
of adoption. That sense of love and optimism about America likely had a lot
to do with the idealism that comes though in his films. But though his films
were called Capricorn because of the corny happy endings - he surrounds them
in bleak darkness, cynicism and deceit. He had been around making films since
the silent days but it was at Columbia - then a Poverty Row studio - during
the Depression that he found his footing and fame with his films about the
common man fighting the system. If you think about these early films - Lady
for a Day, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Lost Horizon, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
and Meet John Doe - they are very dark depressing films that manage to have
happy endings. He then went off to the war front for five years making brilliant
propaganda films - Why We Fight.
But when he comes back he forms his own company and directs It's a Wonderful
Life - a film that at the time did middling box office business but is probably
his most loved and seen film today. Every Christmas it is brought out like
a missing friend and cried over - but damn, it is as depressing a film as
can be about a man stuck in a life he doesn't really want, struggling to
keep his business alive, facing abject failure and shame and considering
suicide - a wonderful Christmas film! The few films that he made that are
just lovely no message screwball comedies were taken from plays - Arsenic
and Old Lace and You Can't Take it with You.
I should get to a few films of his because I never have or not for 40 years.
It Happened One Night which was the film that first brought him fame and
Academy Awards for all involved - I can barely recall it other than the few
famous scenes. But I have never seen The Miracle Woman, Platinum Blonde,
The Bitter Tea of General Yen, Ladies of Leisure and American Madness that
all look very interesting. Three of them star Barbara Stanwyck who was an
item with Capra at the time. Her pre-code films are wonderful. Capra made
her a star as he did for Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable to some degree, Gary
Cooper to perhaps a lesser degree but two of his best acted films for sure
and most definitely Jean Arthur who was languishing as an actress till Capra
saw something in her that was special.
After It's a Wonderful Life Capra made one more film that was his own - a
political film full of cynicism - State of the Union - but times were changing
and HUAC investigated Capra for this film. Capra lost his desire and just
made a few for hire films - two Bing Crosby films that are fine but unrecognizable
as a Capra film, a Sinatra film (Hole in the Head) and a remake of Lady for
a Day (Pocketful of Miracles). That was it. He retired but thanks to TV and
later video his films were re-discovered and loved by a new generation. Like
me.
Nearly 2 hours long. Narrated by Ron Howard.
