Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)

Capra does it again. This is my 5th film I've seen from Frank Capra, and without fail he is always successful in making his audience feel so great inside! Mr Deeds Goes to Town is a mixture of Comedy and Drama. There are some very funny scenes in this movie, but some very sad ones too. All the performances are amazing! If you're a fan of Capra, make sure to add this movie to the watchlist!

Frank Capra classic about a good-natured small town man named Longfellow Deeds (Gary Cooper) who inherits a fortune and finds himself surrounded by opportunists in the big city. Iconic role for Gary Cooper, who's in his element playing an upright, unassuming guy who gets a crash course in the cynical ways of the world. Jean Arthur, charming and lovely as ever, is splendid as the reporter covering Deeds, at first intent on making fun of him like he's a country bumpkin, only to find herself gradually falling in love with him. As usual with Frank Capra's movies, the supporting cast is made up of excellent character actors like George Bancroft, Lionel Stander, Ruth Donnelly, Douglas Dumbrille, and H.B. Warner. A delightful jewel in the crown of Capra, one of my favorite directors and one who is sadly all-too-often dismissed by film snobs. This is a great one that definitely belongs in the "they don't make 'em like this anymore" category. See the crappy Adam Sandler remake for proof of that.

Longfellow Deeds (Gary Cooper) is a beloved tuba-playing greeting card writer in the tiny Mandrake Falls in Vermont. When his forgotten banker uncle Martin Semple dies, he is the sole benefactor of the $20 million fortune. His uncle's scheming lawyer John Cedar (Douglass Dumbrille) brings him back to NYC and tries to hide his firm's stealing by getting him to sign the power of attorney. Ex-newspaperman Cornelius Cobb (Lionel Stander) tries valiantly to keep him out of bad PR trouble. Everybody is trying to take advantage of him thinking he's a small town simpleton. He wants to give away the fortune and rescue a damsel in distress. Ace reporter Babe Bennett (Jean Arthur) insinuate into his life by pretending to be poor girl Mary Dawson fainting in front of him. She starts writing articles giving him the nickname "Cinderella Man" which he hates.Gary Cooper is the everyman nice guy. He has a childlike wonder and a upstanding persona while maintaining a sincerity in his performance. Jean Arthur is terrific as a real broad and the heart winning love. Lionel Stander takes a consolation prize for his hard talking character. It's a simple premise that Capra uses to elevate the nobility of the common man. It does turn serious which is a bit jarring in tone. It doesn't have the same resonance as when it was made during the Great Depression.

A wonderful philanthropic film made in the turbulent times of 1930s.In 1933 during Great Depression, a wealthy man called Longfellow Deeds decides to go philanthropic and is accused of insanity too. The film in many ways is a testament to philanthropy and what money does to empower people and also how money acts as an evil to the bad fellows.The film is done well in terms of photography, sound and editing. It tops in writing and directing. I love the way Frank Capra puts out his films, though there are some cinematic liberties, overall it panned out well. There were a few questionable liberties too, but all is well if it ends well. Precisely, that is what happens with the film.Gar Cooper as Longfellow Deeds is wonderful and Jean Arthur as Louise "Babe" Benett was lovely, charming and admirable. The way Jean Arthur connives Deeds is wonderful too. Of course, there are moments where, Deed conveys how all the people he met in his life are fake and how lovable Babe is, show that is these are pure Capra moments, the initial master who drew emotions with a tear in the eye. Frank Capra began the march toward greatness with his earlier film "It Happened One Night" and continued it with this and his other wonderful films too.The film stands tall in history with several remakes or references down the years and is one of the finest to have come out in 1930's. Yet, I rate a few films of Frank Capra above this and I am going with a 3/5. Yes, it's lovable but it does not demand a repeat watch, unlike his other films. So thus, putting my rating down a bit.