spiderwort
Junior Member
@spiderwort
Posts: 2,544
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Post by spiderwort on Apr 4, 2017 19:40:14 GMT
Very often, of course, Capra can seem overly sentimental, filled with what he self-deprecatingly called Capra-corn. But beneath that, in all his best films there's always a deeper thematic questioning, an underpinning of moral complexity posited under the guise of pure entertainment, which at its core is deeply significant. Meet John Doe, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, American Madness, and even It Happened One Night, among others, are so much more than what they appear to be at first glance.
I think he gets bum rap, because his films are so entertaining that people are apt to miss the deeper meaning and not take him seriously. It's a Wonderful Life is a VERY serious film that just happens also to be very entertaining. The wonderful truth is that those two things don't have to be mutually exclusive.
What are your thoughts about this director and his films?
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Post by hi224 on Apr 4, 2017 19:48:52 GMT
Honestly feel Capras are only director who can make schmaltz work on any level.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Apr 4, 2017 21:41:39 GMT
Frank CapraAmazingly prolific director, writer, producer, Immigrant, Veteran of two world wars. Many many people's top ten lists have films with the name Capra on them. If I had one, he would be there. His biography is entitled "The Name Above the Title" and it is just slightly longer than the one on IMDb linked above. I read both and they are well worth reading.
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Post by wmcclain on Apr 4, 2017 22:57:51 GMT
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Post by manfromplanetx on Apr 5, 2017 1:16:58 GMT
I'll go right back to Capra's first feature his directorial debut, The Strong Man (1926) a great classic comedy silent film, starring the oft forgotten fourth great silent comedian Harry Langdon. Capra went to direct Langdon's next feature Long Pants (1927) also, the two films have immortalized Langdon in cinematic history. It was Capra's skill & creative touch shinning through that made such a success of these films.
Langdon acted as producer on these features, which were made for his own company, The Harry Langdon Corporation, they were released by First National. After his initial success, he fired Frank Capra an unwise decision, for he wanted to direct his own films. Without the strength of a great director like Capra, Langdon's appeal faded in his following features. Capra later claimed that Langdon's decline stemmed from the fact that, unlike the other great silent comics, he never fully understood what made his own film character successful...
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Post by koskiewicz on Apr 5, 2017 15:19:37 GMT
"You Can't Take it with You"
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Post by TheOriginalPinky on Apr 5, 2017 16:35:32 GMT
I'm probably in the minority when I say that I am not a fan of his work. I loath "It Happened One Night", "It's a Wonderful Life", "Mr Smith Goes to Washington", "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town", "You Can't Take it with You", "Arsenic and Old Lace", "Here Comes the Groom".
The only one I like is "A Pocketful of Miracles".
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Post by Wesley Crusher on Apr 5, 2017 16:47:17 GMT
Frank Capra 15 films seen (ranked in order)
It Happened One Night (1934) 10/10 (my #1 favorite film)
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 9/10 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) 9/10
Pocketful of Miracles (1961) 8/10 Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) 8/10
Meet John Doe (1941) 7/10 State of the Union (1948) 7/10 Lady for a Day (1933) 7/10
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) 6/10 You Can't Take It with You (1938) 6/10 American Madness (1932) 6/10 Forbidden (1932) 6/10
Platinum Blonde (1931) 3/10 Here Comes the Groom (1951) 3/10 A Hole in the Head (1959) 3/10
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Post by vegalyra on Apr 5, 2017 17:57:38 GMT
Let's not forget "Why We Fight". Tremendous sequence of "propaganda" films.
I love "It Happened One Night" and "Lost Horizon" although I will always have a soft spot for "It's a Wonderful Life." "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" is a good film, but it's forever connected with my high school Government class. The teacher was good and we watched this film in connection with our lessons on Congress, but high school in general wasn't my favorite period of life... :0
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Post by politicidal on Apr 5, 2017 18:20:48 GMT
I actually thoroughly dislike IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE but I love LOST HORIZON (1937). It's such an ambitious epic for its time.
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Post by Doghouse6 on Apr 5, 2017 21:05:04 GMT
I'm probably in the minority when I say that I am not a fan of his work. I loath "It Happened One Night", "It's a Wonderful Life", "Mr Smith Goes to Washington", "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town", "You Can't Take it with You", "Arsenic and Old Lace", "Here Comes the Groom".
The only one I like is "A Pocketful of Miracles". In the minority, maybe, but certainly not alone. I had a friend who so loathed It Happened One Night along with the entire body of Capra's work that, when the director came to speak before the screening of IHON during the '78 FILMEX 50-hour-50-Year-Anniversary Salute To Oscar Marathon, he left the theater groaning, "I can't even listen to this man," and didn't return until the next film began. The tuxedo in your avatar bears an astonishing resemblance to Buster, the adorable neighbor tuxie that often makes a "special guest appearance" at our house, darting through the front door when we get the morning paper, and then happily curling up in my lap while I'm reading it. Buster always knows when it's breakfast time at home, duly alerting us to be let back out.
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Post by TheOriginalPinky on Apr 5, 2017 21:28:05 GMT
I'm probably in the minority when I say that I am not a fan of his work. I loath "It Happened One Night", "It's a Wonderful Life", "Mr Smith Goes to Washington", "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town", "You Can't Take it with You", "Arsenic and Old Lace", "Here Comes the Groom".
The only one I like is "A Pocketful of Miracles". In the minority, maybe, but certainly not alone. I had a friend who so loathed It Happened One Night along with the entire body of Capra's work that, when the director came to speak before the screening of IHON during the '78 FILMEX 50-hour-50-Year-Anniversary Salute To Oscar Marathon, he left the theater groaning, "I can't even listen to this man," and didn't return until the next film began. The tuxedo in your avatar bears an astonishing resemblance to Buster, the adorable neighbor tuxie that often makes a "special guest appearance" at our house, darting through the front door when we get the morning paper, and then happily curling up in my lap while I'm reading it. Buster always knows when it's breakfast time at home, duly alerting us to be let back out. Wow, that's a REAL dislocated me! I don't know what he was like personally, but there is an element in his movies that wrinkles my teeth.
Regarding the cat, swas my little baby and died two years ago. Although I've had many cats over the years, we have a very special bond.
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Post by Doghouse6 on Apr 5, 2017 22:00:32 GMT
Regarding the cat, swas my little baby and died two years ago. Although I've had many cats over the years, we have a very special bond.
Very sorry to hear that; my belated condolences. Our own tuxedo, Alex, left us in 2015 as well and, like yours, she exhibited devotion not quite like that of any of our other kitties.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Apr 5, 2017 23:43:12 GMT
TheOriginalPinkyLOATHed all of them ? Actually LOATHed on an individual basis (as in watched each one and hated it even when not knowing who directed it or that they were linked in some way)? Not disputing. We like what we like and don't what we don't but to LOATH all of them just surprises the heck out of me. Not dislike. LOATH. Wow.
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Post by TheOriginalPinky on Apr 5, 2017 23:44:46 GMT
TheOriginalPinkyLOATHed all of them ? Actually LOATHed on an individual basis (as in watched each one and hated it even when not knowing who directed it or that they were linked in some way)? Not disputing. We like what we like and don't what we don't but to LOATH all of them just surprises the heck out of me. Not dislike. LOATH. Wow. That is what I said.
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Post by marianne48 on Apr 6, 2017 0:50:43 GMT
Arsenic and Old Lace is one of the all-time great comedies, IMO. I thought he mishandled You Can't Take it With You, though--a great comic play ruined by his attempt to embellish it with dramatic overtones. It's a Wonderful Life can be somewhat grating, and comes off as reheated leftovers of his earlier, better populist films. While he didn't direct it, he wrote the story for my favorite Western (not a genre which I particularly like), Westward the Women. Maybe it was a wise decision of his to turn the directorial duties for the film over to William Wellman. In any case, the movie turned out great.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Apr 6, 2017 1:13:46 GMT
marianne48It's funny and great how it works. same movie , many different opinions.. I really liked "You Can't Take it With You" from when I was a kid and upon re-watches I still like it but for different reasons. I used to be crazy about Arsenic but the last time I watched it, found it too frenetic and Cary overly frantic. I like the story but find it just a bit too much. I regret the loss of affection for it. I used to dislike Wonderful Life but find now that if I watch it only very occasionally, it's a welcome sight.
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Post by teleadm on Apr 6, 2017 18:52:44 GMT
Well here is my personal take on Frank Capra, a theme through many of his films is that the common man can change politicians and Big Bussiness. Of his older silent movies I've seen none, and Larry Semon seems today to be rather forgotten comedy star of the silent era.
Platinum Blonde 1931, I acually have this one but has never got around seeing it.
American Madness 1932, Panic in swedish, a big surpice that I though was very good.
It Happened One Night 1934 a classic rom-com that still delivers, with the famous Walls of Jericho and Hitchhiking scenes. The movie also nearly killed the male linen industry, if a man like Gable don't wear male linen why shoud we. The success of this movie made it possible for Columbia Pictures to play with the big boys.
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town 1936, A Gentleman Comes to Town in swedish, for some reason I can't explain this movie didn't talk to me.
Lost Horizon 1937, Beyond the Horizon in swedish, good old matinee movie magic.
You Can't Take It with You 1938, The Comedy About Us the People in swedish, a wonderful mix of seriosness and comedy, with one of the nuttiest households one could think of.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 1939, A great "fantasy" about the common man (perfectly naivly played by James Stewart), trying to change old stubborn politicians (perfectly played by Claude Rains).
Meet John Doe 1941, We Need Each Others in swedish, an equally great films as Mr Smith, but the common man (a great Gary Cooper) fights Big Bussiness (perfectly slimily played by Edward Arnold).
Arsenic and Old Lace 1944 (but made in 1941, delayed as long as it was running on Broadway), I know some say Cary Grant overplays, but I think it's great fun with all it's nutty characters. Since I have this one I like to see it from time to time.
What I've read that making the Why We Fight documenteries 1942-45, changed Capra, that he never was the same again.
It's a Wonderful Life 1946, Great Americana (I use that word in a positive sence). America had changed and wasn't up for this kind of movies anymore, but apparently not the flop that I'ts rumored to have been, it did reasonably well, but not what Capra had hoped it would, since he tried to start his own production company. It also forced Capra to collaborate with MGM on his next production State of the Union, and get access to MGM stars, so he wouldn't go bankrupt. These two movies were the last of the old Capra Touch, for the rest of his directing career he was a director for hire.
Here Comes the Groom 1951, with "In the Cool Cool Cool of the Evening" evergreen, good old entertainment but it's more Crosby than Capra. This and the other Crosby collaboration Riding High did very well at the box-offices since the name Crosby meant big money rolling in in those days, while the Capra name meant prestige.
Pocketful of Miracles 1961, remaking his own Lady for a Day, I must admit I was a bit dissapointed, but what a cast! So it's never boring, but a bit long and too studio bound for a movie from 1961. A side note, in The Italian Job 1969 there is a scene were cars drives up a ramp onto a moving truck/lorry, and on the extras of that movies DVD they bragg about that it never had been done before, but they actually do the same (though with one car only) in Pocketful and this was 8 years earlier.
The only thing he did after that was a short named Rendezvous in Space 1964 for exhibition at the Hall of Science at the New York World's Fair, where it played well in the 1970's.
(in swedish = swedish title translated to english)
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spiderwort
Junior Member
@spiderwort
Posts: 2,544
Likes: 9,340
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Post by spiderwort on Apr 6, 2017 20:52:26 GMT
Well here is my personal take on Frank Capra, a theme through many of his films is that the common man can change politicians and Big Bussiness. Love your comments, teleadm. And I'm really glad you mentioned Here Comes the Groom, which I love, possibly more because of Crosby and Wyman and that great song than Capra. Doesn't matter; for me, it's just an enjoyable film. And I also wanted to mention a series of educational films shown on tv that he did before Rendezvous in Space. They really impressed me when I saw them as a kid: The Strange Case of the Cosmic Rays (1957), Hemo the Magnificent (1956), and Our Mr. Sun (1957). I think later they were even used in classrooms. They were simply wonderful, and later, when I finally understood that they were made by the great Frank Capra, Hollywood director, I was amazed that he would use his talent to help educate children in America about the celestial world and the microcosm of human blood.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Apr 6, 2017 22:18:05 GMT
spiderwortI remember Hemo the Magnificant. Never knew it was a Capra. Thanks for that info.
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