Mr.Deeds Goes to Town (1936)


Mr. Deeds
Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur

Mr.Deeds Goes to Town is a romantic comedy film made in 1936, directed by Frank Capra and starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur. It is light-hearted and funny whilst dealing with broader, serious themes of social justice, innocence and corruption in public affairs, and the ability of the little man to make a difference in public life.

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Capra's first choice for the Babe Bennett role was Carole Lombard and Jean Arthur was brought in when Lombard pulled out three days before production. It was the first of three films which Jean Arthur would make for Frank Capra and it helped to make her a major Hollywood star. The movie opened in New York to luke warm reviews but was well received by the paying public and was one of the ten highest grossing movies of that year. The New York Film Critics and the National Board of Review named it the "Best Picture of 1936". The movie was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor and won one - Best Director for Frank Capra. It was Capra's second Oscar, after he received the Best Director Award for 'It Happened One Night' in 1934. Longfellow Deeds (Gary Cooper) inherits the $20 million estate of his multi-millionaire uncle, but is convinced that the money will do him no good and tries to give it aways. The lawyers immediately take him to court, claiming he is insane, but, helped by a cynical reporter, Babe Bennett (Jean Arthur), his idealism triumphs in the end. The movie was one of the first of the 'screwball' genre and is filled with bright comic moments such as Deeds playing the tuba to clear his mind, or feeding donuts to horses. It is a hymn to the simple old-style country life and nicely explores the theme of innocence and corruption, and the ability of the common man to make a difference in a democracy.

Main Cast

Gary Cooper .... Longfellow Deeds
Jean Arthur .... Louise "Babe" Bennett
George Bancroft .... MacWade/"Mac"
Lionel Stander .... Cornelius Cobb
Douglass Dumbrille .... John Cedar
Raymond Walburn .... Walter
H.B. Warner .... Judge May
Ruth Donnelly .... Mabel Dawson
Walter Catlett .... Morrow

Credits

Director ... Frank Capra
Producer ... Frank Capra
Production Company ... Columbia Pictures
Story ... Based on the short story by Clarence Budington Kelland
Screenplay ... Robert Riskin
Cinematography Joseph Walker
Music ... Howard Jackson
Format ... B & W
Release date ... April 12, 1936
Running time ... 115 min.

Alternate Titles ... A Gentleman Goes to Town, Opera Hat

Academy Awards

1 Win:
Best Director ... Frank Capra
4 Unsuccessful Nominations:
Best Picture ... Columbia
Best Actor ... Gary Cooper
Best Screenplay ... Robert Riskin
Sound Recording ... Columbia studio Sound Dept., John Livadary, Sound director

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Actors and Actresses June Allyson Judith Anderson Dana Andrews Jean Arthur Fred Astaire Mary Astor Lauren Bacall Lucille Ball Ralph Bellamy Joan Bennett Ingrid Bergman Humphrey Bogart Ward Bond Ernest Borgnine Marlon Brando James Cagney Charlie Chaplin Montgomery Clift Claudette Colbert Gary Cooper Joan Crawford Tony Curtis Bebe Daniels Bette Davis Olivia de Havilland Marlene Dietrich Kirk Douglas Irene Dunne Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Errol Flynn Henry Fonda Joan Fontaine Clark Gable Greta Garbo Ava Gardner Judy Garland Greer Garson John Gilbert Paulette Goddard Betty Grable Cary Grant Sydney Greenstreet Jean Harlow Gabby Hayes Rita Hayworth Audrey Hepburn Katharine Hepburn William Holden Judy Holliday Bob Hope Leslie Howard John Huston Ruby Keeler Gene Kelly Grace Kelly Deborah Kerr Alan Ladd Veronica Lake Hedy Lamarr Burt Lancaster Charles Laughton Janet Leigh Vivien Leigh Jack Lemmon Joan Leslie Carole Lombard Myrna Loy Ida Lupino Fred MacMurray Karl Malden Fredric March James Mason Raymond Massey Joel McCrea Hattie McDaniel Ray Milland Ann Miller Thomas Mitchell Robert Mitchum Marilyn Monroe Paul Muni Paul Newman Laurence Olivier Maureen O'Sullivan Gregory Peck Sidney Poitier Eleanor Powell Dick Powell William Powell Tyrone Power Claude Rains Edward G. Robinson Ginger Rogers Cesar Romero Jane Russell Rosalind Russell George Sanders Randolph Scott Norma Shearer Frank Sinatra Barbara Stanwyck James Stewart Elizabeth Taylor Gene Tierney Spencer Tracy John Wayne Johnny Weismuller Esther Williams Richard Widmark Fay Wray Jane Wyman Loretta Young


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