TV Note: Frank Capra Film Festival on Turner Classic Movies (5/18)
David Shasha
Friends,
I do not often make note of the more obvious classic old movies that are well-known to many, but have consistently made mention in my writing the work of the great director Frank Capra, whose incisive take on American life has made his movies a very central part of our cultural heritage. His social conscience emerges front and center in his cinema and his many colorful characters have entered into the mainstream of our discourse in a manner similar to that of the great novelist Charles Dickens.
This Friday, May 18th, Turner Classic Movies will be devoting its schedule to Capra providing those who may not be familiar with his work a wonderful opportunity to discover his inimitable style and his courageous take American life.
The program begins with two movies starring the great Barbara Stanwyck, “The Miracle Woman,” (1931) a satire of Christian faith healers, and “The Bitter Tea of General Yen,” (1933) a fascinating film about the abduction of an American woman by a Chinese warlord and her odd relationship with him.
One of Capra’s most important works is the political satire “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” (1939) Central to Capra’s ethical worldview, “Smith,” starring the great Jimmy Stewart, is one of the most important attacks on corruption in American politics that has ever come from Hollywood. It is a David vs. Goliath story, with one lone person taking on a political machine that has taken over one state’s government. It continues to be an inspiring story that argues for the efficacy of struggle in our democratic system and the ability of a single person to change society by the force of their will.
“It Happened One Night” (1934) remains one of the best Screwball comedies ever made. It is a simple story of a rich young woman who takes it on the lam when she marries against her father’s wishes, leading to a romance with a newspaper reporter. On the bus ride to unite with her new husband, the heiress, played by Claudette Colbert, falls in love with the reporter played by Clark Gable. Mayhem and hilarity, of course, ensue.
One of Capra’s more interesting and lesser known comedies is the wild and wacky social commentary “You Can’t Take it with You,” (1938) based on the play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, which tells the story of an eccentric and financially modest family led by its patriarch, played by Lionel Barrymore. One of Barrymore’s daughters, played by Jean Arthur, a frequent Capra actress, falls in love with a rich boy played again by Jimmy Stewart. The film contrasts the poor family with the rich one and argues that the good life is based on our moral values and integrity rather than the acquisition of wealth.
“Lady for a Day” (1933) is a sentimental, touching story of a poor old woman who sells apples on the street and is forced to become one of the “upper crust” in order to support her son in his marriage to a rich young woman. It brings together the seedy New York underworld with the high reaches of Park Avenue society.
The program ends with the brilliant social comedy “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town” (1936) starring Gary Cooper as yet another dreamy, idealistic everyman who inherits a fortune and decides to give it all to the poor.
Frank Capra’s made many of his best movies during the Great Depression. These brilliant movies sought to address the socio-financial crisis in American society at that time. Fiercely affirming the values of American thrift, ethical integrity, and moral justice, Frank Capra was the conscience of Hollywood, his ideals mirroring the best in the American character. His movies remain to this day works of great social and artistic importance and are of critical importance to our culture and civilization.
The Frank Capra mini-festival will be screened on Turner Classic Movies on Friday, May 18th
6:30 AM The Miracle Woman
8:15 AM The Bitter Tea of General Yen
9:45 AM Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
12:00 PM It Happened One Night
2:00 PM You Can’t Take it with You
4:15 PM Lady for a Day
6:00 PM Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
David Shasha