Mr. Deeds Goes to Town -- What Makes This Movie Great? (Episode 60)

Frank Capra's 1936 film, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, is an entertaining piece of social criticism and propaganda, as most Capra movies are.
This one centers on Great Depression issues: who will take care of the poor masses? how should rich people use their wealth? whose side should the media be on?
Capra's movie uses the figure of Mr. Deeds, a small-town bachelor who inherits a huge fortune, to answer these questions.
This video reviews and analyzes Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, one of my favorite movies and perhaps the greatest Capra movie.
All reasonable comments welcome, including reasoned disagreements. You will be banned for foolish talk, harassment, and hate speech on sight; it's a tremendous waste of life.
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[@carlosyamara]

Love, love, love this movie. I think Gary Cooper never looked better, the scene where he finds out that the reporter he’s fallen for was actually making a fool out of him, is so incredibly moving, his body language and facial expression is just top notch.

[@Spiffy1055]

Am a hardcore Capra fan.( I actuality met him.) This film made me a Cooper fan due to one of the most sublime scenes in filmdom: when Deeds is on the phone and realizes that he has been duped. What Cooper conveyed with his face and then his body is amazing. I am gobsmacked every time I see it. (It ranks up there with Gable's last scene in IHON and Stewart's teary bar scene in It's a Wonderful Life)

[@achasingafterthewind]

Regarding Capra's best film, this is my ranking of what are regarded as his four best: 4. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 3. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town 2. It's a Wonderful Life 1. It Happened One Night It's a Wonderful Life is most people's favorite, which is understandable, considering that it's Capra's "biggest" film of the four: it's the longest one, it takes place over many years, it deals with cosmic issues and questions about the meaning of life in general and our individual lives specifically, so overall, it's the most comprehensive, and people are attracted to its grandness. I could go into a few reasons why I prefer It Happened One Night, but really, it's just the most enjoyable and entertaining to me. As for this film, I liked the quality that most of Capra's films have, that of celebrating the decency and greatness of the common man. There are a lot of political labels you could attach to Capra in looking at his entire film career (especially focusing in on It's a Wonderful Life), but I think more than any political idea or philosophy, he believed in the ideals of America. This country, in his estimation, is full of intelligent, hardworking people who above all, live by their virtues, namely honesty, fairness, perseverance, courage, and caring for others. You certainly see those virtues in this film, where Longfellow Deeds nearly throws his whole life away as a result of his unwavering and steadfast hold on his beliefs, and you see similar sacrifices from Jefferson Smith and George Bailey. Many of Capra's films feature protagonists who are laid low by some personal trouble orchestrated by villains who are affluent elites ruled by their greed and corruption, but these heroes are talked out of their situation by someone who cares about them, and they ultimately overcome their troubles. In this, you can also see that the power of community is something that Capra values, where even the strongest and most virtuous men need the love of a woman or the support of their friends to sustain them in achieving their goals. All of this might come across as sentimental, but I think you can see in Capra's films a true love for this country and its people, and I think that idealism is central to his work and to understanding why these films are so popular and beloved.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you. making a video on "It's a Wonderful Life" today.

[@NCBCSPRINGRETREAT]

Meet John Doe is the best Capra film. Highly underrated. I'm always astonished how few people have seen it.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@DisneyFan-eg3oz]

Hello 👋 David here from Sebring Florida USA 🇺🇸, I been a movie buff for over fifty years and I just saw this film today, October 1, 2022. I thought it was fantastic! A must see! You review was very well said. Please let me know your thoughts here thanks 😊

[@jamesmacdonald7101]

I like this film very much because I like trial films and this one has a show stopper. Mandrake Falls, Vermont.

[@francoisevassy6614]

From France 🇫🇷, please excuse my poor English. I love this movie and also Mr Smith, Arsenic and Wonderful Life, but I think that my favourite one is Lost Horizons, maybe because second role actors take a very important place : Thomas Mitchell, H. B. Warner and my beloved Edward Everett Horton… Anyway Shangri-La will always be a wonderful dream ! And also You Can’t Take It with You !

[@AldellezCaputto70]

My favorit movie ever! Regards Robert from Sweden

[@LearningaboutMovies]

wow great, thank you.

[@PhinPhan39]

Great review! Capra is my favorite director of all time, he tells stories in a way no one else does. These are my top 10 favorite Frank Capra movies. *Top 10* 1. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) 2. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) 3. Mr. Deed’s Goes to Town (1936) 4. It Happened One Night (1934) 5. You Can’t Take It with You (1938) 6. Meet John Doe (1941) 7. Arsenic and Old Lace (1943) 8. Pocketful of Miracles (1961) 9. Lost Horizon (1937) 10. American Madness (1932) *Honorable Mention* State of the Union (1948)

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you!

[@luishumbertovega3900]

Everybody in town is pixielated...except me.

[@mellieemerton3080]

I disagree that it’s a “leftist” film. Conservative values include civic duty, personal frugality and charitable generosity to the worthy poor (in an effort to assist them into becoming independent individuals). In contrast, the rich people in this film are characterised as cynics, hedonists, charlatans, greedy and selfish which are anti-conservative values. However, the values of greed and selfishness are simultaneously the motive and the product of unrestrained capitalism. Additionally, unrestrained capitalism thrives under authoritarian dictatorships, eg, in places like China which has a totalitarian state and unrestrained capitalist economy.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

your comment had me looking on Google Scholar and elsewhere. If this article is right, then we both are correct -- Capra's screenwriters were lefties but he himself hated FDR, the New Deal, etc. It's more complicated than that, but that means his movies -- especially "Mr. Deeds" -- have a great tension between these political views. Fascinating! Thank you for the stimulating comment. www.nytimes.com/1992/05/03/books/it-wasn-t-such-a-wonderful-life.html

[@brisaunders]

Love your channel and I have subscribed. Around the 7min 30 second mark you mentioned that the film seems to espouse a leftist perspective on greed. I believe Capra actually was depicting Classical LIberalism of the Founders of this nation. They were saturated with a Judeo-Christian world view that would also look down on greed. Those two ideologies heavily emphasize the individual - the dignity of man made in the image of God and how a community of friends and family love and help each other. The government that is best is one that governs the least with a moral people as its foundation. This is Capra's message. You see this in It's A Wonderful Life as well. No one is asking the government for help. The Bailey Building and Loan comes to the aid of its community. Another Capra hero, Jefferson Smith, put Mr. Deed's action into words by quoting the bible - "love thy neighbor". Finally, you described yourself as not liking sentimentalism. I think you actually do...that is...if it is done well. Hence, your affinity for Capra-corn! 😉 God bless and...see you at the movies!

[@ticktuck10000]

I have not seen it, for Frank Capra I saw only ( it's a wonderful life and Mr Smith goes to Washington), both are very good movies I would say. I had intention to see ( it happened one night) as well. But I should add this movie to my want to watch list after your video.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

when you see it, let us know what you think.

[@marramraabe]

Describing $20,000,000 in 1936 as 'a humongous amount' is accurate, but imprecise. I did a little research and found that in today's dollars, that amount comes in at $364,250,359.70... And, ya, that's pretty humongous!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

It's only 10k btc.

[@korenng5553]

Enjoyed it !

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Very good.

[@Blaqjaqshellaq]

One of my favorite movies--for me, it works on the level of a black comedy. The sequence of the day of his arrest is a tour de force! This was released about the same time as the Coen Brothers' MILLER'S CROSSING. Both classic gangster movies, but they approach the genre in very different ways... "What do you expect me to do, shoot him?" "Well, it wouldn't be a bad idea..."

[@robsonbuonodefarias]

Frank Capra "It's a wonderfull life" movie... I can' find your excelents comments video... is it missing? (it's a wonderfull Capra's movie...)

[@LearningaboutMovies]

it should come up via search on the channel for that movie. here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZa5pINpg8ambNE

[@robsonbuonodefarias]

@@LearningaboutMovies thanks a lot !!! (greetings from Brazil)

[@susanaar2001]

Capra is my favourite director and my favourite film "You can't take it with you'"...

[@tomislavcehajic9642]

1 It's a wonderful life, 2 Mr. Smith go to Washington, Mr Deeds goes to town, 4 It happened one night, 5 Lady for a day, 6 You xant take with you, all 6 are masteripices, and It happened one night is one of only 3 movies ho win big 5 oscars and first, best picture, best director, best actress, best actor, best screenplay, other 2 are One Flew Over the Cuckoos nest and The Silence of the lambs

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@tomislavcehajic9642]

@@LearningaboutMovies i am not old 37 years, but we in Europe watch all movies old, black and white, hollywood, asian, especially europian movies, in America peoples only watch pop corn Entertainment like Marvel all that stuff, if you ask anericans ho is Ingmar Bergman, Fellini, Rossellini, Leone, especially actress and actors they dont knows

[@tomislavcehajic9642]

@@LearningaboutMovies They even dont knows ho is Marcelo Mastroinanni best Europian actor ever ho didn't work movies on english i sad that because Uk is Europe but when i think of Europian movies i dont think of Uk movies not because that movies are not Europian but because Americans knows Britain movies

[@thecountofmontecristo2796]

Why is Capra never listed in greatest director polls?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

I didn't know he wasn't.

[@georgeshepherd3381]

Cinderella man (rush)

[@thisismedoods6597]

Mr Smith goes to Washington and you can take it with you and it happened one night and this movie mr deeds goes to town my favorite Frank Capra movies ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@LearningaboutMovies]

very good ones all.

[@cfbilly70]

I've just seen it for the first time and I'm on the fence. I like the story and the acting is pretty flawless. But is it better than It Happened One Night? Surely not. Is it better than It's A Wonderful Life? I don't think so. Is t better than Mr. Smith Goes to Washington? Maybe?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thanks.

[@cfbilly70]

@@LearningaboutMovies thanks.

[@andrewgrant6516]

American Madness is the best Capra movie.

[@williamsnyder5616]

The real hero in the making of this film was screenwriter Robert Riskin, not Capra. Riskin, by his own admission, was a Leftist, where Capra was a registered Republican. Capra did, however, know good writing and what would sell. "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town was an even bigger hit at the box office than ''It happened One Night.''

[@rudranshparab2007]

i was wondering how people make movies in great depression and who watched those movie. if people do not have job or money in hand how can they watch movie with paying for tickets. it looks like great depression is not affected to whole America. like corona did. only few percent of people .