Movie Monday: Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
Today for Movie Monday I am reviewing yet another Frank Capra classic – Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Like Meet John Doe, Capra’s leading man in this movie is Gary Coopers. However this film replaces Barbara Stanwyck with the timeless actress Jean Arthur.
Like in many (if not all) of Frank Capra’s films, we see an ordinary man be put into extraordinary situations. When all hope is lost, it is the will of the people that wins out. This, in my opinion, is a very American way of thinking. The idea that one man can make such a large impact on the lives of others around him all while simultaneously there is always the threat that things could be taken away.
It is the inspirational message that anything is possible that seems to be a consistent theme throughout all of Capra’s films. The idea than an average guy can become someone important overnight seems to be what Frank Capra deemed the “American Dream”. This is not an out of the box idea, however. Some many people come to the United States with the hopes of creating something new with boundless opportunities. Capra captures this emotion so precisely in his films that it is almost hard to escape.
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town wouldn’t be the same if it didn’t contain many grains of truth within the story. This films shows that Mr. Deeds is being used and people are taking advantage of him. It also shows how threaten some individuals in the film are of Mr. Deeds. The portion of the story reflects how there will always be forces working against you and your happiness, but the uplifting message is that if you have the right people in your corner nothing else should matter.
We can’t forget about the actors who brought these characters to life for us! Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur balance one aborter out perfectly! Cooper plays yet again what Capra must have imagined as the “all-American” type of guy. This role suits him well, and it is my belief that when Capra couldn’t get Gary Cooper to do one of his films he substituted James Stewart in for that film. Stewart and Cooper have very similar acting styles, in my opinion, and both are extremely talented so you really can’t go wrong.
As for Jean Arthur, well, she just makes you want to smile. Something about the way she portrays her characters make you feel like you want to also be her friend. Arthur was very talented in dramatic roles too, and that is very evident in this movie. The emotional scenes she shares with Gary Cooper are both sad and inspiring. Jean Arthur’s character in this film is the backbone of the cast. She knows right from wrong as they all do, but Arthur knows when not to give up. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town wasn’t the only Frank Capra film Jean Arthur was in. She also starred alongside James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, another American classic about and ordinary man who becomes and impactful figure in the United States Government.
The yearning for freedom and opportunity is the same fervor that keeps Frank Capra films relevant in the hearts and minds of those who watch them, and why these movies remain a classic. I highly recommend watching Mr. Deeds Goes to Town at least once. Anyone who watches it will feel the pride and hard work that was poured into this film.
Much Love,
Sarah
