Frank Capra
Older films have a way of grasping the audience’s attention with eloquent wording, scenery, and impeccable storylines that have since been remade.
Frank Capra, a brilliant classic director in my opinion, can do no wrong in his films. His humor plays into every movie he creates, whether they be romance stories, drama, and sometimes even creepy. He always finds a way to salt and pepper his dramatic films with hope and laughter. He has so many amazing films, and I wanted to help anyone who loves movies to distinguish which of Frank Capra’s films should not be missed!
10. Meet John Doe (Dramatic Comedy, 1941)
This film is about the under-layer of political corruption during the Depression Era through a desperate man’s hilarious viewpoint.
9. American Madness (Dramatic Comedy, 1932)
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Word of mouth creates a bank robbery of about a hundred thousand dollars into a million dollar scandal. The rundown of the suspect list includes a few suspicious characters that could be easily convicted. But as evidence keeps appearing, there looks to be some wrongdoing.
8. A Hole in the Head (Dramatic Comedy, 1959)
This is a widow’s story of a man and son creating a strong bond after the loss of their loved one. That bond cannot keep life on track because the father is still busy dreaming rather than working hard. With his debt no longer hidden under the covers, his brother comes to take his son to a more stable household while he is left trying to shape up and be a hardworking father his son could be proud of.
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7. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (Romantic Comedy, 1936)
Mr. Deeds is bound to melt your heart with his sensitivity and brave persona. He is a man that knows money can’t buy you happiness or love, and even after he surprisingly inherits a fortune, his personality doesn’t falter instead he quickly falls in love with a reporter in disguise who seems to be his perfect damsel in distress.
6. Platinum Blonde (Romantic Comedy, 1931)
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Getting married consists of many things, one of which is love; another usually harder issue is compromise. When these two very different people get married on whim, they spend more time bumping heads about who should change rather than changing. Who holds out and who will cave in during this love story?
5. It’s A Wonderful Life (Dramatic Comedy, 1946)
This film is about a man living his life upside down. After years of building himself and his bank account, he realizes that he is worth more dead than alive. He hits rock bottom when he gets an illusionary chance to re-prioritize his life and make it worth living.
4. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (Dramatic Comedy, 1939)
This film accentuates political corruption and the full forced dedication of the underdog rising above. Frank Capra is able to mold this story into a dramatic yet comical lens that offers both insight about exploitation and hope.
3. Arsenic Old Lace (Dark Humor, 1944)
A young man who did not believe in love or the restrictions marriage provided falls head over heels for the beautiful girl next door. Things take a turn for the weird when they decide to get married on Halloween. His oddball scary relatives’ decide to visit and make getting married as difficult and scary as he had first thought it to be.
2. It Happened One Night (Romantic Comedy, 1934)
A woman marrying out of rebellion of her father has run away from her father’s grips to rejoin her husband. On this journey she is able to lose her father’s men, who are looking for her, but also loses her bag with all her money and clothes. The only way she can make it to New York now is to get help from a reporter asking for the “exclusive.” Will this spoiled brat reach her husband or fall in love with adventure?
1. You Can’t Take it With You (Romantic Comedy, 1938)
This is a love story about family and social class, creating a quarrel between two newly engaged lovebirds. A free spirited somewhat oddly happy family collides with the rich and mighty that are only being civil in hopes of changing their son’s mind about this foolish engagement.
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