Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Photos

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Cast & Crew

Gary Cooper
Longfellow Deeds, Cinderella Man

Jean Arthur
Louise 'Babe' Bennett, Mary Dawson

George Bancroft
MacWade

Lionel Stander
Cornelius Cobb

Douglas Dumbrille
John Cedar

Raymond Walburn
Walter

Margaret Matzenauer
Madame Pomponi (uncredited)

H.B. Warner
Judge May

Warren Hymer
Bodyguard (uncredited)

Muriel Evans
Theresa (uncredited)

Frank Capra
Director

Clarence Budington Kelland
Writer

Robert Riskin
Writer

Frank Capra
Producer

Howard Jackson
Original Music

Joseph Walker
Cinematographer

Gene Havlick
Film Editor

Stephen Goosson
Art Direction

Samuel Lange
Costume Designer

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Critic Reviews for Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Audience Reviews for Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

• Mar 31, 2020

  Frank Capra created some of the most intriguing and socially relevant films of the era. If you watch this film, it's just as relevant as it was then. Strong film, and a classic in every sense of the word. It's funny the remake by Adam Sandler incorporated so much, but decided to dredge it in Sandler style humour. The original is a strong story from beginning to end, and manages to engage with its strange humour. Mr Deeds Goes to Town is one of those films you must watch. Frank Capra was a filmmaker who incorporated the struggles of the era and gives voice to the little guys. Imagine a person inheriting a vast wealth and decides to give it to the people who need it the most. That's crazy right? If you want to know the answer, I suggest to you hunt down Mr Deeds Goes to Town. 31/03/2020
  Brendan N Super Reviewer
• Oct 30, 2018

  Another Capra vehicle for decency, the common man, and the ideals of America as he saw them, â~Mr. Deeds Goes to Townâ(TM) is heart-warming and engaging. When a small-town guy (Gary Cooper) inherits a large fortune, he goes to New York, where heâ(TM)s preyed upon by his uncleâ(TM)s own lawyers, a newspaper reporter who cozies up to him to get the inside scoop of what heâ(TM)s like (Jean Arthur), and others who are looking to swindle him. At first, he seems like an easy target, showing more interest in playing his tuba, sliding down his new mansionâ(TM)s bannisters, and dashing to the window when he hears a fire truck go by, like a big kid. We quickly see another side of him when he remains aloof about not relinquishing power of attorney, and then getting to the bottom of a board meeting for an opera club thatâ(TM)s losing money. What a nice moment that is â" and if youâ(TM)ve ever been in a position where you have to dig into the details when someone else is established and trying to redirect you, youâ(TM)ll identify. Mr. Deeds is childlike in some ways, but heâ(TM)s got common sense, and wonâ(TM)t be pushed around. He also quickly understands when heâ(TM)s being made a fool of by a table of poets at a dinner club. Jean Arthur is as charming as ever in her role, even if the trope of her character is often seen â" the woman who starts off a relationship with ulterior motives, but then softens and ends up with genuine feelings. She has some lovely scenes with Cooper, and both of them show good range. She first feels his earnestness when after taking him to Grantâ(TM)s Tomb, which more jaded tourists are disappointed by, he says: âOh, I see a small Ohio farm boy becoming a great soldier. I see thousands of marching men. I see General Lee, with a broken heart, surrendering. I can see the beginning of a new nation, like Abraham Lincoln said. And I can see that Ohio boy being inaugurated as president. Things like that can only happen in a country like America.â? Itâ(TM)s a bit much I suppose, but it shows the purity of idealism. Capra delivers several other social comments, many of which are spoken during a trial whose procedures are a bit questionable, but whose messages are stirring, and I imagine especially so during the Depression. Heâ(TM)s still a beacon of light today, and I felt this (adjusted) lyric float up into my mind: â~Where have you gone, Frank Russell Capra, a nation turns its lonely eyes to you.â? As in other movies, he wanders close to the edge of having Cooper seem Christ-like, and indeed, at one point Arthur remarks that sheâ(TM)s crucifying him, and later he sits mutely, under the unfairest of attacks. There are moments of levity, however, and itâ(TM)s interesting that this was the film that was the origin of the word â~doodlingâ(TM). I will include some quotes that speak to helping others and kindness: âWhat puzzles me is why people seem to get so much pleasure out of hurting each other. Why don't they try liking each other once in a while?â? âPeople here are funny. They work so hard at living, they forget how to live. Last night, after I left you, I was walking along, looking at the tall buildings, and I got to thinkin' about what Thoreau said. â~They created a lot of grand palaces here, but they forgot to create the noblemen to put in them.â(TM) I'd rather have Mandrake Falls.â? âNo matter what system of government we have, there'll always be leaders and always be followers. Like the road in front of my house, on a steep hill. Every day, I watch the cars climbing up. Some go lickety-split up that hill, some have to shift into second. Some sputter and shake and slip back to the bottom again. Same cars, same gasoline, yet some make it and some don't. I say the fellows who can make the hill should stop and help those who can't. That's all I'm trying to do, help fellows who can't make the hill.â? âIt's like I see one fellow in a rowboat who's tired of rowing and wants a free ride, and another who's drowning. Who would you expect me to rescue? Mr. Cedar, who wants a free ride? Or those men who are drowning? Any 10-year-old child will give you the answer to that.â?
  Antonius B Super Reviewer
• May 20, 2014

  An "everyman" inherits a fortune but is surprised by the culture of his upper class peers. Frank Capra must have had the most simplistic ideas about wealth and morality. Between this film and You Can't Take It with You, Capra's economic philosophy must begin and end with "Money makes you bad." This is not to say that Capra believes money is corrupting force, but to say that Capra's films imply that anyone pursuing wealth must do so at the expense of his/her soul. But even Capra's construction of the "everyman" is problematic because Gary Cooper's character, while basically decent, is a bit of an asshole. He goes around punching people or threatening violence because he believes a good swift knock is the best way to clean someone's clock. Mr. Deeds might be a swell guy, but by golly, don't cross him. Overall, Capra, one of Hollywood's classic filmmakers, is overrated
  Jim H Super Reviewer
• Jan 07, 2014

  A very cool Capra film that has the usual questioning of the purpose of life with good heartwarming moments. I don't even want to speculate on what the Adam Sandler remake provides. Gary Cooper in one of the few performances in which he is not annoying.
  

  John B Super Reviewer

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