Meet John Doe
Directed by Frank Capra
Written by Robert Riskin based on a story by Richard Connell and Robert Presnell Sr.
1941/USA
Frank Capra Productions
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental
[box] The Colonel: I don’t read no papers, and I don’t listen to radios either. I know the world’s been shaved by a drunken barber, and I don’t have to read it.[/box]
This was the last film Capra made before he joined the Army Signal Corps and the threat of war is never very far away in what may be the darkest of his comedies.
Ann Mitchell (Barbara Stanwyck) is the advice columnist on a paper that is bought up by the mega-rich D.B. Norton (Edward Arnold). She is fired and fires back by writing a fake letter by “John Doe” detailing his woes and stating that he will jump off the roof of City Hall on Christmas Eve. The letter creates a great outpouring of sympathy and Ann gets her job back by threatening to reveal the letter as a fake to the rival paper. She also sees a great series of stories leading up to the “suicide” and persuades her editor to find a man to impersonate John Doe. The ideal candidate appears in the form of washed-up pitcher Long John Willoughby (Gary Cooper).
Despite many warnings from his friend and mentor the “Colonel” (Walter Brennan) against getting involved with “he-lots”, John signs up for the job with the promise that he will get his pitching arm fixed and hit the road before Christmas Eve. He sticks around for love of Ann. But things spiral out of control and John Doe becomes a national sensation after Ann writes him a speech urging a return to community, love of neighbor, teamwork, etc. A John Doe Club spontaneously springs up and D.B. Norton, who sees a potential for using the movement for political purposes, starts financing a nationwide organization. Poor John finds he cannot extricate himself even after he learns that he has created a monster. With Spring Byington as Ann’s mother and James Gleason as her crusty editor.
The story is basically an allegory about the creation of a Fascist cult of personality, albeit with an unwitting personality. With its themes of suicide, corruption of the media, and manipulation of the common man, it is not a ray of sunshine despite Capra’s comedic flourishes. It is, however, very powerful largely due to the superb performance by Cooper. His rugged face is perfect for the part. Stanwyck is also outstanding, as usual, and Edward Arnold made a subtle, yet effective villain.
This is an example of a movie that improved for me on repeat viewing. The first time I saw it I didn’t like it much. This time it made me cry.
Meet John Doe was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Story.
Trailer
Meet John Doe is indeed early dark Capra and proves rich with repeated viewing and time. Cooper and Stanwyck are pretty darn wonderful together. In someways an odd couple. Can’t wait for Ball of Fire!
Unfortunately, Ball of Fire, which I love, has to wait until July 15 when it reappears on DVD. Little Foxes has also somehow gone out of print until then as well. Ah, well, that means I’ll have some great ones late in the cycle.
Cooper has really grown on me. He’s so understated but can be really moving. I kept envisioning him as Tom Joad. I think he would have been as good as Fonda. Also I forgot to mention how good, Edward Arnold was on this. I’ll have to fix that!
Arnold is always so good. A few months ago, I discovered that LITTLE FOXES was difficult to find and/or expensive. I’m eager to watch it again. Cooper is a much better actor (with more range) than most people remember. A whole lot more than Yep and Nope.
Various directors said that when they were filming a scene with Cooper they thought “this is terrible. He’s not doing anything.” But then when they saw the film it was all there in his face. He can almost see him thinking.