American Madness
Directed by Frank Capra
Written by Robert Riskin
1932/USA
Columbia Pictures Corporation
First viewing/Amazon Instant
[box] Thomas Dickson: I don’t want to hear any more about it. If you don’t get married I’m going to fire the both of you. Helen, while you’re downtown, you might stop in and make reservations for the bridal suite on the Berengeria, sailing next week.[/box]
Early Frank Capra movie presages It’s a Wonderful Life.
Thomas A. Dickson (Walter Huston) has presided over the Union National Bank for 25 years. He is a people person who treats both his employees and loan applicants humanely. Lately, his Board of Directors is up in arms about what they think are foolhardy loans made to small businesses. He refuses to change his policy.
Dickson’s love for his bank takes presidence over paying much attention to his beloved wife Helen. Lonely, she appreciates the attentions of womanizing cashier Cyril Cluett. Good-guy assistant cashier Matt (Pat O’Brien) walks in at an inopportune moment and is torn about whether to inform the boss.
Concurrently with all this, gangsters pressure Cluett to let them rob the bank to pay off a gambling debt. Exaggerated rumors about the amount taken causes a run on the bank. All of it adds up to a very bad day for Dickson. With Constance Cummings as Matt’s girlfriend.
Dickson operates the way Peter Bailey used to do in It’s a Wonderful Life but with more success. Rapid-fire dialogue and a dynamic central performance by Huston make the movie classic populist Capra fare. Recommended for the director’s fans.
Clip – One man’s answer to the Depression
