tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post5823368875029281425..comments2024-03-08T18:49:51.289-05:00Comments on Classic Film and TV Café: Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)Rick29http://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-22809599416051887252012-01-26T14:01:47.335-05:002012-01-26T14:01:47.335-05:00Glad you liked the review, Toto. Cooper is very go...Glad you liked the review, Toto. Cooper is very good here.Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-30249776152933479252012-01-25T16:10:26.419-05:002012-01-25T16:10:26.419-05:00Kim, one cannot help but cheer for Longfellow Deed...Kim, one cannot help but cheer for Longfellow Deeds. He is such a dear character with heartfelt honesty. That of course makes him vulnerable and keeps the movie going at a nice clip. I think Gary Cooper shines in this film, whether he is pixelated or not. Well done!toto2https://www.blogger.com/profile/09652682900471649463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-58591605782541347072012-01-23T18:16:25.344-05:002012-01-23T18:16:25.344-05:00John, I think Capra knew how important newspapers ...John, I think Capra knew how important newspapers were to shaping public opinion (sort of like tv media today) and that was a reason he had many of his main characters be of that profession. Glad you liked the review!Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-21459856335834729792012-01-23T16:32:44.765-05:002012-01-23T16:32:44.765-05:00I have always been ambivalent about Frank Capra...I have always been ambivalent about Frank Capra's films but MR DEEDS is one of Capra's greatest works with his classic theme about the common man, overcoming greedy parasites and underhandedness, in this case, from lawyers and newspapers. <br /><br />Capra seems to have had a thing for newspaper reporters. Here it is Jean Arthur's character, but we also have Stanwyck in MEET JOHN DOE, Clark Gable in IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT and Robert Williams in PLATINUM BLONDE. Wonderful review here Kim!<br /><br /><br />JohnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-81622813804856703662012-01-23T12:19:54.513-05:002012-01-23T12:19:54.513-05:00Ah, finally someone gets my reference!Ah, finally someone gets my reference!Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-64657270284784482492012-01-23T09:07:50.862-05:002012-01-23T09:07:50.862-05:00Longfellow Deeds is a character I alternately embr...Longfellow Deeds is a character I alternately embrace or dismiss depending on the level of my personal cynicism at various times. "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" is a film I always admire. Maybe I'm pixilated.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-19600673874715223992012-01-22T23:12:51.213-05:002012-01-22T23:12:51.213-05:00Me, neither, Rick! It isn't a screwball comed...Me, neither, Rick! It isn't a screwball comedy, but some critics surely label it such. Really, you don't like sweet Jean Arthur? Babs Stanwyck is a favorite of mine, Rick--and we know she wasn't all that sweet in most of her roles--but you can like both the strong (and a little surly) and sweet! LOL!!! <br /><br />BTW, my writing is a reflection of the company I keep here at the Cafe.Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-14261069767220810022012-01-22T23:08:49.724-05:002012-01-22T23:08:49.724-05:00Good point about Arthur and Cooper's contrasti...Good point about Arthur and Cooper's contrasting styles working well--but I don't think she's that skittish in this. In fact, she is rather serene compared to most of her other films.Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-31556629273433514372012-01-22T23:07:07.212-05:002012-01-22T23:07:07.212-05:00You are right about this being more like Mr. Smith...You are right about this being more like Mr. Smith and John Doe--all three have dark sides to them.Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-31167146253074813482012-01-22T23:05:07.202-05:002012-01-22T23:05:07.202-05:00I adore Gary Cooper, too, Patti! Deeds is definit...I adore Gary Cooper, too, Patti! Deeds is definitely the kind of man we need more of, too. However, this isn't one of my top films. I like it, but it's not on my top of anything list. As I said in my post, Saratoga Trunk is my favorite Gary Cooper film. <br /><br />The echo scene with the staff is a hoot.Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-21232349616178535992012-01-22T19:35:40.921-05:002012-01-22T19:35:40.921-05:00Kim, I've never thought of DEEDS as a screwbal...Kim, I've never thought of DEEDS as a screwball comedy. If it sometimes gets that label, perhaps it's because of the presence of Jean Arthur. It is, as they say, "Capraesque"--Capra's unique blend of comedy, drama, sentimentality, and social comment. I'm not a big Jean Arthur fan, which may be why I prefer MEET JOHN DOE. Even though they are all distinct films, I somehow group MR. SMITH, JOHN DOE, and DEEDS together. I certainly enjoy DEEDS and Gary Cooper is quite good. Did you know there was a 1969 TV series MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN with Monte Markham? It only lasted a year, but was certainly than the Adam Sandler remake! First-rate job, as always.Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-80830240549683299742012-01-22T18:28:13.408-05:002012-01-22T18:28:13.408-05:00I love this movie. Their scene when he first take...I love this movie. Their scene when he first takes her to dinner, the sightseeing on top of the bus, all gems. Cooper was an actor of quiet power, and Arthur with her many-layered performances was an equal match to him. Her skittishness played well against his serenity.Jacqueline T Lynchhttp://anotheroldmovieblog.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-37370033070159453342012-01-22T18:27:29.626-05:002012-01-22T18:27:29.626-05:00Good point about this film not really being a scre...Good point about this film not really being a screwball comedy but inhabiting another category altogether. 'Mr Deeds Goes to Town' is closer to other Capra comedy-dramas like 'Mr Smith Goes to Washington' or 'Meet John Doe' or even 'It's a Wonderful Life' - Capra seems more interested in exploring social/political issues than in the battle-of-the-sexes plot of screwball. I think what helps smooth the transition in 'Mr Deeds' from farcial comedy to drama is the really fine and intense performance given by John Wray as the homeless man with the gun. Capra always got some of the best performances from his actors, and 'Mr Deeds' has so many, even in the small roles (such as Franklin Pangborn as the shy man measuring Mr Deeds for a suit - he's only on for a few minutes, but he makes those minutes memorable!)Grand Old Movieshttp://grandoldmovies.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-73968078972875913782012-01-22T17:38:55.416-05:002012-01-22T17:38:55.416-05:00I adore Gary Cooper, and I adore this movie. I al...I adore Gary Cooper, and I adore this movie. I also really adore the Longfellow Deeds character...he's the kind of man we need more of in this world.<br /><br />Mr. Deeds Goes to Town is easily one of my top 15 movies of all time, and, until very recently when I discovered "Ten North Frederick," it was my favorite Coop movie. SUCH a touching, inspiring film.<br /><br />I get such a huge kick out of the part in the movie when Deeds discovers his echo.Patti https://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.com