Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)

Director:

Frank Capra

Writers:

Robert Riskin (screenplay)
Clarence Budington Kelland (story)

Release Date:

12 April 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Rocking America with laughter!

Plot:

Longfellow Deeds, a simple-hearted Vermont tuba player, inherits a fortune and has to contend with opportunist city slickers.

Plot Keywords:

Tuba | Small Town | Vermont | Reporter | Tuba Player

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Gary Cooper	...	Longfellow Deeds
Jean Arthur	...	Babe Bennett
George Bancroft	...	MacWade
Lionel Stander	...	Cornelius Cobb
Douglass Dumbrille	...	John Cedar
Raymond Walburn	...	Walter
H.B. Warner	...	Judge May
Ruth Donnelly	...	Mabel Dawson
Walter Catlett	...	Morrow
John Wray	...	Farmer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stanley Andrews	...	James Cedar (uncredited)
Frank Austin	...	George Rankin (uncredited)
John W. Austin	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Irving Bacon	...	Frank (uncredited)
Louise Bates	...	(uncredited)
Bobbie Beal	...	Chorine (uncredited)
Hank Bell	...	Unemployed Farmer in Line and Courtroom (uncredited)
Billy Bevan	...	Cabby (uncredited)
Georgie Billings	...	Little Boy (uncredited)
John Binns	...	Old Lawyer (uncredited)
Wyrley Birch	...	Psychiatrist (uncredited)
Beatrice Blinn	...	Assistant Secretary (uncredited)
Katherine Block	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Sammy Blum	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Joe Bordeaux	...	(uncredited)
Barbara Boudwin	...	(uncredited)
Harry C. Bradley	...	Anderson (uncredited)
Charles Brinley	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Hal Budlong	...	Elevator Man (uncredited)
Vera Burnett	...	(uncredited)
Fred Cady	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Mary Jane Carey	...	(uncredited)
James Carlisle	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Spencer Charters	...	Mal (uncredited)
Jack Cheatham	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Steve Clark	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Dora Clement	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Jack Clifford	...	Court Policeman (uncredited)
James Conaty	...	Auditor (uncredited)
Charles Conrad	...	Reporter (uncredited)
George Cooper	...	Bob (uncredited)
Georgie Cooper	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Gino Corrado	...	Strolling Violinist (uncredited)
Cecil Cunningham	...	(uncredited)
Thomas A. Curran	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Beatrice Curtis	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Boyd Davis	...	Young Lawyer (uncredited)
Helen Dickson	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Mary Lou Dix	...	Shop Girl (uncredited)
Rita Donlin	...	(uncredited)
Ann Doran	...	Girl on Bus (uncredited)
Walter Downing	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Adabelle Driver	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Florence Dudley	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Bobby Dunn	...	(uncredited)
Emma Dunn	...	Mrs. Meredith (uncredited)
Peter Duray	...	(uncredited)
Janet Eastman	...	Shop Girl (uncredited)
Jay Eaton	...	Writer (uncredited)
Oliver Eckhardt	...	Dr. Emerson (uncredited)
Robert Ellsworth	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Muriel Evans	...	Theresa (uncredited)
Paul Everton	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Adolph Faylauer	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Juanita Fletcher	...	(uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	(uncredited)
Charles K. French	...	Unemployed Farmer (uncredited)
Edward Gargan	...	Bodyguard (uncredited)
Octavio Giraud	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Carlton Griffin	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Sherry Hall	...	Charlie (uncredited)
Chuck Hamilton	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Frank Hammond	...	Information Booth Man (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Beth Hartman	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Jack Hatfield	...	Reporter (uncredited)
George 'Gabby' Hayes	...	Farmer's Spokesman (uncredited)
Althea Henley	...	(uncredited)
Al Herman	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Charles Herzinger	...	(uncredited)
Lew Hicks	...	Chuck Collins (uncredited)
Harry Holden	...	Courtroom Guard (uncredited)
Fay Holderness	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Frank Holliday	...	Mr. Dodsworth (uncredited)
Arthur Hoyt	...	Budington (uncredited)
Arthur Stuart Hull	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Paul Hurst	...	1st Deputy (uncredited)
Warren Hymer	...	Bodyguard (uncredited)
William Irving	...	Writer (uncredited)
Gladden James	...	Court Clerk (uncredited)
Eddie Kane	...	Brookfield (uncredited)
Edward Keane	...	Board Member (uncredited)
Barbara Knox	...	(uncredited)
Ann Kunde	...	(uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Charles Lane	...	Hallor (uncredited)
Lillian Lawrence	...	(uncredited)
Frederick Lee	...	(uncredited)
James B. Leong	...	Chinese Chauffeur (uncredited)
Edward LeSaint	...	Dr. Fosdick (uncredited)
Stella LeSaint	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell	...	Headwaiter (uncredited)
Margarete Matzenauer	...	Madame Pomponi (uncredited)
Edwin Maxwell	...	Douglas (uncredited)
Frank McClure	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Ralph McCullough	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Lafe McKee	...	Unemployed Farmer in Line and Courtroom (uncredited)
Margaret McWade	...	Amy Faulkner (uncredited)
George Meeker	...	Henneberry (uncredited)
Mayo Methot	...	Mrs. Semple (uncredited)
Robert Milasch	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Harold Miller	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
James Millican	...	Interne (uncredited)
Jack Minton	...	Young Lawyer (uncredited)
Patricia Monroe	...	Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Edwin Mordant	...	Board Member (uncredited)
Gene Morgan	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Jack Mower	...	Reporter (uncredited)
John T. Murray	...	Writer (uncredited)
Louis Natheaux	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Henry Norton	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Frank O'Connor	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
Vessey O'Davoren	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Broderick O'Farrell	...	(uncredited)
Dennis O'Keefe	...	Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
Bud Osborne	...	Unemployed Farmer in Courtroom (uncredited)
Peggy Page	...	Cigarette Girl (uncredited)
Ethel Palmer	...	Governess (uncredited)
Franklin Pangborn	...	The Tailor (uncredited)
Barnett Parker	...	Butler (uncredited)
George Pauncefort	...	Board Member (uncredited)
Esther Peck	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Gertrude Pedlar	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
William 'Bill' Phillips	...	Cameraman (uncredited)
John Picorri	...	Board Member (uncredited)
Paul Porcasi	...	Italian Opera Board Member (uncredited)
Richard Powell	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Hal Price	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Arthur Rankin	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Ky Robinson	...	Deputy (uncredited)
Frederick Roland	...	Board Member (uncredited)
Adrian Rosley	...	Italian Interpreter (uncredited)
Lillian Ross	...	Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
Christian Rub	...	Christian Jenson (uncredited)
Anne Schaefer	...	(uncredited)
Margaret Seddon	...	Jane Faulkner (uncredited)
Harvey Shepherd	...	Interne (uncredited)
Antrim Short	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Lee Shumway	...	Bailiff (uncredited)
S.S. Simon	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Kay Smith	...	(uncredited)
Pat Somerset	...	(uncredited)
Harry Stafford	...	Board Member (uncredited)
Larry Steers	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Henry Stockbridge	...	Unemployed Farmer (uncredited)
Brick Sullivan	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan	...	Beatle Puss (uncredited)
Peggy Terry	...	(uncredited)
Jameson Thomas	...	Mr. Semple (uncredited)
John Tyrrell	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	...	Lawyer (uncredited)
Ellinor Vanderveer	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Gustav von Seyffertitz	...	Dr. Emile Von Hallor (uncredited)
Bess Wade	...	(uncredited)
Pauline Wagner	...	Phone Operator (uncredited)
Pierre Watkin	...	Arthur Cedar (uncredited)
Don Wayson	...	Interne (uncredited)
Larry Wheat	...	Clerk (uncredited)
Lee Willard	...	Businessman (uncredited)
John Williams	...	Longfellow's 2nd Valet (uncredited)
Charles C. Wilson	...	County Hospital Guard (uncredited)
Jack Wise	...	Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
Florence Wix	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Frank Capra

Writing credits
Robert Riskin		(screenplay)
Clarence Budington Kelland		(story)

Produced by
Frank Capra	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Howard Jackson		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Joseph Walker		(photography)

Film Editing by
Gene Havlick

Art Direction by
Stephen Goosson

Costume Design by
Samuel Lange		(costumes)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles C. Coleman	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Edward Bernds	....	sound recording engineer (uncredited)
John P. Livadary	....	sound director (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Roy Davidson	....	special camera effects (as E. Roy Davidson)

Camera and Electrical Department
Irving Lippman	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
Howard Jackson	....	musical director
Louis Silvers	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Harry Cohn	....	president: Columbia Pictures Corp. of Calif. Ltd.
Hyatt Daab	....	press agent (uncredited)
Stuart East	....	stand-in: Lionel Stander (uncredited)
Frank Hill	....	stand-in: George Bancroft (uncredited)
Frances Morris	....	stand-in: Jean Arthur (uncredited)
Jim Priest	....	stand-in: Douglass Dumbrille (uncredited)
Slim Talbot	....	stand-in: Gary Cooper (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1936) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Columbia Production)
• Loet C. Barnstijn's Standaard Films (1936) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia International Films (1945) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Columbia Pictures (1950) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Columbia Pictures of Argentina (1936) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures Television Distribution (19??) (USA) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Cult & Classic (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Emerald (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Emerald (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2000) (Japan) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Sunset Gower Studios  sound stages (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #1966) | Australia:G | Argentina:Atp | South Korea:12 | UK:U | Netherlands:6 (2005) (DVD) | UK:U (video rating) (1986) | Netherlands:AL | USA:TV-G | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The tender scene in which Babe (Jean Arthur) recites a poem that Longfellow Deeds (Gary Cooper) wrote for her was almost deleted because Frank Capra thought it was too sappy. Jean Arthur had been working very hard on that scene and convinced Capra to at least film it, which he did. The bit of Deeds tripping over the garbage cans was added to provide comic relief to break the sentimental mood.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Mr. Deeds is playing the tuba, the acting is out of synchronization with the sound.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Jane Faulkner:He's still pixilated.
Amy Faulkner:He sure is!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Beetlejuice: Mr. Beetlejuice Goes to Town (#4.33)" (1991)

Soundtrack:

Old Folks at Home (Swanee River)

Tuba player inherits fortune and becomes a Cinderella Man and gets pixiliated in Manhattan!

One of Frank Capra's strengths as a film director was the great team he assembled. Not only did he have a great technical group behind him, but his casts combined talent that went from the major stars to the bit players.

In this fable, Mr. Capra gives an answer to those of us that always pondered: what would one do if one inherited a lot of money, or if one won the lottery (fat chance!) It must be terrifying to suddenly have a lot of wealth, in this case 20 million during the worst days of the Great Depression. Sometimes it's better to stay poor rather than have to deal with strangers that have designs on one's newly found wealth!

Gary Cooper has never been as charming as the tuba playing, country bumpkin whose life is changed dramatically when he has to go to Manhattan to claim his inheritance. His Longfellow Deeds gets to see first hand how the high society, his uncle belonged to, deals with this unsophisticated greeting card writing poet.

Jean Arthur was a natural comedienne. She is wonderful in this movie as the reporter who tricks Deeds into speaking with her and in the process falls in love with the man, the object of the ridicule she writes about.

Leonard Standing, one of the best character actors of the era, is equally effective as Cobb, the man who knows a thing or two about those society folks. George Bancroft was also good as MacWade.

The film has a pace that never lets the viewer down. In comparison with what passes today as film comedy, this is a masterpiece. It shows the genius of Frank Capra in charge of this group of people that make us treasure films like this one even if it's pure nonsense, which after all, was what the director was looking for to make us laugh.