You Can't Take It with You (1938)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Frank Capra

Writers:

George S. Kaufman (play) and
Moss Hart (play) ...

Release Date:

26 December 1938 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

You'll love them all for giving you the swellest time you've ever had!

Plot:

A good-natured but decidedly eccentric family meets a new friend.

Plot Keywords:

House | Stenographer | Eccentric | Friend | Love

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 5 nominations

Cast

Jean Arthur	...	Alice Sycamore
Lionel Barrymore	...	Grandpa Martin Vanderhof
James Stewart	...	Tony Kirby
Edward Arnold	...	Anthony P. Kirby
Mischa Auer	...	Boris Kolenkhov
Ann Miller	...	Essie Carmichael
Spring Byington	...	Penny Sycamore
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Paul Sycamore
Donald Meek	...	Poppins
H.B. Warner	...	Ramsey
Halliwell Hobbes	...	DePinna
Dub Taylor	...	Ed Carmichael
Mary Forbes	...	Mrs. Anthony P. Kirby
Lillian Yarbo	...	Rheba
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson	...	Donald (as Eddie Anderson)

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor High Fidelity Sound System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:6 | UK:U | USA:Unrated | Australia:G

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The Broadway play "You Can't Take It With You" opened at the Booth Theater in New York on December 14, 1936 and ran for 838 performances. The original cast included Jess Barker as Tony Kirby, Margot Stevenson as Alice Sycamore and Henry Travers as Grandpa. Donald, played so memorably in this film by Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, was originally portrayed by Oscar Polk, who later played house servant "Pork" in Gone with the Wind (1939).

Goofs:

Continuity: The position of Mr. Vanderhof's arm on his crutch changes between shots when he apologizes to Mr. Kirby after Kolenkhov wrestles Kirby to the floor.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Doorman: Good morning, Mr. Kirby.
Anthony P. Kirby: Good morning.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Real Ghost Busters: You Can't Take It with You (#2.23)" (1987)

Soundtrack:

Gypsy Dance No.8

Three Cheers To The Vanderhof Family,Three Cheers To Lionel Barrymore.

My favorite american director is Frank Capra."It Happened One Night" is his first great film."Mr.Deeds Goes To Town","Mr.Smith Goes To Washington" and "Meet John Doe" are perfect examples of how to make a great film about simple,ordinary man."It's A Wonderful Life" is everybody's favorite holiday film.But "You Can't Take It With You" is Capra's masterpiece.The story is perfect,The direction is brilliant and it's impossible you don't get tears in your eyes with the sweetness and shear simplicity of Martin Vanderhof.That leads us to the best thing in this classic:Lionel Barrymore,one of the greatests actors in film history.All you have to do is see this film and "It's a Wonderful Life" and see for yourselfs.Mr.Potter is cruel,heartless,despicable and absolute fascinating(I still can't believe it ranked only 6 in the AFI list,because for me he's the greatest villain in film history)All Mr.Potter lack,Martin Vanderhof has to share.He is absolutely adorable,he has a lot of friends.(The scene in the court room is magnificent)he is sweet,and equally fascinating.(Not to mention that Lionel is really gorgeous in this film)One must remember the shining presence of Jean Arthur,and equally portrayal of good and young Jimmy Stewart.Not to forget Edward Arnold and his greedy Anthony P. Kirby,who tries at all costs to buy Grandpa's house.But Lionel teaches him in a marvelous harmonica duet,how to enjoy life.The Plot is simply and delightul.Jean is Lionel's granddaughter,and she loves Jimmy Stewart,who is the son of the blood sucking banker Arnold.Jean decided that the two family's shall met,But Stewart's family will have a shock when they meet the wonderful and very eccentric Vanderhof family with Lionel,the grandfather anyone would love to have,Spring Byington as the writing mother(Only because someone forgot a typing writer in her house)Ann Miller as the adorable dancing sister,Essie,and a very funny Mischa Auer as the russian dancing teacher,who always arrives just in time for dinner.Pay also attencion in a small but memorable perfomance of the forgotten silent actor H.B.Warner as the broken Mr.Ramsey.I believe I already say to much,but not all this site will be enough to say what this masterpiece and Martin Vanderhof means to me

My Rate:1000 Out Of 10