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John Doe, Dynamite (1941)
"Meet John Doe" (original title)

 -  Comedy | Drama | Romance  -  3 May 1941 (USA)
7.7
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Ratings: 7.7/10 from 6,614 users  
Reviews: 75 user | 34 critic

A man needing money agrees to impersonate a nonexistent person who said he'd be committing suicide as a protest, and a political movement begins.

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(based on a story by), (based on a story by), 2 more credits »
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Title: John Doe, Dynamite (1941)

John Doe, Dynamite (1941) on IMDb 7.7/10

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Nominated for 1 Oscar. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
D.B. Norton
...
The 'Colonel'
...
Mrs. Mitchell
...
Henry Connell
...
Mayor Lovett
...
Ted Sheldon
Irving Bacon ...
...
Bert Hansen / Radio Commentator After John Doe's First Speech (credit only)
J. Farrell MacDonald ...
'Sourpuss'
Warren Hymer ...
Angelface
Harry Holman ...
Mayor Hawkins
Andrew Tombes ...
Spencer
Pierre Watkin ...
Hammett
Edit

Storyline

As a parting shot, fired reporter Ann Mitchell prints a fake letter from unemployed "John Doe," who threatens suicide in protest of social ills. The paper is forced to rehire Ann and hires John Willoughby to impersonate "Doe." Ann and her bosses cynically milk the story for all it's worth, until the made-up "John Doe" philosophy starts a whole political movement. At last everyone, even Ann, takes her creation seriously...but publisher D.B. Norton has a secret plan. Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

suicide | reporter | publisher | plot | patsy | See more »

Taglines:

ALL AMERICA WANTS TO MEET THE "MR. DEEDS" OF 1941! (original print media ad - all caps)

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

3 May 1941 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Frank Capra's 'Meet John Doe'  »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(RCA Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The first film Frank Capra produced independent of the Hollywood studios. See more »

Goofs

The collar of John Doe's coat is alternately up and down between shots when Ann is persuading him not to jump off the roof. See more »

Quotes

Long John Willoughby: [addressing the public] Why can't that spirit, that warm Christmas spirit, last all year long?
See more »


Soundtracks

"Chicago"
(1922) (uncredited)
Written by Fred Fisher
Played in the score
See more »

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User Reviews

Dark, Sweet and Powerful
27 February 2004 | by (USA) – See all my reviews



There's an Italianate "cinema verite" in Capra's work, perhaps genetic . . . I find this film so powerful, and its characters so sympathetic, that I can hardly watch the riot scene. It's almost too terrifying.

Cooper's performance at first seems wooden, but he's an actor whom you need to watch, like a pond, to see the emotions swimming beneath the surface. Barbara Stanwyck is one of my favorite actresses--she never makes a false move and is beautiful to watch from any angle.

I find some lines of dialogue chilling in this age of Patriot Acts I and II and corporate globalism/global corporatism: "The American people need an iron hand," declares D. B. Norton, whose sneer looks like Cheney's.


42 of 58 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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