IMDb > Meet John Doe (1941)
Meet John Doe
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Meet John Doe (1941) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (See all 41 | slideshow) Videos (see all 6)
Meet John Doe -- Reporter Ann Mitchell prints a fake letter from a man who threatens suicide to protest social ills. The letter startsets a social movement, and she hires out-of-work actor John Willoughby to take on the role of “John Doe”.
Meet John Doe -- 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.

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   5,841 votes »
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Down 13% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Frank Capra
Writers:
Richard Connell (story) and
Robert Presnell Sr. (story) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Meet John Doe on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 May 1941 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Comedy | Drama | Romance See more »
Tagline:
ALL AMERICA WANTS TO MEET THE "MR. DEEDS" OF 1941! (original print media ad - all caps)
Plot:
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. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. See more »
NewsDesk:
(19 articles)
What Makes A Movie Conservative?
 (From Moviefone. 13 January 2012, 1:31 PM, PST)
25 Days of Christmas: ‘Meet John Doe’ is familiar, but fun
 (From SoundOnSight. 8 December 2011, 9:25 AM, PST)
Primus frontman Les Claypool describes his top 5 movies ahead of tomorrow's IFC.com video premiere
 (From IFC. 16 November 2011, 2:17 PM, PST)
User Reviews:
Who is John Doe? See more (73 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Gary Cooper ... Long John Willoughby - 'John Doe'

Barbara Stanwyck ... Ann Mitchell
Edward Arnold ... D.B. Norton

Walter Brennan ... The Colonel
Spring Byington ... Mrs. Mitchell
James Gleason ... Henry Connell

Gene Lockhart ... Mayor Lovett

Rod La Rocque ... Ted Sheldon - Norton's Nephew
Irving Bacon ... Beany
Regis Toomey ... Bert Hansen - Soda Jerk
J. Farrell MacDonald ... Sourpuss Smithers
Warren Hymer ... Angelface - Bodyguard
Harry Holman ... Mayor Hawkins
Andrew Tombes ... Spencer of 'Daily Chronicle'
Pierre Watkin ... Hammett - Political Boss
Stanley Andrews ... Weston - Political Boss
Mitchell Lewis ... Bennett - Labor Leader
Charles C. Wilson ... Charlie Dawson - D.B. Promoter (as Charles Wilson)
Vaughan Glaser ... Governor Jackson
Sterling Holloway ... Dan - Counterman at Diner
M.J. Frankovich ... Radio Announcer (as Mike Frankovich)
Knox Manning ... Radio Announcer at Convention
John B. Hughes ... Radio Announcer at Convention
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Austin ... Grubbel - John Doe Applicant (uncredited)
Evelyn Barlow ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Benny Bartlett ... Red - Office Boy (uncredited)
Mary Benoit ... Secretary (uncredited)
Max Blum ... Bit Part (uncredited)

Aldrich Bowker ... Pop Dwyer - Connell's Aide (uncredited)
Sidney Bracey ... Club Member (uncredited)
Fritzi Brunette ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Earle D. Bunn ... Policeman (uncredited)
Lucia Carroll ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Glen Cavender ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Howard Chase ... Electrician (uncredited)
Jack Cheatham ... Policeman with Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Edmund Cobb ... Policeman Guarding Ann (uncredited)
Mildred Coles ... Secretary (uncredited)
Alan Copeland ... Choirboy (uncredited)
Madge Crane ... Mrs. Brewster (uncredited)
Floyd Criswell ... Electrician (uncredited)
Billy Curtis ... Midget (uncredited)
Daisy ... A Dog (uncredited)
Lew Davis ... Electrician (uncredited)
Vernon Dent ... Man (uncredited)
Evelyn Dockson ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Ann Doran ... Mrs. Hansen (uncredited)
Edward Earle ... Radio MC (uncredited)
Sarah Edwards ... Mrs. Hawkins (uncredited)
Carl Ekberg ... Reporter (uncredited)
Paul Everton ... GOP Man (uncredited)
Frank Fanning ... Reporter (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum ... Bit Role (uncredited)
Eddie Fetherston ... Reporter (uncredited)

Pat Flaherty ... Mike - Daily Chronicle Agent (uncredited)
Bess Flowers ... Mattie - Newspaper Secretary (uncredited)
Fern Formica ... Lady Midget (uncredited)
William Forrest ... Governor's Associate (uncredited)
Charles K. French ... Fired Reporter (uncredited)
Jack Gardner ... Photographer (uncredited)
Inez Gay ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Ethel Gilstrom ... Bit Part (uncredited)
William Gould ... Sergeant (uncredited)
Eddie Graham ... Tall Autograph Hound (uncredited)

Mack Gray ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Jay Guedillio ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Alfred Hall ... Chamber of Commerce Member (uncredited)
Donald Hall ... Bit Part (uncredited)
John Hamilton ... Jim - Governor's Associate (uncredited)
Kenneth Harlan ... Publicity Man (uncredited)
James Harrison ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Forrester Harvey ... Bum (uncredited)
Edward Hearn ... Mayor's Secretary (uncredited)
Oscar 'Dutch' Hendrian ... Radio Station Audience (uncredited)
Max Hoffman Jr. ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes ... Bit Part (uncredited)
John Ince ... Doctor (uncredited)
Selmer Jackson ... Radio Announcer at Convention (uncredited)
Frank Jaquet ... Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Carlotta Jelm ... Ann's Sister (uncredited)
Eddie Kane ... Wall Street Tycoon (uncredited)
Edward Keane ... Relief Administrator (uncredited)
Richard Kipling ... Police Commissioner (uncredited)
Isabel La Mal ... Chamber of Commerce Member (uncredited)
Melvin Lang ... Foreign Dignitary (uncredited)
Florence Lawler ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Walter Linden ... Photographer (uncredited)
Al Lloyd ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Hank Mann ... Eddie - Photographer at Hotel (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell ... Foreign Dignitary (uncredited)
Frank Mayo ... Attendant (uncredited)
Charles McAvoy ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Larry McGrath ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Joe McGuinn ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Tom McGuire ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Lafe McKee ... Mr. Delaney (uncredited)
James McNamara ... Sheriff (uncredited)
Edward McWade ... Joe - Elderly Typesetter (uncredited)
Claire Meade ... Bit Part (uncredited)
George Melford ... Chamber of Commerce Member (uncredited)
Frank Meredith ... Guard (uncredited)
James Millican ... Photographer (uncredited)
Charles R. Moore ... City Hall Janitor (uncredited)
Frank Moran ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Clark Morgan ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Gene Morgan ... Mug (uncredited)
Jack Mower ... Guard (uncredited)
Forbes Murray ... Legislator (uncredited)
Gail Newbray ... Telephone Operator (uncredited)
Mrs. Wilfrid North ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Wedgwood Nowell ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Garry Owen ... Sign Painter (uncredited)
Paul Panzer ... Bit Part (uncredited)
George Pembroke ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Bob Perry ... Delegate (uncredited)
Susan Peters ... Autograph Hound (uncredited)
Elsa Peterson ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Hal Price ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Stanley Price ... Bit Part (uncredited)
John J. Richardson ... Man in Diner (uncredited)
Cyril Ring ... Radio Technician (uncredited)
Don Roberts ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Henry Roquemore ... Chamber of Commerce Member (uncredited)
Thomas W. Ross ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Sally Sage ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Cliff Saum ... Guard (uncredited)
Sada Simmons ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Russell Simpson ... (uncredited)
Walter Soderling ... Barrington - Political Boss (uncredited)
Wyndham Standing ... Democrat (uncredited)
Edwin Stanley ... Democrat (uncredited)
Vera Steadman ... Bit Role (uncredited)
Bert Stevens ... Radio Station Audience (uncredited)
Brick Sullivan ... Policeman (uncredited)
Emma Tansey ... Mrs. Delaney (uncredited)
Tina Thayer ... Ann's Sister (uncredited)
Cyril Thornton ... D.B.'s Butler (uncredited)
Jim Thorpe ... John Doe Applicant (uncredited)
Charles Trowbridge ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Don Turner ... Guard (uncredited)
Guy Usher ... Bixler (uncredited)
Frederick Vogeding ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Bess Wade ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Lillian West ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Bernard Wheeler ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Leo White ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Ed Williams ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Lottie Williams ... Bit Part (uncredited)
Tom Wilson ... Man in Diner / Man in Radio Station Audience (uncredited)
Jack Wise ... Delegate (uncredited)
Maris Wrixon ... Autograph Hound (uncredited)
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Directed by
Frank Capra 
 
Writing credits
Richard Connell (story) and
Robert Presnell Sr. (story) (as Robert Presnell)

Robert Riskin (screenplay)

Produced by
Frank Capra .... producer
 
Original Music by
Dimitri Tiomkin 
 
Cinematography by
George Barnes (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Daniel Mandell 
 
Art Direction by
Stephen Goosson 
 
Costume Design by
Natalie Visart (gowns)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arthur S. Black Jr. .... assistant director (as Arthur S. Black)
 
Sound Department
C.A. Riggs .... sound
 
Special Effects by
Jack Cosgrove .... special effects
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Mack Elliott .... still photographer (uncredited)
Irving Lippman .... still photographer (uncredited)
 
Editorial Department
Slavko Vorkapich .... montage
 
Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein .... musical director
Hall Johnson .... choral arranger
George Bassman .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Simon Bucharoff .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Lucien Cailliet .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Hugo Friedhofer .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Leigh Harline .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Charles Maxwell .... orchestrator (uncredited)
George Parrish .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Leonid Raab .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Max Reese .... orchestrator (uncredited)
David Tamkin .... orchestrator (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Frank Capra's 'Meet John Doe'" - USA (complete title)
See more »
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
USA:122 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Australia:G | USA:Approved (PCA #6560) | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating) | Portugal:M/12 | USA:Unrated | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:Btl | Brazil:14
Filming Locations:
Stage 22, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USASee more »
Company:
Frank Capra ProductionsSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on September 28, 1941 with Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward Arnold reprising their film roles.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: 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:
Mayor Hawkins:O.K. folks, but remember your manners. No stampeding. Walk slow, like you do when you come to pay your taxes.See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Special Collector's Edition: Especial Halloween: La trilogía de los muertos vivientes (#1.11)" (2010)See more »
Soundtrack:
Beer Barrel PolkaSee more »

FAQ

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
32 out of 33 people found the following review useful.
Who is John Doe?, 25 July 2004
Author: hienai from UK

This film is a classic example of a movie working effortlessly on a range of different layers. Capra weaves his well-loved everyman through a tale of both simplicity and political intrigue, taking in the American depression and Biblical references along the way, and comes up with messages that remain startlingly relevant today, over six decades after this movie's release.

Gary Cooper delivers a masterful performance, and in keeping with the film, achieves this with a deceptively easy touch. He is supported by a peerless cast which includes Barbara Stanwyck and Walter Brennan, both on top form.

Perhaps most impressive is the illustration of Capra's democratic ideal by including the views of the audience throughout the story. You can find all your views being voiced by different characters at various points in the tale, opening the question of just who is the average everyman that Capra is seeking to show? - and how do they relate to you?

This movie is ten stars all over. Even for keen Capra fans, the expectation is surpassed by the final delivery. Thoroughly recommended.

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