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

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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

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7.7/10   6,609 votes »
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Director:
Frank Capra
Writers:
Richard Connell (based on a story by) and
Robert Presnell Sr. (based on a story by) ...
(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:
(21 articles)
The 300 Greatest Films Ever Made (Part 10)
 (From Cinelinx. 10 January 2013, 10:40 PM, PST)
TCM Programs Month of Political Films, Includes New Doc with Stone, Reiner
 (From Thompson on Hollywood. 12 September 2012, 11:25 AM, PDT)
What Makes A Movie Conservative?
 (From Moviefone. 13 January 2012, 1:31 PM, PST)
User Reviews:
Capra and Riskin at their best See more (75 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Gary Cooper ... 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
Irving Bacon ... Beany

Regis Toomey ... 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
Stanley Andrews ... Weston
Mitchell Lewis ... Bennett
Charles C. Wilson ... Charlie Dawson (as Charles Wilson)
Vaughan Glaser ... Governor

Sterling Holloway ... Dan
M.J. Frankovich ... Radio Announcer (as Mike Frankovich)
Knox Manning ... Radio Announcer
John B. Hughes ... Radio Announcer
Hall Johnson Choir ... Vocal Ensemble
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dorothy Andre ... American Girl (uncredited)
Frank Austin ... Grubbel (uncredited)
American Legion Band ... Musical Ensemble (uncredited)
Evelyn Barlow ... (uncredited)
Benny Bartlett ... Red (uncredited)
Mary Benoit ... Secretary (uncredited)
Max Blum ... (uncredited)

Aldrich Bowker ... Pop Dwyer (uncredited)
Sidney Bracey ... Club Member (uncredited)
Fritzi Brunette ... (uncredited)
Earle D. Bunn ... Policeman (uncredited)
Lucia Carroll ... (uncredited)
Glen Cavender ... (uncredited)
Howard Chase ... Electrician (uncredited)
Jack Cheatham ... Cop with Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
St. Brendan's Boy Choir ... Vocal Ensemble (uncredited)
Edmund Cobb ... Cop 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 ... The Mitchells' Dog (uncredited)

Harry Davenport ... Former Bulletin Owner (uncredited)
Lew Davis ... Electrician (uncredited)
Vernon Dent ... (uncredited)
Evelyn Dockson ... (uncredited)

Ann Doran ... Mrs. Hansen (uncredited)
Edward Earle ... Radio Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
Sarah Edwards ... Mrs. Hawkins (uncredited)
Carl Ekberg ... Reporter (uncredited)
Paul Everton ... GOP Man (uncredited)
Frank Fanning ... Reporter (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum ... (uncredited)
Eddie Fetherston ... Reporter (uncredited)
Walter Findon ... (uncredited)

Pat Flaherty ... Mike (uncredited)
Bess Flowers ... Mattie (uncredited)
Fern Formica ... Midget (uncredited)
William Forrest ... Governor's Associate (uncredited)
Charles K. French ... Fired Reporter (uncredited)
Galan Galt ... (uncredited)
Jack Gardner ... Photographer (uncredited)
Inez Gay ... (uncredited)
Ethel Gilstrom ... (uncredited)
William Gould ... Sergeant (uncredited)
Eddie Graham ... Tall Autograph Hound (uncredited)

Mack Gray ... (uncredited)
Jay Guedillio ... (uncredited)
Alfred Hall ... Chamber of Commerce Member (uncredited)
Donald Hall ... (uncredited)
John Hamilton ... Jim (uncredited)
Kenneth Harlan ... Publicity Man (uncredited)
James Harrison ... (uncredited)
Forrester Harvey ... Bum (uncredited)
Edward Hearn ... Mayor's Secretary (uncredited)
Oscar 'Dutch' Hendrian ... Radio Station Audience Member (uncredited)
Max Hoffman Jr. ... (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes ... (uncredited)
John Ince ... Doctor (uncredited)
Selmer Jackson ... Radio Announcer at Convention (uncredited)
Frank Jaquet ... Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Carlotta Jelm ... Ann's Sister (uncredited)
Sheldon Jett ... Man in Radio Audience (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 ... (uncredited)
Walter Linden ... Photographer (uncredited)
Al Lloyd ... (uncredited)
Anna Luther ... (uncredited)
Hank Mann ... Eddie (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell ... Foreign Dignitary (uncredited)
Frank Mayo ... Attendant (uncredited)
Charles McAvoy ... (uncredited)
Larry McGrath ... (uncredited)
Joe McGuinn ... (uncredited)
Tom McGuire ... (uncredited)
Lafe McKee ... Mr. Delaney (uncredited)
James McNamara ... Sheriff (uncredited)
Edward McWade ... Joe (uncredited)
Claire Meade ... (uncredited)
George Melford ... Chamber of Commerce Member (uncredited)
Frank Meredith ... Guard (uncredited)
Dave Miller and His New York French Casino Band ... Musical Ensemble (uncredited)
James Millican ... Photographer (uncredited)
Charles R. Moore ... City Hall Janitor (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse ... Man at Stadium Rally (uncredited)
Frank Moran ... (uncredited)
Clark Morgan ... (uncredited)
Gene Morgan ... Mug (uncredited)
Jack Mower ... Guard (uncredited)
Forbes Murray ... Legislator (uncredited)
Gail Newbray ... Phone Operator (uncredited)
Mrs. Wilfrid North ... (uncredited)
Wedgwood Nowell ... (uncredited)
Garry Owen ... Sign Painter (uncredited)
Paul Panzer ... (uncredited)
Edward Peil Sr. ... (uncredited)
George Pembroke ... (uncredited)
Bob Perry ... Delegate (uncredited)
Susan Peters ... Autograph Hound (uncredited)
Elsa Peterson ... (uncredited)
Hal Price ... (uncredited)
Stanley Price ... (uncredited)
John J. Richardson ... Man in Diner (uncredited)
Cyril Ring ... Radio Technician (uncredited)
Don Roberts ... (uncredited)
Henry Roquemore ... Chamber of Commerce Member (uncredited)
Thomas W. Ross ... (uncredited)
Sally Sage ... (uncredited)
Cliff Saum ... Guard (uncredited)
Sada Simmons ... (uncredited)
Russell Simpson ... (uncredited)
Walter Soderling ... Barrington (uncredited)
Wyndham Standing ... Democrat (uncredited)
Edwin Stanley ... Democrat (uncredited)
Vera Steadman ... (uncredited)
Bert Stevens ... Radio Station Audience Member (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 ... (uncredited)
Don Turner ... Guard (uncredited)
Guy Usher ... Bixler (uncredited)
Frederick Vogeding ... (uncredited)
Bess Wade ... (uncredited)
Lillian West ... (uncredited)
Bernard Wheeler ... (uncredited)
Leo White ... (uncredited)
Ed Williams ... (uncredited)
Lottie Williams ... (uncredited)
Tom Wilson ... Diner Patron / Radio Station Audience Member (uncredited)
Jack Wise ... Delegate (uncredited)
Maris Wrixon ... Autograph Hound (uncredited)
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Directed by
Frank Capra 
 
Writing credits
Richard Connell (based on a story by) and
Robert Presnell Sr. (based on a story by) (as Robert Presnell)

Robert Riskin (screen play)

Myles Connolly  contributor to dialogue and screenplay constuction (uncredited)

Produced by
Frank Capra .... producer (uncredited)
Robert Riskin .... producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Dimitri Tiomkin 
 
Cinematography by
George Barnes (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Daniel Mandell (film editor)
 
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 effects
 
Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein .... musical director
Hall Johnson .... choral arrangements
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)
 
Other crew
William Erbes .... rain effects: supervisor (uncredited)
William S. Holman .... general manager (uncredited)
William Cameron Menzies .... production advisor (uncredited)
Arthur Turelly .... instructor: harmonica, Gary Cooper (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:
Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:Btl | Brazil:14 | Australia:G | USA:Approved (PCA #6560) | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating) | Portugal:M/12 | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)
Filming Locations:
Stage 22, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USASee more »
Company:
Frank Capra ProductionsSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Frank Capra didn't want anyone to play John Doe except Gary Cooper, who agreed to the part (without reading a script) for two reasons: he had enjoyed working with Capra on Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) and he wanted to work with Barbara Stanwyck.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: When Ann is struggling to write John Doe's radio speech, she balls up one draft and throws the paper on the floor in disgust. The dog picks up the crumpled paper and approaches the apparently empty wastebasket. After the cut, when the dog drops the paper into the wastebasket, the wastebasket is full.See more »
Quotes:
Angelface:[after Willoughby gives the Colonel the $50 to give away] Say, he's giving it away. I better get me some of that
Beany:Hey, come back here you helot.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: Meet John Doe (#4.14)" (1997)See more »
Soundtrack:
The Farmer in the DellSee more »

FAQ

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
16 out of 18 people found the following review useful.
Capra and Riskin at their best, 26 December 2000
Author: Clay Eals (ceals@comcast.net) from Seattle, Washington

There is so much to recommend this film, especially in repeat viewings. I'll try to touch on things rarely mentioned. The opening credit montage that ends with a solitary newborn in a hospital ward speaks volumes, as does the opening scene: the jackhammering of the old Bulletin cornerstone. The dream that Long John tells Ann about, in which he plays a dual role, is a warm and economic device for letting us know about what he feels for her and why she could go for her. The near-monologue of Bert, the "soda jerker," is as masterful in its sustained understatement as the small-town mayor's bumbling is hilarious. All of Capra's sound films starting with "American Madness" employ an effective, trademark montage, but "Meet John Doe" overflows with three. The Colonel's joyous Three Little Pigs dance inside the freight car to the rhythm of the rails is joyous. The Jesus metaphor throughout becomes heavyhanded at the very end but is saved by the dead-on final line about "the people." Finally, the movie succeeds not just because of its attributes that can carry over to other forms of art such as books or plays, but also because it is a uniquely cinematic experience.

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