You Can't Take It with You (1938)

A man from a family of rich snobs becomes engaged to a woman from a good-natured but decidedly eccentric family.

Director:

Frank Capra

Writers:

Robert Riskin (screen play), George S. Kaufman (based upon the play by)

Stars:

Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore

Won 2 Oscars. Another 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean Arthur	...	Alice Sycamore
Lionel Barrymore	...	Martin Vanderhof
James Stewart	...	Tony Kirby
Edward Arnold	...	Anthony P. Kirby
Mischa Auer	...	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 Kirby
Lillian Yarbo	...	Rheba
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson	...	Donald (as Eddie Anderson)

Storyline

The stenographer Alice Sycamore is in love with her boss Tony Kirby, who is the vice-president of the powerful company owned by his greedy father Anthony P. Kirby. Kirby Sr. is dealing a monopoly in the trade of weapons, and needs to buy one last house in a twelve block area owned by Alice's grandparent Martin Vanderhof. However, Martin is the patriarch of an anarchic and eccentric family where the members do not care for money but for having fun and making friends. When Tony proposes Alice, she states that it would be mandatory to introduce her simple and lunatic family to the snobbish Kirbys, and Tony decides to visit Alice with his parents one day before the scheduled. There is an inevitable clash of classes and lifestyles, the Kirbys spurn the Sycamores and Alice breaks with Tony, changing the lives of the Kirby family.

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Plot Keywords:

unconventional family | eccentric family | eccentricity | patchwork family | pulitzer prize source | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Frank Capra cast James Stewart based on his performance in Navy Blue and Gold (1937).

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Goofs

Harmonica disappears and reappears on conference table.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Doorman: [opening the car door for Kirby] Good morning, Mr. Kirby.
Anthony P. Kirby: Good morning.

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Connections

Featured in Great Performances: James Stewart: A Wonderful Life (1987)

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Soundtracks

Rockin' the Town
(1938) (uncredited)
Music by Johnny Green

User Reviews

Capra at his best!

For film-goers and movie fans that are from my generation, it is easy for these films to get lost in the shuffle. Ask someone my age, who would now be 25, what the best movie of all time is, they're likely to say Pulp Fiction or Fight Club.

Not to take away from today's movies, but for anyone who has not gone back and viewed classic Capra, such as "You Can't Take it With You," then they are truly missing out.

This movie is pure magic and beauty. Lionel Barrymore gives a performance as relevant in 2005 as it was in 1938. And what can you say about Jimmy Stewart?? This is a rare gem of a film and in true Capra fashion, the climactic final scene brings tear to the eye, much the same way as Harry Bailey's toast in "It's a Wonderful Life."

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

29 September 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

You Can't Take It with You

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$1,644,736 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor High Fidelity Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1