Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Frank Capra

Writers:

Robert Riskin (screenplay)
Clarence Budington Kelland (story)

Release Date:

12 April 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Rocking America with laughter!

Plot:

Longfellow Deeds, a simple-hearted Vermont tuba player, inherits a fortune and has to contend with opportunist city slickers.

Plot Keywords:

Tuba | Small Town | Reporter | Vermont | Lawyer

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Gary Cooper	...	Longfellow Deeds
Jean Arthur	...	Babe Bennett
George Bancroft	...	MacWade
Lionel Stander	...	Cornelius Cobb
Douglass Dumbrille	...	John Cedar
Raymond Walburn	...	Walter
H.B. Warner	...	Judge May
Ruth Donnelly	...	Mabel Dawson
Walter Catlett	...	Morrow
John Wray	...	Farmer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stanley Andrews	...	James Cedar (uncredited)
Frank Austin	...	George Rankin (uncredited)
John W. Austin	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Irving Bacon	...	Frank - Photographer (uncredited)
Louise Bates	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Bobbie Beal	...	Chorine (uncredited)
Hank Bell	...	Unemployed Farmer in Line and Courtroom (uncredited)
Billy Bevan	...	Cabby (uncredited)
Georgie Billings	...	Little Boy (uncredited)
John Binns	...	Old Lawyer (uncredited)
Wyrley Birch	...	Psychiatrist (uncredited)
Beatrice Blinn	...	Assistant Secretary (uncredited)
Katherine Block	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Sammy Blum	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Joe Bordeaux	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Barbara Boudwin	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Harry C. Bradley	...	Anderson (uncredited)
Charles Brinley	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Hal Budlong	...	Elevator Man (uncredited)
Vera Burnett	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Frank Cady	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Mary Jane Carey	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Spencer Charters	...	Mal - Station Agent (uncredited)
Jack Cheatham	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Steve Clark	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Dora Clement	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Jack Clifford	...	Court Policeman (uncredited)
James Conaty	...	Auditor (uncredited)
Charles Conrad	...	Reporter (uncredited)
George Cooper	...	Bob - Photographer (uncredited)
Georgie Cooper	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Gino Corrado	...	Strolling Violinist (uncredited)
Cecil Cunningham	...	Minor Supporting Role (uncredited)
Thomas A. Curran	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Beatrice Curtis	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Boyd Davis	...	Young Lawyer (uncredited)
Helen Dickson	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Mary Lou Dix	...	Shop Girl (uncredited)
Rita Donlin	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Ann Doran	...	Girl on Bus (uncredited)
Walter Downing	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Adabelle Driver	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Florence Dudley	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Bobby Dunn	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Emma Dunn	...	Mrs. Meredith - Housekeeper (uncredited)
Peter Duray	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Janet Eastman	...	Shop Girl (uncredited)
Jay Eaton	...	Writer (uncredited)
Oliver Eckhardt	...	Dr. Emerson (uncredited)
Robert Ellsworth	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Muriel Evans	...	Theresa (uncredited)
Paul Everton	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Juanita Fletcher	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Edward Gargan	...	Bodyguard (uncredited)
Carlton Griffin	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Sherry Hall	...	Charlie - Cedar's Associate with Deputy (uncredited)
Chuck Hamilton	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Frank Hammond	...	Man at Information Booth (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Beth Hartman	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Jack Hatfield	...	Reporter (uncredited)
George 'Gabby' Hayes	...	Farmer's Spokesman (uncredited)
Althea Henley	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Al Herman	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Charles Herzinger	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Lew Hicks	...	Chuck Collins (uncredited)
Harry Holden	...	Courtroom Guard (uncredited)
Fay Holderness	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Frank Holliday	...	Mr. Dodsworth (uncredited)
Arthur Hoyt	...	Budington (uncredited)
Arthur Stuart Hull	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Paul Hurst	...	First Deputy (uncredited)
Warren Hymer	...	Bodyguard (uncredited)
William Irving	...	Writer (uncredited)
Gladden James	...	Court Clerk (uncredited)
Eddie Kane	...	Brookfield - Poet (uncredited)
Edward Keane	...	Board Member (uncredited)
Barbara Knox	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Ann Kunde	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Charles Lane	...	Hallor - Lawyer for Common-Law Wife (uncredited)
Lillian Lawrence	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Frederick Lee	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
James B. Leong	...	Chinese Chauffeur (uncredited)
Edward LeSaint	...	Dr. Fosdick - Judge's Medical Advocate (uncredited)
Stella LeSaint	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell	...	Headwaiter (uncredited)
Margarete Matzenauer	...	Madame Pomponi (uncredited)
Edwin Maxwell	...	Douglas (uncredited)
Ralph McCullough	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Lafe McKee	...	Unemployed Farmer in Line and Courtroom (uncredited)
Margaret McWade	...	Amy Faulkner (uncredited)
George Meeker	...	Henneberry - Poet (uncredited)
Mayo Methot	...	Mrs. Semple (uncredited)
James Millican	...	Interne (uncredited)
Jack Minton	...	Young Lawyer (uncredited)
Patricia Monroe	...	Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Edwin Mordant	...	Board Member (uncredited)
Gene Morgan	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Jack Mower	...	Reporter (uncredited)
John T. Murray	...	Writer (uncredited)
Henry Norton	...	Night Club Extra (uncredited)
Frank O'Connor	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
Vessey O'Davoren	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Broderick O'Farrell	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Dennis O'Keefe	...	Reporter in Courtroom (uncredited)
Bud Osborne	...	Unemployed Farmer in Courtroom (uncredited)
Peggy Page	...	Cigarette Girl (uncredited)
Ethel Palmer	...	Governess (uncredited)
Franklin Pangborn	...	The Tailor (uncredited)
Barnett Parker	...	Longfellow's Butler (uncredited)
George Pauncefort	...	Board Member (uncredited)
Esther Peck	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Gertrude Pedlar	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
William 'Bill' Phillips	...	Cameraman (uncredited)
John Picorri	...	Board Member (uncredited)
Paul Porcasi	...	Italian Opera Board Member (uncredited)
Richard Powell	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Hal Price	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Arthur Rankin	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Ky Robinson	...	Deputy (uncredited)
Frederick Roland	...	Board Member (uncredited)
Adrian Rosley	...	Italian Interpreter (uncredited)
Lillian Ross	...	Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
Christian Rub	...	Christian Jenson (uncredited)
Anne Schaefer	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Margaret Seddon	...	Jane Faulkner (uncredited)
Harvey Shepherd	...	Interne (uncredited)
Antrim Short	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Lee Shumway	...	Bailiff (uncredited)
S.S. Simon	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Kay Smith	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Pat Somerset	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Harry Stafford	...	Board Member (uncredited)
Larry Steers	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Night Club Extra (uncredited)
Brick Sullivan	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan	...	Beatle Puss - Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Peggy Terry	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Jameson Thomas	...	Mr. Semple (uncredited)
John Tyrrell	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Ellinor Vanderveer	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	...	Lawyer (uncredited)
Gustav von Seyffertitz	...	Dr. Emile Von Hallor (uncredited)
Bess Wade	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Pauline Wagner	...	Telephone Operator (uncredited)
Pierre Watkin	...	Arthur Cedar (uncredited)
Don Wayson	...	Interne (uncredited)
Larry Wheat	...	Clerk (uncredited)
Lee Willard	...	Business Man (uncredited)
John Williams	...	Longfellow's Second Valet (uncredited)
Charles C. Wilson	...	County Hospital Guard (uncredited)
Jack Wise	...	Reporter in Courtroom (uncredited)
Florence Wix	...	Minor Role (uncredited)

Directed by
Frank Capra

Writing credits
Robert Riskin		(screenplay)
Clarence Budington Kelland		(story)

Produced by
Frank Capra	....	producer (as A Frank Capra Production)

Original Music by
Howard Jackson		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Joseph Walker		(photography)

Film Editing by
Gene Havlick

Art Direction by
Stephen Goosson

Costume Design by
Samuel Lange		(costumes)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles C. Coleman	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Edward Bernds	....	sound recording engineer (uncredited)
John P. Livadary	....	sound director (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Roy Davidson	....	special camera effects (as E. Roy Davidson)

Camera and Electrical Department
Irving Lippman	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
Howard Jackson	....	musical director
Louis Silvers	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Harry Cohn	....	president: Columbia Pictures Corp. of Calif. Ltd.
Hyatt Daab	....	press agent (uncredited)
Stuart East	....	stand-in: Lionel Stander (uncredited)
Frank Hill	....	stand-in: George Bancroft (uncredited)
Frances Morris	....	stand-in: Jean Arthur (uncredited)
Jim Priest	....	stand-in: Douglass Dumbrille (uncredited)
Slim Talbot	....	stand-in: Gary Cooper (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1936) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Columbia Production)
• Columbia Pictures (1950) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia Pictures Television Distribution (????) (USA) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Cult & Classic (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2000) (Japan) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Sunset Gower Studios  sound stages (uncredited)

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | South Korea:12 | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #1966) | Australia:G

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Columbia and Frank Capra intended to make a sequel to this movie, starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur, entitled "Mr. Deeds Goes to Washington" , based on the story "The Gentleman from Wyoming" (alternately called "The Gentleman from Montana" by both contemporary and modern sources) by Lewis Foster. This story was instead turned into the 1939 film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), directed by Frank Capra and starring Arthur and James Stewart.

Goofs:

Continuity: When waking up from his bender, Deed's hair changes.

Quotes:

[Two shy sisters testify at Deeds's sanity hearing]
John Cedar: Do you know the defendant, Mr. Longfellow Deeds?
[long pause]
Jane Faulkner: Oh yes, yes, of course we know him.
John Cedar: How long have you known him?
[Jane whispers to Amy; Amy whispers back]
Jane Faulkner: Since he was born.
Amy Faulkner: Yes, Elsie Taggart was the midwife.
Jane Faulkner: He was a seven months' baby.
John Cedar: Thank you, that's, that's fine. Do you see him very often?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Shawshank: The Redeeming Feature (2001) (TV)

Soundtrack:

For He's a Jolly Good Fellow

My brief review of the film

Gary Cooper plays the title character here perfectly, even though the character lacks credibility in terms of how he is so astute about some things and yet so naïve about others. Jean Arthur also has an interesting character - one for whom we are not sure when and when not she is pretending. The romance between these two characters is simple formulaic and predictable, but the messages that the film has help to pull it through. It is a slight satire on the media, the justice system, and generally the way in which we function as individual human beings. The film also ends on a high note, with many laughs towards the end of the courtroom sequences. It is a bit fanciful, and arguably Stander is added in just for laughs, plus there are a few other minor imperfections. However 'minor' is the key word here: it is overall enjoyable and well made stuff either way.