Meet John Doe (1941)

Director:

Frank Capra

Writers:

Richard Connell (story) and
Robert Presnell Sr. (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

3 May 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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.

Plot Keywords:

Suicide | Reporter | Publisher | Media | Unemployment

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Nov. 17

5:45 PM

TCM

Cast

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)
Mrs. Gardner Crane	...	Mrs. Brewster (uncredited)
Floyd Criswell	...	Electrician (uncredited)
Billy Curtis	...	Midget (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)
Elsa Peterson	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Susan Peters	...	Autograph Hound (uncredited)
Hal Price	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Stanley Price	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Jack 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)

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

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
Irving Lippman	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Slavko Vorkapich	....	montage

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director
Hall Johnson	....	music arranger: 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)

Production Companies

• Frank Capra Productions

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1941) (USA) (theatrical)
• Madacy Entertainment (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Hollywood Classics (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Madacy Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Take 2 Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Timeless Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Master Movies (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• United American Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Delta Expedition (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Marengo Films (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Laserlight Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Diamond Entertainment Group (DEG) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Genius Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Passport Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Miracle Pictures (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (video)
• Reel Media International (2005) (worldwide) (TV)
• Continental Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• DNA (2006) (Italy) (DVD) (VHS)
• International Entertainment Enterprises (????) (worldwide) (all media)
• LVA Film Classics (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)

Also Known As:

Frank Capra's 'Meet John Doe' (USA) (complete title)
John Doe, Dynamite (UK)

Runtime:

USA:122 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:Btl | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

Wrigley Field - 42nd Place & Avalon Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Frank Capra Productions

Trivia:

Regarding the 'sweet potatoes' that Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan play, in addition to "Hi Diddle Dee Dee (An Actor's Life For Me)", from "Pinocchio": Brennan alone plays this on an ocarina (sweet potato), but Cooper plays a small harmonica. The tune they play as a duet, while Barbara Stanwyck is interviewing them, is The "William Tell Overture, Finale" by Rossini (The Lone Ranger Theme). Cooper explains the reason Brennan likes him is that they both play 'Doohickeys'.

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.

Quotes:

The Colonel: I've seen guys like you before. Guys that never had to worry. Then they get a hold of some dough and go goofy.

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Hollywood Christmas (1996) (V)

Soundtrack:

Beer Barrel Polka

The Forgotten And Anonymous Get A Voice

Meet John Doe was rudely jerked back into relevance in the Nineties by the emergence of a third party presidential candidate, wealthy enough to finance his own campaign, who ran in two presidential elections.

H.Ross Perot and Edward Arnold's D.B. Norton have some definite similarities. Both men of wealth, both ego maniacal enough to try and eschew the normal political route to the White House. Both firmly convinced they are what the USA needs.

Perot for all those graphs and charts didn't have much going for him in his candidacy other than a grudge against the Bush family. Although his platform isn't spelled out in Meet John Doe, Arnold says quite bluntly there's a new order of things coming and America needs a firm hand in the leadership. 'New Order' in 1941 meant fascism.

There's a marvelous bit of imagery that Frank Capra give us right at the beginning, it's one of my favorite moments in his films. The image of the old Daily Bulletin sign being sandblasted away about a free press guaranteeing a free people and vice versa. Replacing it is something about the new Daily Bulletin being a streamlined paper for the modern era.

Streamlining involves layoffs and the new editor James Gleason is giving out pink slips a plenty. One goes to Barbara Stanwyck who writes an innocuous chatty column. Gleason won't listen to her pleas so she fakes an anonymous letter from a man who signs it John Doe who threatens to jump off the City Hall Tower on Christmas Eve.

Stanwyck gets more than she bargained for and she and Gleason have to come up with a real John Doe. A sore armed former baseball pitcher, Gary Cooper, fills the bill.

This gets bigger and bigger and soon Arnold sees possibilities in it. Cooper goes on radio and delivers some homilies about love thy neighbor and being kind to others. He puts it over and a John Doe movement on these principles commences.

Homilies and bromides they may be. But love thy neighbor is a concept that should never go out of style. As is proved it's quite a bit bigger than the political aspirations of a snake.

This was the first teaming of Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck. They followed it up with Ball of Fire another classic. Said to say that their third film, Blowing Wild, from the fifties hardly lived up to the first two.

Capra used a whole lot of familiar faces from his previous films in Meet John Doe. Also one new face who made his one and only Capra film, Cooper's good friend on screen and in life, Walter Brennan. He's Coop's cynical traveling companion on the open road, the Colonel.

Edward Arnold is one cold and sinister force in this film. I'm not sure but that this may be his penultimate role as a screen villain. His ambitions here would warrant that appraisal.

One performance I like is that of Regis Toomey. He plays a soda jerk who starts a John Doe Club in his small town. He has some great lines that he delivers simply and eloquently about how Cooper's first radio speech inspired him to really get to know some of the neighbors he had not bothered with before.

The lessons of Meet John Doe are simple and profound. Love Thy Neighbor and be kind to others are taught in all major religions and philosophies and the power is there when its focused. The other lesson I like is that the ordinary common people have a lot more in common than the things that divide them, be it race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, you name it.

Meet John Doe is a profound and moving film, but I be it's not one of H. Ross Perot's favorites.