Maria Cooper Janis Uncovers New Insights into Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936):
A Holiday Screening at Film Forum
I have a new insight into the background of one of my favorite of my father's films, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, chosen by The New York Film Critic’s Circle as the Best Film of the Year (1936) and it garnered 5 nominations from the Motion Picture Academy - Frank Capra won for Best Director.
It is one of the key films in the career of Gary Cooper and was directed by the great Frank Capra with Robert Riskin writing the screenplay. His daughter Victoria Riskin has written a most interesting book about her father and mother, Fay Wray, one of the beautiful actresses of that era which gives an extremely accurate and fascinating look into the Hollywood of that time.
When asked about her father and which films most closely reflected his personal philosophy, she named Mr. Deeds as one of them. His development of the character Mr. Longfellow Deeds embodies the fact of the essential goodness of ordinary people and the ability of one man to stand up to the corruption and power plays of the rich and influential.
The film comments on that and the vulnerability of human nature. This all came together marvelously as directed by Capra and sensitively portrayed by my father with some good bits of humor thrown in. The chemistry between Jean Arthur and Gary Cooper was hidden in the beginning but poignant when finally revealed.
FUN FACT
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town was originally released this week (April 12) in 1936!
In January, I had the wonderful experience of seeing Mr. Deeds on a big screen. It was shown as part of a Holiday series at the Film Forum in New York. One cannot compare the dramatic impact of watching a movie – any movie – as it was originally meant to be viewed. All aspects of the art form - from the acting, photography, sound effects, the impact of dialogue or the impact of silence - can only fully be appreciated in this way and not reduced to a screen measuring inches instead of feet.
