Tuesday, April 5, 2016

YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU SPECIAL EDITION: WE COULD USE A LITTLE CAPRA ABOUT NOW



As movie tend to drop into formulas all too familiar these days it’s nice to go back once in a while and watch something from the past, something that after all these years seems fresher than many movies being made today. And for my money if you want to find a movie that will make you laugh and think at the same time there is no better movies than those made by director Frank Capra. So when I heard that this was coming out in a special edition I was pleased as punch.

Based on the play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, the story revolves around a unique family to say the least. Led by patriarch Martin Vanderhoff (Lionel Barrymore), a man who walked away from work years ago to enjoy life, the household has a number of offbeat characters living there. Among them are his daughter Penny Sycamore (Spring Byington) who’s been working on a novel for years, her husband Paul (Samuel S. Hinds) who is in the midst of creating fireworks, their daughter Essie (Ann Miller) who dreams of being a ballerina, her husband Ed (Dub Taylor) who distributes Essie’s candy she makes and wants to play the xylophone and Alice (Jean Arthur), the most apparently normal one of the group. This is a house filled with what some might call misfits but in truth are a group of people doing what they enjoy rather than what they must as designated by society.

As the story opens businessman Anthony P. Kirby (Edward Arnold) is trying to buy out a 12 block area of the city in hopes of tearing it all down to build a munitions factory for the government, a deal which will make him richer than he already is. The only hold out so far is Mr. Vanderhoff though Kirby isn’t aware of him by name.

At the same time Kirby’s son Tony (Jimmy Stewart) has fallen in love with his secretary and her with him. What no one is aware of is that his secretary is none other than Alice. Tony’s snobbish mother is unhappy with his choice of girlfriend seeing as how the young girl isn’t a member of high society. Before Alice is willing to accept Tony’s proposal she invites him to bring his family to meet the future in-laws. Unfortunately Tony brings them the night before they are scheduled which starts a ball rolling that results in some hilarious moments as well as problems for all involved.

The end result is a movie that not only flicks at your funny bone but touches your heart as well. And that was the thing with most Capra films, they didn’t feel fake or phony but felt real like these were people you could meet while walking down the street. They might be a bit eccentric but they had principles and ideals, they wanted the best out of life and did what they could to achieve that. The wealthy are portrayed not so much as evil as misguided, in pursuit of something the might never achieve which is the happiness that those far lower on the rungs of society find on a daily basis. In the end what you come away with is an understanding that money might help at times but it isn’t the be all to end all.

What I love about Capra’s films as well is the performances he gets from everyone in a film. For me a great performance isn’t one that goes over the top, one that you sit marveling at the performance being given. To me a great performance is one where I honestly believe the people I am watching are those characters they are performing as. Barrymore comes off as the kindly grandpa here who wants nothing more than for the government to leave him alone, for big business to go elsewhere and for his family and neighbors to be happy and content. Stewart is believable as a young man in love willing to chuck it all for her. Arnold once again is the stuffed shirt who lightens up eventually. And Capra’s fall back star Jean Arthur presents herself as a woman in love who adores her family but knows they aren’t what most people call normal at the same time.

The movie is a joy to watch and one that stand the test of repeat viewings. I think I’ve seen it at least a half dozen times now and each time I find myself laughing, rooting for the underdog and getting choked up at moments that were planned out for me to do so. While many tagged his films as “Capra-corn” for me they will forever hold a place in my heart. With few exceptions he never made a movie that isn’t worth watching more than once. This movie not only deserves a place in your heart but one on your shelf as well.

Extras include a short documentary interview with Frank Capra Jr. and more. The special edition comes in a cover that includes a booklet for fans to read and has been restored to the best version of the film available. It makes a great complimentary piece to the PREMIERE FRANK CAPRA COLLECTION, even if it’s included in that set.

Click here to order.

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