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Meet John Doe [videorecording] / Warner Bros. Pictures presents ; Frank Capra Productions ; [Sherman S. Krellberg presenting] ; screen play by Robert Riskin ; directed by Frank Capra.

Contributor(s): Material type: FilmFilmPublication details: Tulsa, OK : VCI Entertainment, 2010.Edition: 70th anniversary ultimate edDescription: 2 videodiscs : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 inISBN:
  • 1557397155
  • 9781557397157
Subject(s): Genre/Form: Production credits:
  • Producer, Frank Capra; director of photography, George Barnes; editor, Daniel Mandell; art direction, Stephen Goosson; music, Dimitri Tiomkin; musical direction, Leo F. Forbstein.
Cast: Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Walter Brennan, Edward Arnold, James Gleason, Gene Lockhart, Rod LaRocque, Spring Byington, Andrew Tombes.Summary: Fired from her job, reporter Ann Mitchell invents a fictitious "John Doe" to write an idealistic letter threatening suicide in protest of social ills. The public response to the letter is so enormous that Ann's newspaper rehires her and hires an out-of-work baseball player, John Willoughby to play the part of John Doe. He enters into the hoax for the money but ultimately rebels against the evil, self-serving despots who attempt to further their own political goals by controlling him and the thousands of John Doe fans who support him.
Audiovisual profile: Click to open in new window
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult DVD Adult DVD Dr. James Carlson Library DVD DRAMA Meet Joh Available 33111006841510
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The first of director Frank Capra's independent productions (in partnership with Robert Riskin), Meet John Doe begins with the end of reporter Ann Mitchell's (Barbara Stanwyck) job. Fired as part of a downsizing move, she ends her last column with an imaginary letter written by "John Doe." Angered at the ill treatment of America's little people, the fabricated Doe announces that he's going to jump off City Hall on Christmas Eve. When the phony letter goes to press, it causes a public sensation. Seeking to secure her job, Mitchell talks her managing editor (James Gleason) into playing up the John Doe letter for all it's worth; but to ward off accusations from rival papers that the letter was bogus, they decide to hire someone to pose as John Doe: a ballplayer-turned-hobo (Gary Cooper), who'll do anything for three squares and a place to sleep. "John Doe" and his traveling companion The Colonel (Walter Brennan) are ensconced in a luxury hotel while Mitchell continues churning out chunks of John Doe philosophy. When newspaper publisher D.B. Norton (Edward Arnold), a fascistic type with presidential aspirations, decides to use Doe as his ticket to the White House, he puts Doe on the radio to deliver inspirational speeches to the masses -- ghost-written by Mitchell, who, it is implied, has become the publisher's mistress. The central message of the Doe speeches is "Love Thy Neighbor," though, conceived in cynicism, the speeches strike so responsive a chord with the public that John Doe clubs pop up all over the country. Believing he is working for the good of America, Cooper agrees to front the National John Doe Movement -- until he discovers that Norton plans to exploit Doe in order to create a third political party and impose a virtual dictatorship on the country. The last of Capra's "social statement" films, Meet John Doe posted a profit, although Capra and Riskin were forced to dissolve their corporation due to excessive taxes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Based on a story by Richard Connell and Robert Presnell.

Originally released as a motion picture by Warner Brothers in 1941.

Special features include: Audio commentary ; Meet Mr. Cooper ; Meet Miss Stanwyck ; Meet Mr. Capra ; Vintage "Lux Theater" radio productions ; Before and after comparison of the digital restoration ; Extensive cast and crew profiles ; Production background.

Producer, Frank Capra; director of photography, George Barnes; editor, Daniel Mandell; art direction, Stephen Goosson; music, Dimitri Tiomkin; musical direction, Leo F. Forbstein.

Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Walter Brennan, Edward Arnold, James Gleason, Gene Lockhart, Rod LaRocque, Spring Byington, Andrew Tombes.

Fired from her job, reporter Ann Mitchell invents a fictitious "John Doe" to write an idealistic letter threatening suicide in protest of social ills. The public response to the letter is so enormous that Ann's newspaper rehires her and hires an out-of-work baseball player, John Willoughby to play the part of John Doe. He enters into the hoax for the money but ultimately rebels against the evil, self-serving despots who attempt to further their own political goals by controlling him and the thousands of John Doe fans who support him.

Not rated.

DVD; fully restored and enhanced digital master.

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