Meet John Doe

"Why can't that spirit, that warm Christmas spirit, last all year long?"

Ann Mitchell (Stanwyck) writes for "The Bulletin" newspaper.  When the paper is purchased by businessman D.B. Norton (Arnold), Ann and many others are fired.  For her final column, Ann writes a fictitious letter from a man named John Doe.

The letter causes a stir in the town, with everyone asking who is John Doe?  The editor of "The New Bulletin," Henry Connell (Gleason), calls Ann to get the official letter so they can learn his identity.  When Ann admits she wrote the letter, they decide to capitalize on the hype and hire someone to portray Doe until his suicide at Christmas.  Thankfully, the offices of "The New Bulletin" are filled with desperate men who claim they wrote the letter.  They ultimately hire Long John Willoughby (Cooper).  Doe and his friend the Colonel (Brennan) are housed in a hotel with babysitters from the paper.  Can Doe maintain the facade as the pressure and scrutiny mount?


Director Frank Capra was best-known for making patriotic films (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) and films that tug at your heart strings (It's a Wonderful Life).  My favorite of his films is a screwball comedy (Arsenic and Old Lace, which is based on a popular play).  This film, considered Capra's most controversial film, was released as the U.S. was on the cusp of WWII and the country was filled with uncertainty.  It is patriotic and pulls at your heart strings.

In 1941, Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck starred in 2 films.  This film was followed by screwball comedy Ball of Fire.  Cooper was the first choice for the role, and he signed on without reading the script.  He previously worked with Capra on 1936's Mr. Deeds Goes to Town and enjoyed the experience; he also wanted to work with Stanwyck.  This was Stanwyck's 5th film with Capra, and the most successful (following Ladies of Leisure in 1924, The Miracle Woman in 1931, Forbidden in 1932, and The Bitter Tea of General Yen in 1933).  Cooper and Stanwyck work well together and have a great chemistry.  I also enjoyed Cooper's chemistry and friendship with Walter Brennan's Colonel.

Cooper, Stanwyck and Edward Arnold reprised their roles for the 1941 radio production of the film.  The film was adapted as a stage musical in 2007 and again in 2011.  And in 1989, it was remade into a Bollywood film Main Azaad Hoon.  The film appeared in the American Film Institute's (AFI's) 100 Years...100 Cheers.

I enjoyed the film... but the ending was a disappointment.  Apparently Capra filmed 5 different endings for the film, he ultimately chose the 5th one.  He didn't have the ending planned when they started film, and even though he committed to an ending, he still didn't think it was quite right.  As a whole, it is fine... but it isn't my favorite from anyone involved.

Meet John Doe (1941) 122 minutes
Director: Frank Capra
Starring: Gary Cooper as John Doe / Long John Willoughby
Barbara Stanwyck as Ann Mitchell
Edward Arnold as D.B. Norton
Walter Brennan as The Colonel
Spring Byington as Mrs. Mitchell
James Gleason as Henry Connell
Gene Lockhart as Mayor Lovett
Rod La Rocque as Ted Sheldon
Irving Bacon as Beany