Frank Capra’s Films Difficult To Categorize

Film buffs love to carelessly fling around the term “Capra-esque” when referring to buoyantly happy movies.

I’ve used it, as have countless others.

As America commemorates the 100th birthday of director Frank Capra, who died at age 94 in 1991, it’s only appropriate to figure out what the heck Capra-esque means. Or at least try.

And therein lies the problem, says Tom Capra, his son and executive producer of the new Columbia/TriStar documentary “Frank Capra’s American Dream,” now available on video. His dad’s films aren’t that easily categorized.

“A lot of people believe (“Capra-esque”) means a little man trying to triumph over something or a happy ending that’s improbable,” the former executive producer of the “Today” show says.

On first glance, that certainly seems to be the case. From the breezy romantic comedy of “It Happened One Night” to the Christmas favorite “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Capra seemed to have a happy ending for any occasion.

But not everything was la-de-dah in the Italian immigrant’s films or his life, Tom Capra says.

“Jimmy Stewart had the best line about my dad’s films. He said: ‘You really had to pay for those happy endings.”’

And how. Consider the plight of two of Capra’s most famous film characters - the fallen innocent George Bailey from “It’s a Wonderful Life” and the hero impostor John Doe from “Meet John Doe.” Both men embrace the thought of suicide, but are thrust from the depths of despair by wildly improbable circumstances.

Frank Capra certainly related to his character’s battles with inner demons, since he too suffered from bouts of depression.

Of the lengthy list of films he directed, Tom Capra believes “Life” was his dad’s favorite. “He really considered that his magnum opus,” he says. So it was all the more of a personal as well as professional blow when “Life” premiered in 1946 to good, not great, business. It did, however, garner five Academy Award nominations.

Like many of today’s families, the Capras used to watch “Life” every year during the holidays. “On Christmas Eve we would invite friends over and show it,” Tom Capra recalls. “And I was the projectionist,” he adds with pride.

Equally stinging as the lukewarm reception to “Life” was the reaction from a number of senators to “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” They condemned the film, saying it was an outrage for Capra to portray a senator as a crook. Audiences paid little attention to the political posturing and made the Jimmy Stewart flick a hit, a fitting conclusion for a man who made many happy endings.

Here are reviews of some of Capra’s films, all of which are available from Columbia/TriStar home video for $19.95 each:

“The Bitter Tea of General Yen” (1933) ***

Capra set his eyes on that baldheaded man known as Oscar with this melodramatic story concerning the fiance of a missionary who is kidnapped and alternately attracted and repelled by a warlord in war-torn China. As usual, Barbara Stanwyck makes a plucky heroine, and Swedish silent-screen star Nils Asther is effective. The epic look alone of the film is worth seeing, even if it becomes a little too soggy toward the end. For the time, the relationship between an Asian man and American woman was considered daring.

“It Happened One Night” (1934) ***

The granddaddy of romantic comedies retains its freshness and sparkle 64 years later. Starring Claudette Colbert as a fleeing bride and Clark Gable as a reporter she meets, hates and then loves, “One Night’s” witty one-liners, charismatic cast and hilarious situations come together so effortlessly that you’d have to have a heart of cement to not be charmed. Frequent viewing is essential.

“Lost Horizon” (1937) ****

Whatever you do, please, please rent the original Capra film and not the wretched remake with a singing Liv Ullmann! Based on James Hilton’s evocative and haunting novel about a Utopian land called Shangri-La, “Horizon’s” theme about escaping from it all has a simplistic sense of urgency today. Ronald Colman, as one of the airplane passengers who falls under the spell of Shangri-La, gives a heartwrenching performance. Warning: Kleenex is essential while viewing.

“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (1939)***-1/2

Jimmy Stewart is at his bumbling, stuttering best in Capra’s fanciful and very dated tale about a common man who gets a taste of political backstabbing. When a senator dies, hometown hero Mr. Smith (Stewart) takes over his office, only to be duped by a shady and ruthless senator (Claude Rains). Stewart’s impassioned, likable performance is reason to watch, even if the film smacks of artificial sweetener.

“Frank Capra’s American Dream” (1997) ***

Anyone who is a fan of Capra’s films will love this absorbing if not overly insightful documentary. Narrated by Ron Howard and featuring a slew of celebrities all big Capra fans “Dream” charts Capra’s bumpy ride in Hollywood. One of the documentary’s many pleasures is hearing Mr. Paranoia Oliver Stone explain why he’s a big fan of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” Loaded with clips and bits of trivia, this is a “Dream” for the legions of fans of the influential and beloved director.