Frank Capra is remembered for his inspiring movies about ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Like many directors, he had certain actors with whom he enjoyed working, so he would feature them in many of his films. One of these actors was Gary Cooper, a “strong silent type” star of the 1920s through the 1950s. Capra said of him: “Gary Cooper is the finest actor I ever worked with. He was a man of great integrity and honesty, both on and off the screen.”
The two movies Capra made starring Cooper were “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town” (1936) and “Meet John Doe” (1941). Both films proved to be defining steps in Cooper’s and Capra’s careers. It’s interesting to compare these two movies and Cooper’s titular characters.
