Meet John Doe (1941)
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88% of critics liked it
(17 reviews) -
80% of users liked it
(4,352 ratings)
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… More 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
- Directed By
- Frank Capra
- Written By
- Richard Connell, Robert Presnell Sr., Robert Riskin
- Genres
- Drama, Classics, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1941 Wide
- On DVD
- Aug 30, 2005
- Studio
- Madacy Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Wesley Lovell, Cinema Sight
Journalistic ethics are only a small aspect of the film, but the implications are long-ranging.
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Capra's films work because he believed with his whole heart in his cornball agendas.
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Sean Axmaker, Parallax View
It's pure Capra, run through with the tension between idealism and corruption...
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...the political and social ramifications are just as topical today as they were seventy years ago.
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Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Além de trazer aquela que é provavelmente a pior cena dirigida por Capra em sua carreira (o monólogo de Regis Toomey na prefeitura), o filme é um água com açúcar repleto de diálogos patriotas/cristãos patéticos, artificiais e piegas.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Cast
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Gary Cooper
as John Doe, Long John Willoughby
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Barbara Stanwyck
as Ann Mitchell
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Edward Arnold
as D.B. Norton
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Walter Brennan
as The Colonel
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Spring Byington
as Mrs. Mitchell
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James Gleason
as Henry Connell
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Gene Lockhart
as Mayor Lovett
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Rod La Rocque
as Ted Sheldon
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Irving Bacon
as Beany
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Regis Toomey
as Bert Hansen
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John Farrell MacDonald
as Sourpuss Smithers
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Warren Hymer
as Angelface
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Harry Holman
as Mayor Hawkins
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Andrew Tombes
as Spencer
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Pierre Watkin
as Hammett
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Stanley Andrews
as Weston
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Mitchell Lewis
as Bennett
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Charles C. Wilson
as Charlie Dawson
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Vaughan Glaser
as Governor
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Sterling Holloway
as Dan
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Mike J. Frankovich
as Radio Announcer
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Knox Manning
as Radio Announcer at Convention
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John B. Hughes
as Radio Announcers at Convention
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Frank Austin
as Grubbel
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Bennie Bartlett
as Red Office Boy
- Mary Benoit
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Aldrich Bowker
as Pop Dwyer
- Sidney Bracey
- Fritzi Brunette
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Suzanne Carnahan
as Autograph hound
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Lucia Carroll
as Herself
- Glen Cavender
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Jack Cheatham
as Policeman
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Edmund Cobb
as Policeman
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Mildred Coles
as Secretary
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Margaret Crane
as Mrs. Brewster
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Billy Curtis
as Midget
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Harry Davenport
as Ex-owner of Bulletin
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Vernon Dent
as Man
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Ann Doran
as Mrs. Hansen
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Edward Earle
as Radio MC
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Sarah Edwards
as Mrs. Hawkins
- Carl Ekberg
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Paul Everton
as GOP man
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Johnny Fern
as Lady Midget
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Eddie Fetherstone
as Reporter
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Pat Flaherty
as Mike
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Bess Flowers
as Matie Newspaper Secretary
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William Forrest
as Governor's Associate
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Charles K. French
as Fired reporter
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Jack Gardner
as Photographer
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William Gould
as Sergeant
- Mack Gray
- The Hall Johnson Choir
- Alfred Hall
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John Hamilton
as Jim Governor's Associate
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Kenneth Harlan
as Publicity Man
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Forrester Harvey
as Bum
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Edward Hearn
as Mayor's secretary
- Max Hoffman Jr.
- Stuart Holmes
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John Ince
as Doctor
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Selmar Jackson
as Radio Announcer at Convention
- Frank Jaquet
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Carlotta Jelm
as Ann's Sister
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Eddie Kane
as Tycoon
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Edward Keane
as Relief Administrator
- Melvin Lang
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Hank Mann
as Ed a Photographer
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Alphonse Martell
as Foreign Dignitarie
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Frank Mayo
as Attendant
- Larry McGrath
- Joe McGuinn
- Tom McGuire
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Lafe [Lafayette] McKee
as Mr. Delaney
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James M. McNamara
as Sheriff
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Edward McWade
as Joe Newsman
- Claire Meade
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James Millican
as Photographer
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Frank Moran
as Bit part
- Clark Morgan
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Gene Morgan
as Mug
- Jack Mower
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Forbes Murray
as Legislator
- Wedgewood Nowell
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Garry Owen
as Sign Painter
- Paul Panzer
- Edward Peil Sr.
- George Pembroke
- Bob Perry
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Susan Peters
as Autograph Hound
- Elsa Peterson
- Hal Price
- Jack Richardson
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Henry Roquemore
as Chamber of Commerce Member
- Thomas W. Ross
- Cliff Saum
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Walter Soderling
as Barrington
- Wyndham Standing
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Edwin Stanley
as Democrat
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Tina Thayer
as Ann's Sister
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Cyril Thornton
as Butler
- Charles Trowbridge
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Don Turner
as Guard
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Guy Usher
as Bixler
- Fredrik Vogeding
- Lillian West
- Leo White
- Lotta Williams
- Tom Wilson
- Jack Wise
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Maris Wrixon
as Autograph hound
- George Melford
- Stanley Price
- Bernard Wheeler
- Ed Williams
- Al Lloyd
- James Harrison
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Richard Kipling
as Police Commissioner
- Charles McAvoy
- Frank Meredith
- Bessie Wade
- Earl Bunn
- Howard Chase
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Floyd Criswell
as Electrician
- Evelyn Dockson
- Inez Gay
- Eddie Graham
- Isabelle La Mal
- Don Roberts
- Sally Sage
- Sada Simmons
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Emma Tansey
as Mrs. Delaney
- Frank Fanning
- Mrs. Wilfred North
