Mr. Deeds Goes to Town / Mr. Deeds

MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN (U)

D: Frank Capra

Columbia (Frank Capra)

US 1936

118 mins

Comedy

W: Robert Riskin [based on the story "Opera Hat" by Clarence Budington Kelland]

DP: Joseph Walker

Ed: Gene Havlicek

Mus: Adolph Deutsch

Gary Cooper (Longfellow Deeds), Jean Arthur (Babe Bennett), Raymond Walburn (Walter), Lionel Stander (Cornelius Cobb), George Bancroft (MacWade), H.B. Warner (Judge Walker)

A writer from a small town inherits a fortune and surprises the populace of New York with his goodheartedness and honesty, despite the efforts of many wishing to take advantage of him.

Classic screwball comedy with fine performances and a genuine well-intended message that wealth and the status that comes with it doesn’t always lead to corruption.

Like all of Frank Capra's films it blends the perfect amount of wit, intelligence and eccentricities of its various cast of characters, led by Gary Cooper in one of his very best & most iconic performances.

Watch this version over the Adam Sandler remake from 2002.

9/10

Gary Cooper & Jean Arthur in Mr Deeds Goes to Town

MR. DEEDS (12)

D: Steven Brill

Columbia / New Line / Happy Madison / Out Of The Blue (Sid Ganis & Jack Giarraputo)

US 🇺🇸 2002

96 mins

Comedy

W: Tim Herlihy [based on the 1936 screenplay “Mr Deeds Goes To Town” by Robert Riskin & the story “Opera Hat” by Clarence Budington Kelland]

DP: Peter Lyons Collister

Ed: Jeff Gourson

Mus: Teddy Castellucci

Adam Sandler (Longfellow Deeds), Winona Ryder (Babe Bennett), Peter Gallagher (Chuck Cedar), Jared Harris (Mac McGrath), John Turturro (Emilio Lopez), Steve Buscemi (Crazy Eyes)

The original 1936 film, “Mr. Deeds Goes To Town” was a whimsical Frank Capra fable, starring Gary Cooper as a well-natured man who inherits a fortune & refuses to be corrupted by people attempting to take advantage of him. It didn’t need a remake, not least one with Adam Sandler in the title role.

In fairness, Adam Sandler is less annoying in this than in many of his other films released around the same time, and Winona Ryder lends herself well as the romantic interest.

Unfortunately, there is some silliness as it’s a film purely aimed at fans of Adam Sandler. Everyone else would do better to seek out the original film instead.

4/10

Winona Ryder & Adam Sandler in Mr. Deeds