American Madness
Stars Walter Huston, Pat O'Brien, Kay Johnson, Constance Cummings, Gavin Gordon
Directors: Frank Capra
Theatrical Release Date: August 4, 1932
Synopsis - It's the 1930s, the Depression era, and the Board of Directors of Thomas Dickson's bank want Dickson to merge with New York Trust and resign. He refuses. One night, Dickson's bank is robbed of $100,000. The suspect is Matt Brown, an ex-convict whom Dickson hired and appointed Chief Teller. Brown, who's very loyal to Dickson, refuses to say where he was that night. He actually has two witnesses for his alibi, Mrs. Dickson and fellow worker Cyril Cluett, but Brown is protecting Dickson from finding out that Mrs. Dickson was with Cluett having a romantic evening. Cluett, who has a $50,000 gambling debt, is actually responsible for the robbery, but lets Brown take the rap. Will Brown's loyalty to Mr. Dickson pay off, or send him back to prison?

It Happened One Night
Stars Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns, Jameson Thomas
Directors: Frank Capra
Synopsis - Ellie Andrews has just tied the knot with society aviator King Westley when she is whisked away to her father's yacht and out of King's clutches. Ellie jumps ship and eventually winds up on a bus headed back to her husband. Reluctantly she must accept the help of out-of- work reporter Peter Warne. Actually, Warne doesn't give her any choice: either she sticks with him until he gets her back to her husband, or he'll blow the whistle on Ellie to her father. Either way, Peter gets what (he thinks!) he wants .... a really juicy newspaper story.

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Stars Gary Cooper, Jean Arthur, George Bancroft, Lionel Stander, Douglass Dumbrille
Directors: Frank Capra
Theatrical Release Date: April 16, 1936
Synopsis - Longfellow Deeds lives in a small town, leading a small town kind of life - including playing the tuba in the town band. When a relative dies and leaves Deeds a fortune, Longfellow picks up his tuba and moves to the big city where he becomes an instant target for everyone from the greedy opera committee to the sensationist daily newspaper. Deeds outwits them all until Babe Bennett comes along. Babe is a hot-shot reporter who figures the best way to get close to Deeds is to pose as a damsel in distress. When small-town boy meets big-city girl anything can, and does, happen.

You Can't Take It with You
Stars Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, James Stewart, Edward Arnold, Mischa Auer
Directors: Frank Capra
Synopsis - Alice Sycamore has to introduce the family of her fiance, Tony Kirby, to her own family. The Kirby's are wealthy, stuffy family of great self- importance, while the Sycamore's are a collection of good-hearted lunatics. When the two families come together, lifestyle and philosophy collide head-on.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Stars Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Claude Rains, Edward Arnold, Guy Kibbee
Directors: Frank Capra

Theatrical Release Date: October 19, 1939
Synopsis - Naive and idealistic Jefferson Smith, leader of the Boy Rangers, is appointed on a lark by the spineless governor of his state. He is reunited with the state's senior senator--presidential hopeful and childhood hero, Senator Joseph Paine. In Washington, however, Smith discovers many of the shortcomings of the political process as his earnest goal of a national boys' camp leads to a conflict with the state political boss, Jim Taylor. Taylor first tries to corrupt Smith and then later attempts to destroy Smith through a scandal.

Frank Capra's American Dream
Stars Ron Howard, Robert Altman, Edward Bernds, Frank Capra Jr., Allen Daviau
Directors: Kenneth Bowser
Rating . Rated PG for brief war footage and mild language.
Genres: Documentary, Biography

Synopsis - Represented as the embodiment of positive US values and humanitarian spirit Franke Capra is discussed by colleagues and family in this A to Z of Capra's career.