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Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward Arnold, Walter Brennan, Spring Byington ... see more see more... , James Gleason , Gene Lockhart , Rod La Rocque , Irving Bacon , Regis Toomey , John Farrell MacDonald , Warren Hymer , Harry Holman , Andrew Tombes , Pierre Watkin , Stanley Andrews , Mitchell Lewis , Charles C. Wilson , Vaughan Glaser , Sterling Holloway , Mike J. Frankovich , Knox Manning , John B. Hughes , Frank Austin , Bennie Bartlett , Mary Benoit , Aldrich Bowker , Sidney Bracey , Fritzi Brunette , Suzanne Carnahan , Lucia Carroll , Glen Cavender , Jack Cheatham , Edmund Cobb , Mildred Coles , Margaret Crane , Billy Curtis , Harry Davenport , Vernon Dent , Ann Doran , Edward Earle , Sarah Edwards , Carl Ekberg , Paul Everton , Johnny Fern , Eddie Fetherstone , Pat Flaherty , Bess Flowers , William Forrest , Charles K. French , Jack Gardner , William Gould , Mack Gray , The Hall Johnson Choir , Alfred Hall , John Hamilton , Kenneth Harlan , Forrester Harvey , Edward Hearn , Max Hoffman Jr. , Stuart Holmes , John Ince , Selmar Jackson , Frank Jaquet , Carlotta Jelm , Eddie Kane , Edward Keane , Melvin Lang , Hank Mann , Alphonse Martell , Frank Mayo , Larry McGrath , Joe McGuinn , Tom McGuire , Lafe [Lafayette] McKee , James M. McNamara , Edward McWade , Claire Meade , James Millican , Frank Moran , Clark Morgan , Gene Morgan , Jack Mower , Forbes Murray , Wedgewood Nowell , Garry Owen , Paul Panzer , Edward Peil Sr. , George Pembroke , Bob Perry , Susan Peters , Elsa Peterson , Hal Price , Jack Richardson , Henry Roquemore , Thomas W. Ross , Cliff Saum , Walter Soderling , Wyndham Standing , Edwin Stanley , Tina Thayer , Cyril Thornton , Charles Trowbridge , Don Turner , Guy Usher , Fredrik Vogeding , Lillian West , Leo White , Lotta Williams , Tom Wilson , Jack Wise , Maris Wrixon , George Melford , Stanley Price , Bernard Wheeler , Ed Williams , Al Lloyd , James Harrison , Richard Kipling , Charles McAvoy , Frank Meredith , Bessie Wade , Earl Bunn , Howard Chase , Floyd Criswell , Evelyn Dockson , Inez Gay , Eddie Graham , Isabelle La Mal , Don Roberts , Sally Sage , Sada Simmons , Emma Tansey , Frank Fanning , Mrs. Wilfred North

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... read more read more... 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

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81% liked it

4,266 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

17 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 3 min.

Directed by: Frank Capra

Release Date: January 1, 1941

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DVD Release Date: August 30, 2005

 

Stats: 243 reviews

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Stanwyck and Cooper Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwick
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Flixster Reviews (243)

  • fb1664868775
    November 13, 2011
    fb1664868775
    Another Capra masterpiece that is still relevant today. Cooper and Brennan are great.
  • ajv2688
    September 29, 2010
    ajv2688
    This is a remarkable movie, and a great performance from Stanwyck. I highly recommend this movie.
  • mjgildea
    October 9, 2007
    mjgildea
    Fantastic! It started off as what I thought was going to be a screwball comedy but slowly shifted gears into a heartbreaking tale of beauty and political corruption. Gary Cooper's performance was a bit stiff and Barbara Stanwyck was as always amazing. The convention and final seq... read moreuences had a look to them that was nothing short of chilling. The dialogue's a bit dated but the story is timeless. And again, Frank Capra succeeds in getting me all misty.
  • broadwaymo
    February 24, 2008
    broadwaymo
    Frank Capra's illustration of the media's use of an average shmoe with a simple message to manipulate the masses for political gain is as relevant today as it was when released. A very laid-back Gary Cooper is perfect in the title role, with the beautiful Barbara Stanwyck as the ... read morewoman used to mold him into the tool he becomes. Excellent support provided by Walter Brennan.
  • fb68600877
    December 30, 2011
    fb68600877
    Rousing populism. Capra doing what he does best. Stanwyck and Cooper are wonderful in their roles--and seem to have real chemistry--though I still prefer them in "Ball of Fire" from the same year.
  • jam233
    April 8, 2010
    jam233
    Pure Capra, not his best, but it is still magnificent. It's a feel good film, as expected. What else can be said of Barbara Stanwyck. She is amazing as always, and gives such depth and range to her role. Gary Cooper is ideally cast. They make a great team and you can tell they ha... read moreve a good rapport. The supporting cast is wonderful, especially James Gleason, Walter Brennan and Edward Arnold. So well written, a wonderful and very memorable story.
  • TheEssentials
    March 27, 2010
    TheEssentials
    A film about dishonesty, desperation, greed, politics, and... humanity. Cooper and Stanwyck are radiant in this Capra classic about how one woman's deseperate fight to save and support her family brings life to an entire community. It's also an unlikely love story filled with che... read moremistry. Capra knew how to disect emotion and extract the raw forces that drive people.
  • dvdwld
    February 26, 2010
    dvdwld
    Frank Capra's darkest film yet one of his films that has the most to say. A film that should be seen by any film lover at least once.
  • lizzi08
    December 27, 2008
    lizzi08
    This film was suprisingly honest and timeless. One of Capra's best with the wonderful Barbara Stanwyck and a very strong, heartbreaking performance by Gary Cooper.
  • kashtheoneandonly
    November 12, 2008
    kashtheoneandonly
    a movie timeless, reminding to what it is in all of humanity's nature of wanting acceptance and greatness.With the simplicity of that greatness in being a part of a larger sense of rightness for our fellow man.So ...tare down those fences... and get this film!

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Critic Reviews

Wesley Lovell
August 16, 2011
Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy

Journalistic ethics are only a small aspect of the film, but the implications are long-ranging. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
January 13, 2011
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Capra's films work because he believed with his whole heart in his cornball agendas. Full Review

Sean Axmaker
December 28, 2010
Sean Axmaker, Parallax View

It's pure Capra, run through with the tension between idealism and corruption... Full Review

John J. Puccio
December 21, 2010
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

...the political and social ramifications are just as topical today as they were seventy years ago. Full Review

Pablo Villaca
May 2, 2009
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...

Emanuel Levy
July 2, 2007
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Capra's political parable is problematic parables, from his contradictory approach to the "little people" to the right-wing elements to the compromised ending, in which Cooper is stopped from committi... Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
June 27, 2006
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

It was hard to stomach. Full Review

Steve Crum
November 1, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Classic Capra and Cooper still makes statements.

Ken Hanke
November 5, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Frank Capra's most ambitious and disturbing film, Meet John Doe is possibly more relevant today than when it first appeared in 1941. Full Review

Dan Lybarger
October 14, 2002
Dan Lybarger, Lawrence Journal-World

This vintage Capra film is the sort of sentimental thing that only he could get away with.

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Meet John Doe Trivia

  • What Frank Capra film was not nominated for best picture?  Answer »
  • Who starred in all three of the following films; 'Meet John Doe', 'Sergeant York' and 'Stanley and Livingston'?  Answer »
  • What 1941 film had this cast:Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyke,Eddie Arnold, Walter Brennan, James Gleason, Gene Lockhart, Regis Toomey, Andrew Tombes?  Answer »
  • Who directed the film Meet John Doe?  Answer »
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