Meet John Doe (1941)
- Starring:
- Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, (more)
- Director(s):
- Frank Capra
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR
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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, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 170 mins
Complete Cast:
- Gary Cooper - Long John Willoughby
- Edward Arnold - D.B. Norton
- Spring Byington - Mrs. Mitchell
- Gene Lockhart - Mayor Lovett
- Irving Bacon - Beany
- John Farrell MacDonald - Sourpuss Smithers
- Harry Holman - Mayor Hawkins
- Pierre Watkin - Hammett
- Mitchell Lewis - Bennett
- Vaughan Glaser - Governor
- Mike J. Frankovich - Radio Announcer
- John B. Hughes - Radio Announcers at Convention
- Mildred Coles - Secretary
- Frank Moran - Bit part
- Don Turner - Guard
- William Gould - Sergeant
- Jack Cheatham - Policeman
- Aldrich Bowker - Pop Dwyer
- Susan Peters - Autograph Hound
- Kenneth Harlan - Publicity Man
- Johnny Fern - Lady Midget
- Ann Doran - Mrs. Hansen
- Guy Usher - Bixler
- Alphonse Martell - Foreign Dignitarie
- Forbes Murray - Legislator
- Walter Soderling - Barrington
- Forrester Harvey - Bum
- Edmund Cobb - Policeman
- Henry Roquemore - Chamber of Commerce Member
- Edward Keane - Relief Administrator
- John Hamilton - Jim, Governor's Associate
- Eddie Fetherstone - Reporter
- Edward McWade - Joe, Newsman
- Jack Gardner - Photographer
- Emma Tansey - Mrs. Delaney
- Frank Austin - Grubbel
- Cyril Thornton - Butler
- Carlotta Jelm - Ann's Sister
- Vernon Dent - Man
- Lucia Carroll - Herself
- Barbara Stanwyck - Ann Mitchell
- Walter Brennan - The Colonel
- James Gleason - Henry Connell
- Rod La Rocque - Ted Sheldon
- Regis Toomey - Bert Hansen
- Warren Hymer - Angelface
- Andrew Tombes - Spencer
- Stanley Andrews - Weston
- Charles Wilson - Charlie Dawson
- Sterling Holloway - Dan
- Knox Manning - Radio Announcer at Convention
- Pat Flaherty - Mike
- William Forrest - Governor's Associate
- James Millican - Photographer
- James McNamara - Sheriff
- Harry Davenport - Ex-owner of Bulletin
- Richard Kipling - Police Commissioner
- Maris Wrixon - Autograph hound
- John Ince - Doctor
- Selmar Jackson - Radio Announcer at Convention
- Sarah Edwards - Mrs. Hawkins
- Hank Mann - Ed, a Photographer
- Tina Thayer - Ann's Sister
- Edwin Stanley - Democrat
- Paul Everton - GOP man
- Gene Morgan - Mug
- Suzanne Carnahan - Autograph hound
- Floyd Criswell - Electrician
- Garry Owen - Sign Painter
- Eddie Kane - Tycoon
- Edward Earle - Radio MC
- Billy Curtis - Midget
- Margaret Crane - Mrs. Brewster
- Charles French - Fired reporter
- Bess Flowers - Matie, Newspaper Secretary
- Lafe [Lafayette] McKee - Mr. Delaney
- Frank Mayo - Attendant
- Edward Hearn - Mayor's secretary
- Gary Cooper - John Doe
- Bennie Bartlett - Red, Office Boy
- Director(s):
- Frank Capra
- Writer(s):
- Robert Riskin, Richard Connell, Robert R. Presnell, Sr.
- Producer(s):
- Frank Capra
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR(Suitable for Children)
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- 1941 - Meet John Doe - Film Daily - 10 Best Films
- 1941 - Meet John Doe - National Board of Review - Best Acting
