Frank Capra (cont'd)

In 1928, fresh off the success of his movie THE CERTAIN THING, Frank Capra was given an assignment from Harry Cohn to take over the already-in-production film SUBMARINE from director Irwin Willat. After encountering some problems with the initially hostile crew, Capra swiftly transformed a potential disaster into the studio’s biggest grossing film to that point. SUBMARINE was Columbia’s first-ever release to include sound effects. Subsequently, Capra directed a plethora of films for Columbia Pictures, such as THE DONOVAN AFFAIR (1929), FLIGHT (1929), DIRIGIBLE (1931), PLATINUM BLONDE (1931), LADIES OF LEISURE (1930), and THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN (1933). In 1932, Capra directed the comedy-drama AMERICAN MADNESS, which was the first film where he was able to truly establish his signature “Capra-esque” style. A year later, Capra’s newest film, LADY FOR A DAY, was Oscar®-nominated for Best Picture. The movie was an endearing comedy about a fruit seller who, with the help of a gambler, pretends to be royalty for a day to impress her daughter’s fiancé. In conjunction with the growing success of LADY FOR A DAY, Capra was also nominated for Best Director.

Capra’s streak of success continued with IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934), which won Columbia Pictures its first Oscar® for Best Picture at the Academy Awards®. The warmth, humor, and keen observation displayed in Capra’s directing also helped the film win Oscars® for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

For the duration of the 1930s, Capra’s career at Columbia prospered. His films MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN (1936), LOST HORIZON (1937), and YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU (1938), scripted by his favorite writer Robert Riskin, combined the elements of both comedy and social comment to outstanding effect. YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU won three more Oscars®. Performed and directed with passion and emotional honesty, Capra’s 1939 film, MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, was met with a mixture of strong praise from movie critics and vilification from notable politicians. The ensuing controversy brought an end to Capra’s prestigious twelve-year association with Harry Cohn and Columbia Pictures.