Frank Capra: The Catastrophe of SuccessSimon & Schuster, 1993 - 768 pages Frank Capra was the American success story, the immigrant from Sicily who not only realized the American dream but depicted it. Capra's films, particularly "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", "Meet John Doe", and "It's a Wonderful Life" are national icons -- cherished monuments to the "common man". Yet as Joseph McBride reveals in this revised edition of his widely acclaimed biography, Capra was far more complex than anyone knew. Using recently declassified material about Capra's controversial dealings with Congress and the HUAC (House Unamerican Activities Committee) in the 1940s and 1950s, McBride adds a final chapter to his unforgettable portrait of Hollywood's most beloved director. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Academy actors American Angeles April asked Bisacquino blacklist Buchman called Capra films Capra told Capra wrote career claimed Columbia Pictures comedy committee Communist Connolly Deeds DeMille Directors Guild Fallbrook February felt Fight files film's filmmaking footage Ford Frank Capra George Happened One Night Harry Cohn Harry Langdon Helen Hollywood HUAC interview Jean Arthur knew Lady later letter Lost Horizon Mack Sennett Mankiewicz Manual Arts Meet John Doe Motion Picture movie never October Oscar Paramount play political president preview producers ranch recalled release remembered reported Robert Riskin Saridda scene screen screenplay screenwriter script Sennett September shooting Sidney Buchman Smith Stanwyck star Stewart story studio talk thing thought Throop Turiddu Walker wanted Warner Washington William William Wyler Wonderful writers Wyler York Zanuck