"They created a lot of grand palaces here, but they forgot to create noblemen to put in them".

Has simplicity of story ever been so grand as it is here? Director Frank Capra manages to turn a simple tale of a rural man coming into big money, into a charismatic uplifting lesson to generations past and present. There are no sheep around here for the makers to extract wool from to pull over our eyes, they don't need too, for it is just a plain and honest story to gladden even the hardest of hearts. It's a journey that tickles you pink and then stops you in your tracks with a swift turn of events, it then gives you tension, frustrating pain in the ass tension, and then? Well it's into the delightful realm of Capra.

The direction is flawless, I honestly can't find anything wrong here even if it was my wish to do so, the acting is actually to die for. Gary Cooper is simply brilliant in the title role, he takes you with him on his journey from the easy going rural chap at the start of the film-to the quite emotive and strong man coming alive for the finale. Cooper was a class act when playing men with high moral fibre, such is the case here, he layers Deeds with conviction, witness a tonal shift in the film that brings his world crashing down, the grief on Cooper's face has the viewer ready to fight the world for him. Then there's the entire court room sequences as he sits there acting only with expressions, it's special I tell you.

Jean Arthur has a back story to the film that makes me admire her all the more, she was only chose quite late on in casting by Capra after he caught her in a small low budget production, and she suffered violently with nerves on each shoot, but the results are incredible as she dominates the camera in every scene she is in, with her delivery, her voice that makes me ache in a good way, this lady covers herself in glory. The supporting cast are also first class, the writing is top dollar, the film is actually perfect across the board, so with that I'm stunned that more golden baldy statues from the Academy didn't come this films way.

I was going to watch Mr Smith Goes To Washington after this, but I spent another hour re-watching my favourite scenes from this film. It's a well regarded film in classic movie buff circles, and rightly so, for it's a peerless entry on Capra's CV, and also cements the statement that Gary Cooper deserves his legendary status. 10/10

This is justifiably one of Gary Cooper's most famous movies, as his character of Longfellow Deeds is a classic of American cinema. Mr. Deeds has just inherited a fortune and Jean Arthur is determined to make him a star in her newspaper reports. She doesn't tell him she's a reporter and insinuates herself in his life in order to further her career as a reporter. She plays the story of a poor boy becoming rich to the hilt, but the story goes off direction when Mr. Deeds shows no interest in the money. In fact, he announces he doesn't want the money and is planning on giving it all away! That's because he so quickly became sick of all the adoration, publicity and people trying to suck up to him for money's sake. And, when he makes this announcement, greedy people take him to court to try to prove he is crazy and shouldn't be the heir to the fortune. This leads to some of the most marvelous and funny scenes in film--especially of the cute old ladies who testifies that Deeds is "pixilated"!

A terrific film that you can't help but enjoy--very reminiscent and just a bit better than another Capra-Cooper films, MEET JOHN DOE because it is less schmaltzy and a bit more believable. An American classic.

Having being really delighted by It's a Wonderful Life and It Happened One Night, I checked out Mr Deeds Goes to Town having a strong inkling it was going to be good. And I genuinely liked it. The climax mayn't be truly convincing, and one or two parts of the story ring false, but this film is still a very nice morality tale from a very talented director.

It is beautifully filmed, with lovely cinematography, scenery and sets, and the score is marvellous. Add a witty script, some very funny situations, an in general well constructed story if somewhat slight and clever direction and you have a good film in the making. Acting wise, Gary Cooper is wonderful as Longfellow Deeds, the tuba-playing "Cinderella Man" who inherits a small fortune, and Jean Arthur is a good and alluring match for him. And they are supported by less significant but solid supporting turns, especially Walter Catlett as the drunken poet.

Overall, very nice if not quite perfect film from Frank Capra, that is much better than a well intentioned but unnecessary remake with Adam Sandler. 8/10 Bethany Cox