BrianKoller's Full Review: You Can't Take It With You
Frank Capra accumulated six Academy Award nominations for Best Director during his career. One of them was for "You Can't Take It With You", which was also one of the three times he won as director (he won another four Oscars as a producer).
The story follows the general formula of other Capra films, pitting the common man against venal business/political interests. In "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "It's a Wonderful Life", Capra cast James Stewart as the hero. Stewart is present in "You Can't Take It With You" as well, but here he serves as the comic love interest, along with Jean Arthur who also shows up in several Capra projects. The hero, Martin Vanderhof, is played by lovable Lionel Barrymore. His refusal to sell his home to grasping business magnates prevents the eviction of neighboring tenants and Vanderhof's many dependents.
The film was adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway play by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. The play took place entirely within the Vanderhof home, and lacked the subplot of the evil corporation buying land to build a weapons factory. Vanderhof's refusal to pay income taxes was a much larger theme in the play. In the film version, it exists to make the government, as represented by a short-tempered IRS agent, look foolish. The play's character change in Anthony P. Kirby, from society snob to gregarious father of the bride, takes on a Scrooge-like quality in the movie. When Kirby sees the error of his ways, it's not just because he's been a snob, but also a greedy, soulless businessman.
Fortunately, the best part of "You Can't Take it With You" isn't its strident social message. Somebody once told me that any movie with Mischa Auer in it can't be all bad. This is a clue to film's only real asset, the zany characters that frequent the Vanderhof household. Auer plays a cynical, eternally hungry Russian dance instructor. Vanderhof's daughter (Spring Byington) is a pulp novelist. Her husband (Samuel S. Hinds) tinkers with fireworks. Their pretty daughter (Ann Miller) thinks she's a dancer. She is married to a composer (Dub Taylor) who uses a xylophone instead of a piano. New arrival Poppins (Donald Meek, the liquor salesman from "Stagecoach") designs curious toys and Halloween masks.
A second Vanderhof granddaughter is Alice (Jean Arthur). Less eccentric and less interesting, she is a secretary to Tony Kirby (James Stewart). Tony is a young Vice President who has achieved that title due to his father Anthony P. Kirby (Edward Arnold) who is Chairman of the Board. Alice and Tony become engaged, much to the displeasure of Anthony's snooty wife (Mary Forbes).
The pivotal character is Martin Vanderhof, the patriarch and ringmaster of the hyperactive dreamers that form his family. Barrymore plays the optimistic Vanderhof, but since the actor was crippled from arthritis, he could only get around on crutches. He received hourly injections to ease his pain, which doesn't show in his performance.
"You Can't Take it With You" was a big box office success, and won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director. Still, I prefer other films from that year, such as "Bringing Up Baby" and "Angels with Dirty Faces". (57/100)
Tony James Stewart the eldest son of millionaire Anthony P. Kirby has fallen in love with Alice Vanderhof. She's a sweet working girl who lives with h...More at Family Video
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