You Can't Take It with You

You Can't Take It with You (1938, Frank Capra) is a romantic comedy masterpiece. Capra's enthusiasm towards American idealism and democratic values is present in the film. His criticism of American high-class society and his hope of reconciliation between the low and high classes can be detected and followed throughout the entire structure of his oeuvre. You can even find his desire and curiosity towards the Russian Communist revolution throughout the dialogue and comedic situations happening in the storyline and narrative. 

Capra puts the madness of the family in front of the logic of capitalism and narrates the story of a normal couple who wants to live beyond this conflict and this social gap. For Capra, this funny madness is a revolutionary movement against the principles of a capitalistic society. Beyond this madness, there is a wisdom that brings the two different social classes together at the end of the film, and the reconciliation between low and high social classes becomes true based on Capra's American idealistic values.

The young couple represents the younger generation and the future of America and its democratic values. They want to live in the society that there is no gap and conflict between high and low social classes. They don't want to be the victims of this gap and conflict.

A note: by Morad Sadeghi 

It Happened One Night

 

It Happened One Night

The 1930s was the best years of America. It was the golden age of Hollywood. Capra directed It Happened One Night in 1934. Is it a road movie? Is it a screwball comedy? Is it a romantic comedy? What is so unique about this film? Clark Gabel and Claudette Colbert are at their own best. The film represents all aspects of America that Capra is in love with. He is standing somewhere between conservative and radical American policies. Is the film criticizing the American high-class style of life or is it the film that admires all aspects of American capitalism? Is there a reconciliation between America's low and high classes in the movie? Is the film celebrating American idealism and democratic values? The film is full of moments and dialogue that have the reason to provoke the American audience to ask themselves Who they are as American citizens. While Capra's American idealism with democratic values can be traced and detected throughout the film, the question remains: can these values establish a better way of life?  

The film was made before the Hays Code but the marriage between the couple is the moralistic resolution of the narrative. Gable and Colbert are two different creatures from two crucial social classes. While Gable is an extroverted character, Colbert is an introverted one. The romantic relationship between the characters solves the social gap between them. 

In terms of sexual representation in cinema in the pre-code era, the film can be deciphered and interpreted in many ways. The famous scenes of hitchhiking, the night scenes in the rented rooms, and the final scenes of the film are the reasons why the film is so important as the artistic work of the pre-code era. The feministic reading of the film also emphasizes that Colbert has no choice between her father, her fiancé, and the man she loves.

A note: by Morad Sadeghi