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American Madness

Play trailer Poster for American Madness 1932 1h 21m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
During the Depression, the bank owned by generous Dickson (Walter Huston) is barely staying afloat, and things get worse when $100,000 is lifted from the vault. Fingers are pointed at reformed crook Matt (Pat O'Brien), who got a job and a fresh start from Dickson. The innocent Matt can clear his name by admitting that on the night of the robbery he was breaking up a tryst between Dickson's wife and another teller. But this revelation may crush Dickson, and Matt's conscience plays tug-of-war.
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American Madness

Critics Reviews

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Fernando F. Croce CinePassion 12/26/2014
A forceful tale for the New Deal just around the corner Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 08/25/2005
B
Though preachy, Capra's film zips along at breakneck speed and always pleases. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 08/01/2005
4/5
Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) 11/20/2003
5/5
Early Capra has the extra bonus of documenting its time. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Steve D 12/28/2023 The film keeps losing plot points and resolves too nicely. See more william d @acsdoug 08/23/2021 I liked the set, i.e. the bank, and Capra's direction. The story is good enough, if a little preachy. Am I the only one who sees parallels between this and Capra's subsequent seminal film It's a Wonderful Life? See more 08/24/2016 good pre-code drama from director frank capra & it was 4 me the last Capra film 4 me 2 c See more 06/13/2015 moves really fast but showcases Capra's unmatched talent in the heartwarming genre. See more 05/11/2014 1932 but from the banking scenario it might as well be 2014. Thomas Dickson, (Walter Huston) wants to help people with their mortgages and freely loans to needy people, while the board of directors want to keep money stashed to buy another bank. Sounds too familiar these days. See more 02/04/2012 Frank Capra's American Madness takes place during the Great Depression era and tells the story of Thomas Dickson (Walter Huston) the head of a bank whose lending policy relies heavily on the faith in people, much to the dismay of his board of directors. After the bank is robbed, rumors swirl leading a run on the bank of withdrawals which could mean the end of the bank. Thomas Dickson pretty much represents all of what Capra believes in. When we are first introduced to him, he is warm and friendly towards every one of his employees from the doorman to the bank clerks. His confidence and charm are abundant and Walter Huston does a good job at presenting this well-natured yet business savvy man who sticks with his convictions. This is the first of Capra's films to really embraces the power of the individual and the massive faith and trust which Capra had in the common man. Given that this film came out during the Great Depression I cannot even fathom how important it was in terms of making a social statement about the era. It's a sharp, brisk, important film that really started off the era of Frank Capra films which celebrates the power of the individual and the necessity of faith and trust in the common man. See more Read all reviews
American Madness

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Movie Info

Synopsis During the Depression, the bank owned by generous Dickson (Walter Huston) is barely staying afloat, and things get worse when $100,000 is lifted from the vault. Fingers are pointed at reformed crook Matt (Pat O'Brien), who got a job and a fresh start from Dickson. The innocent Matt can clear his name by admitting that on the night of the robbery he was breaking up a tryst between Dickson's wife and another teller. But this revelation may crush Dickson, and Matt's conscience plays tug-of-war.
Director
Frank Capra, Allan Dwan
Producer
Harry Cohn
Screenwriter
Roy William Neill, Robert Riskin
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 4, 1932, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 30, 2013
Runtime
1h 21m
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Flat (1.37:1)
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