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      Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

      Released Apr 16, 1936 1h 55m Comedy List
      91% Tomatometer 23 Reviews 86% Audience Score 5,000+ Ratings Longfellow Deeds (Gary Cooper), a resident of small-town Vermont, leads a simple life until he inherits a vast fortune from a late uncle. Soon, unscrupulous lawyer John Cedar (Douglas Dumbrille) brings Deeds to New York City, where the unassuming heir is the object of much media attention. When wily reporter Babe Bennett (Jean Arthur) gains the trust and affection of Deeds, she uses her position to publish condescending articles about him -- but are her feelings for him really that shallow? Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Mar 20 Buy Now

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      Critics Reviews

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      Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: A Feb 18, 2012 Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: 4/5 Jul 20, 2003 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Mr. Deeds Goes to Town finds the comedy while also having something to say about coming into riches. Rated: 4.5/5 Aug 2, 2022 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Observations about life and living, and hypocrisy and ulterior motives, are nicely punctuated by screwball comedy. Rated: 7/10 Dec 7, 2020 Full Review Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy) Esquire Magazine Nice satire, wittily underscored by Gary Cooper. Apr 23, 2020 Full Review Jacoba Atlas Los Angeles Free Press Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, with Gary Coooper as the rube with the heart of gold being sacrificed to the malicious media, is no less outstanding. Nov 19, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Demetrios M Frank Capra is easily one of my favorite directors of all time. We need more Mr. Deeds in this world. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/24/24 Full Review Liam D Frank Capra (Riding High, Lost Horizon) first major movie is a charming comedy with a charismatic lead performance by Gary Cooper (Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, Alice In Wonderland) Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/12/22 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review William L Capra may have been a bit obvious, simplistic, and terribly idealistic in his depictions of wealth, corruption, and morality with a distinctly American flavor, but the foundations that he built on were far from wrong, and often still ring true today. His vision of American uprightness and charm, a combination of Norman Rockwell and Will Rogers, is hard to ignore, and the romance between Cooper and Arthur is straightforward but classic. The film isn't watertight; it introduces too many subplots that aren't really explored enough to matter. The grift of the lawyers occupies a surprisingly large proportion of the early runtime, but is quickly dropped and seldom referenced again. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town is a perfect representation of what made Capra a household name, and whether or not you like his traditional style will play a large part in your enjoyment of the film. For me, I guess the disillusionment of the Millennial generation stops me from getting on board when I see Capra's social formula (which is usually about a morally upright figure seeking out the good in a corrupt system to ultimately prevail), which seems too naive. Instead, when he preserves his great use of character dynamics for a simpler end (It Happened One Night), or even harder drama, that's where he really shines. (3/5) Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/02/21 Full Review Audience Member Mr Deeds 1936 Powerful scene was when guy who was a farmer and lost his job comes downstairs to yell at Mr. Deeds for spending money wrong for parties. It was powerful after he had been betrayed by girlfriend reporter. What stood out to me in a second watch is the scene where the farmer is eating and it is mostly driven by silence and facial expressions. I also thought this worked out well in the court room scene where everyone is telling their story and Mr. Deed’s remains silent. I think that made for strong emotional moments having silence with others being the stronger reacting force but the silent character tends to stand out stronger Because of everyone else’s performances driving Gary Cooper to be stronger once he does speak. Powerful, funny, and real. There is an honest sensarity. I like the lighting, siliuets and of scenes. Mr. Deeds sanity is in question because of his caring, generosity and givingness. Think That the body expressions are very well done by Mr. Deeds. Smallest micro-expressions tell a lot. Slightest smile, hands over mouth, eye contact. It does not require Silence was a big deal in the court scene. Funny and sad when everyone in the court interrupted to protect and defend Mr. Deeds position in the court. This film invented the terms doodle & pixelated to be brought up in films. Do silly things contemplate and think. John Wray as farmer. Longfellow Deed's by Gary Cooper. Frank Capra picture. Frank Capra did a great job on this film. It is a film that can make you cry. In a second watch what stood out to me were the costumes to distinguish class and how Mr. Deeds distinguished himself in how he dressed. I thought it was interesting seeing this a second time and seeing how Gary Cooper’s performance changes from when he arrives to New York to Part way in once he is elected into board meeting once he hears their is a deficit in money from Opera and Mr. Deed’s perks up and being a music and business money conscious of money recognizes he can’t afford to be investing in something that does not bring a profit yet is aspected to pay for it himself. Seeing this a second time lighting stood out to me more. I think another scene I liked was whistling in the opera house hall and it make almost a train whistle sound when all four were doing it together. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/28/20 Full Review steve d Still works and still entertaining. Cooper is great. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

      A scene from the Columbia Pictures release "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town." A scene from the Columbia Pictures release "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town." A scene from the Columbia Pictures release "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town." A scene from the Columbia Pictures release "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town." A scene from the Columbia Pictures release "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town." A scene from the Columbia Pictures release "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town." A scene from the Columbia Pictures release "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town." A scene from the Columbia Pictures release "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town." A scene from the Columbia Pictures release "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town." View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Longfellow Deeds (Gary Cooper), a resident of small-town Vermont, leads a simple life until he inherits a vast fortune from a late uncle. Soon, unscrupulous lawyer John Cedar (Douglas Dumbrille) brings Deeds to New York City, where the unassuming heir is the object of much media attention. When wily reporter Babe Bennett (Jean Arthur) gains the trust and affection of Deeds, she uses her position to publish condescending articles about him -- but are her feelings for him really that shallow?
      Director
      Frank Capra
      Screenwriter
      Clarence Budington Kelland, Robert Riskin
      Distributor
      Columbia Pictures
      Production Co
      Columbia Pictures Corporation
      Genre
      Comedy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Apr 16, 1936, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Apr 16, 2012
      Runtime
      1h 55m
      Sound Mix
      Mono
      Aspect Ratio
      35mm, Flat (1.37:1)
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