You Can't Take It With You
US (1938): Comedy
The Pulitzer Prize-winning play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart gets an endearing Capra treatment. Jean Arthur fears she may never lead a normal life as she's surrounded by her family's lovable lunacy. Grandfather Lionel Barrymore amassed a pile of cash and decided that he and his family were going to spend it doing only what they really want, which includes xylophone playing, ballet dancing, mystery writing, and experimenting with fireworks. Into this eccentric household comes Arthur's dubious beau, James Stewart, the son of Arthur's boss, Edward Arnold. After hilarious mishaps, love wins out. Lionel Barrymore had crippling arthritis while making You Can't Take It with You. To explain his need for crutches, director Frank Capra had a fake cast made, and Barrymore's character explains he broke his leg sliding down the banister. Capra's wonderful supporting cast includes Mischa Auer, Ann Miller, Spring Byington, Samuel S. Hinds, Donald Meek, H.B. Warner, Halliwell Hobbes, Dub Taylor, Mary Forbes and Lillian Yarbo and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson. (amctv.com)
7 nominations, 2 Awards
· Best Picture 1938: Frank Capra, producer (Columbia)
· Best Directing 1938: Frank Capra
· Supporting Actress 1938: Spring Byington
· Writing (Screenplay) 1938: Robert Riskin
· Cinematography 1938: Joseph B. Walker
· Film Editing 1938: Gene Havlick
· Sound Recording 1938: John P. Livadary