Review of You Can't Take It with You (1938) by Cris B — 24 Sep 2011

One of Capra's "forgotten" films (although it won a Best Picture Academy Award for '38), "You Can't Take It With You" contains the seeds and remnants of other Capracorn: the neighborly charity of "It's a Wonderful Life," the clash of Big Business vs.

the Little People that figures prominently in films like "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Over all, I'm charmed by this film about Alice (Arthur), whose family is a little less than normal (wonderfully so) and who falls for Bank-President-in-Training Tony (Stewart), beloved son of a couple of high-class snobs.

Purportedly, Arthur and Stewart had no real chemistry off the set, but I find some of the "intimate" moments particularly graceful and romantic. The humor of this film is also unforgettable--watching Stewart scream in a restaurant populated by snooty elitists and then scramble to make an explanation--and a getaway--is one of the most memorable scenes.

So is the part when all the Kirbys and the entire Vanderhof household end up in the "Drunk Tank.".