‘Frank Capra: Mr America’ Chronicles the ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Director’s Career
by David Lewis
Fans of Classic Hollywood take note: One of the era’s leading filmmakers is profiled in a new documentary now available online.
Frank Capra: Mr America recounts the life and career of Oscar-winning writer-director-producer Frank Capra, chronicling his rags-to-riches rise to become one of Hollywood’s most influential and acclaimed filmmakers.
Capra’s most famous films from the period include It Happened One Night (1934), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), and It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), typically offering an idealistic and hopeful take on America’s troubled 20th Century, covering political dramas, WWII documentaries, and screwball comedies. His films helped turn stars like James Stewart, Gary Cooper, Claudette Colbert, and Clark Gable into Hollywood legends.
The new documentary runs just under an hour, and uses never-before-seen footage and audio recordings from to explore Capra’s career and personal life.
Frank Capra: Mr America was directed by Matthew Wells, who has previously produced documentaries about filmmakers Stanley Kubrick (Dr. Strangelove, The Shining), and the British duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (The Red Shoes, A Matter of Life and Death).
Frank Capra: Mr America is now available on YouTube, Amazon, Google Play, and other outlets from Sony Home Entertainment.
