Customer Reviews

You Can't Take It with You

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Jean Arthur and Jimmy Stewart are terrific in this screwball classic about the trials and tribulations of a VERY eccentric family during the depression. Edward Arnold and Lionel Barrymore are tremendous and even though the picture has dated notions, they only seem to add to the movie's charm as a whole. Director Capra had reached his creative genius by 1938 (The FIRST director to have his name above the credits, this genius almost singlehandedly kept Columbia Pictures financially sound.) Jean Arthur made her first film, a silent in 1923! she had to wait an incredible 12 years before her comedic gifts were finally recognized by Hollywood. Never as young as audiences assumed, she was born in 1901 and was 37 in this comedy classic which was voted by the Academy as the Best Picture of 1938. A delightful diversion in the screwball genre!

This is one of the Capra films I always had on my list, but never seemed to get around to seeing. My family took me to see it one year on my birthday and since then I have made every close friend, roommate, and lover see it. Watching Jean Arthur in this film is a joy unrivaled in my opinion. The scene with her and Jimmy Stewart, in the posh restaurant is side-splittingly funny! This film also permits the viewer to see Stewart in a softer, subtler role than he usually inhabits in Capra's films. I fell head-over-heels in love with both Arthur and Stewart after seeing this film. If you don't see this, you're really missing out.

Although a very nicely done capra film, this version is too similar to Its a Wonderful Life.

I would recommend the 1992 PBS version with Jason Robards.

Worth the watching! Clean, amusing and worth watching more than once. Everyone should have this one in their collection. James Stewart at his very best.

Kaufman and Hart's sharp and lively play is turned into sentimental glop by Capra. Capra really stacks the deck by turning the banker into a monstrous figure of evil, and the eccentric Vanderhof family into champions of 'the little guy'.

Frank Capra tries out eccentricity for size in the enchanting "You Can't Take it With You," a movie all about doing whatever makes you happy, not rich. While he's not quite in his element here (this is supposed to be really weird?), the talented cast and heartwarming message make this a truly enchanting, sweet movie.

Megamogul Kirby (Edward Arnold) has bought out dozens of buildings for a new factory -- only one eccentric family refuse to sell their family house. What he doesn't know is that his dissatisfied son Tony (James Stewart) is madly in love with Alice Sycamore (Jean Arthur), the daughter of the family. And now they're engaged.

When Tony shows up to meet the future in-laws, he finds ballet in the kitchen, fireworks in the basement, and genial patriarch Grandpa Vanderhof (Lionel Barrymore ) ruling the house. But though he loves the way the Vanderhof clan lives, Tony isn't prepared for how his wealthy parents will react to them -- or how they will all be arrested. Wll the Vanderhofs lose their carefree way of life?

Frank Capra tried hard, but he was better at sentimentality than eccentricity. He just doesn't seem to know what a weird familoy looks like. Leave that to Wes Anderson. What makes this movie so enchanting is what Grandpa says in the jail cell: "You can't take it with you, Mr. Kirby. So what good is it? As near as I can see, the only thing you can take with you is the love of your friends."

That enchanting message rules the story, where the Vanderhofs devote time to art, food, fun and friendship. Capra introduces us to them through a timid clerk who decides "I'm a lily!" and follows Grandpa home. Before long, he's joined the pack and is happily making fireworks.

The film takes a darker turn in the last quarter, when the Vanderhofs appear to be leaving, Tony has lost Alice and soon quits his job, and Mr. Kirby begins to wonder if his moneyed, powerful life really is empty -- and if he really doesn't have any friends. But don't expect the free-spirited Vanderhofs to be squashed by a corporate president, no matter how powerful he is.

This was the first of Capra's collaborations with James Stewart, and Stewart is a bright spot in a stellar cast of solid, memorable actors. His Tony is unspoiled and sweet, and he longs to be part of a loving family. Barrymore does a stellar performance as the kindly Grandpa, who hides the poignant reason why he will never leave the house.

"You Can't Take It With You" will leave you longing to become a lily of the valley, and remind you of what is truly important. The eccentricity doesn't fit as it could, but the bright, magical story makes up for that.

I had recently done the orginal stage play of this and a few of us csat members decided to rent the movie. It was turned off in about 10 minites. The movie is nothing like the play. In my opinion the play is way better.