4.0 out of 5 stars "Meet John Doe (1941) ... Frank Capra ... VCI Ent. (2010)", December 11, 2010
By J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: 'Meet John Doe - 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition (DVD)
VCI Entertainment and Laureate Productions presents "MEET JOHN DOE" (2 May 1941) (123 min/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Honesty and justice is the main course of this meal prepared by director Frank Capra --- A blow for humanity and right over wrong with the little guy getting his day in court brings out the "Americana" in all of us --- Capra was compared as a modern day Charles Dickens, looking beyond the exterior of people, going to the interior and the very heart and soul of people and the story that followed --- This film is an excellent example of what he could do and making all of us feel that we were part of the film.

This film has often been opined as the "perfect" film - it was to be the template for so many motion pictures: the witty and romantic clash of temperaments between a man and a woman mismatched in both personality and social position --- it remains as breezy and beguiling today as it was in the early 40s, became a box office hit and was nominated for an Academy Award for best original story (for Richard Connell and Robert Presnell Sr.).

VCI gives us a clean & clear copy so far up to date, with many bonus and extras in this special release --- Another excellent collaboration between actors Cooper and Stanwyck and the great director Frank Capra --- A treat for Cooper fans!

Under the production staff of:
Frank Capra [Director/Producer]
Richard Connell [Story]
Robert Presnell Sr. [Story]
Dimitri Tiomkin [Original Score]
George Barnes [Cinematographer]
Daniel Mandell [Film Editor]
Stephen Goosson [Art Director]

BIOS:
1. Frank Capra (aka: Francesco Rosario Capra) [Director]
Date of Birth: 18 May 1897 - Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy
Date of Death: 3 September 1991 - La Quinta, California

2. Gary Cooper (aka: Frank James Cooper)
Date of Birth: 7 May 1901 - Helena, Montana
Date of Death: 13 May 1961 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California

3. Barbara Stanwyck (aka: Ruby Catherine Stevens)
Date of Birth: 16 July 1907 - Brooklyn, New York
Date of Death: 20 January 1990 - Santa Monica, California

the cast includes:
Gary Cooper ... Long John Willoughby - 'John Doe'
Barbara Stanwyck ... Ann Mitchell
Edward Arnold ... D.B. Norton
Walter Brennan ... The Colonel
Spring Byington ... Mrs. Mitchell
James Gleason ... Henry Connell
Gene Lockhart ... Mayor Lovett

SPECIAL FEATURES [BONUS]:
1. Audio Commentary (with optional English subtitles) by Laureate's Ken Barnes with "archival contributions" from Frank Capra,
2. Three Featurettes:
"Meet Mr. Capra" (18 min)
"Meet Mr. Cooper" (16 min)
"Meet Miss Stanwyck" (14 min)
3. Vintage "Lux Theater" Radio Productions:
"Sorry Wrong Number" (starring Barbara Stanwyck & Burt Lancaster
"For Whom the Bell Tolls" (starring gary Cooper & Ingrid Bergman)
4. Before and After Comparison of the Digital Restoration
5. Extensive Cast and Crew Profiles
6. Production Background
7. Optional Subtitles: English, French, German & Spanish

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 123 min on 2 DVD'S ~ VCI Entertainment ~ (11/30/2010)