You Can't Take It with You

Plot synopsis:
A successful banker, Anthony P. Kirby (Edward Arnold), has just returned from Washington, D.C., where he was effectively granted a government-sanctioned munitions monopoly, which will make him very rich. He intends to buy up a 12-block radius around a competitor's factory to put him out of business, but there is one house that is a holdout to selling. Kirby instructs his real estate broker, John Blakely (Clarence Wilson), to offer a huge sum for the house, and if that is not accepted, to cause trouble for the family.
Kirby's son, Tony (James Stewart), a vice president in the family company, has fallen in love with a company stenographer, Alice Sycamore (Jean Arthur). When Tony proposes marriage, Alice is worried that her family would be looked upon poorly by Tony's rich and famous family. In fact, Alice is the only relatively normal member of the eccentric Sycamore family, led by Grandpa Vanderhof (Lionel Barrymore). Unbeknownst to the players, Alice's family lives in the house that will not sell out.
Kirby and the snobbish Mrs. Kirby (Mary Forbes) strongly disapprove of Tony's choice for marriage. Before she accepts, Alice forces Tony to bring his family to become better acquainted with their future in-laws. But when Tony purposely brings his family on the wrong day, the Sycamore family is caught off-guard and the house is in disarray. As the Kirbys are preparing to leave after a rather disastrous meeting, the police arrest everyone in the house for making unlicensed fireworks and disturbing the peace.
Held up in the drunk tank preparing to see the night court judge, Mrs. Kirby repeatedly insults Alice and makes her feel unworthy of her son. At the court hearing, the judge (Harry Davenport) repeatedly asks why the Kirbys were at the Vanderhof house. When Grandpa says it was to talk over selling the house, Alice has an outburst and says it was because she was engaged to Tony but is spurning him because of how poorly she has been treated by his family. This causes a sensation in the papers, and Alice flees the city.
With Alice gone, Grandpa decides to sell the house, thus meaning the whole section of the town must vacate in preparation for building a new factory. Now, the Kirby companies merge, creating a huge fluctuation in the stock market. When Kirby's competitor, Ramsey (H. B. Warner), dies after confronting him for being ruthless and a failure of a man, Kirby has a realization that he does not have any friends – just as Grandpa Vanderhof told him back in the drunk tank.
Kirby visits the Vanderhofs as they are moving out of the house, and Kirby lets loose and plays the harmonica and realizes these lower-class people he previously belittled are good people. Alice takes Tony back, the Vanderhofs don't move, and the film ends with the Vanderhofs and Kirbys enjoying a meal together.

Tags: entertaining

Review:
Ask someone my age, who would now be 25, what the best movie of all time is, they're likely to say Pulp Fiction or Fight Club.Not to take away from today's movies, but for anyone who has not gone back and viewed classic Capra, such as "You Can't Take it With You," then they are truly missing out.This movie is pure magic and beauty.
This is a rare gem of a film and in true Capra fashion, the climactic final scene brings tear to the eye, much the same way as Harry Bailey's toast in "It's a Wonderful Life.".
That he did so, winning the 1938 Best Picture Oscar, is immensely to his credit.Hobbling on the crutches that signaled the crippling arthritis that would soon confine him to a wheelchair, Lionel Barrymore is the focal point of the film as the grandfather of a wacky clan that believes in doing whatever makes them happy.
Jean Arthur, James Stewart & Edward Arnold co-star, with a mammoth cast of supporting players.This is the movie for viewers who want to feel warm & safe & cuddled & protected..
The movie pleasantly surprised me in *not* having young Tony Kirby (James Stewart) be assigned to get Vanderhof to sell his house and thereby falling in love with Alice Sycamore (Jean Arthur) and her zany family.
Evidently I was completely charmed by James Stewart and Jean Arthur, who are both incredibly believable both as real people and movie stars, and who together make Tony and Alice an utterly credible, true-to-life couple.
I sincerely hope that every person making this film had just as much fun as I did watching it, because the whole secondary cast was excellent, and I loved all the characters we were introduced to, particularly the entire Sycamore family with their attendant friends (the ex-iceman DePinna, or the toymaker Poppins) and even their servants Rheba and Donald, who were treated almost as much as part of the family as could be expected at that time.
But my greatest praise would have to be reserved for Lionel Barrymore as Martin Vanderhof--a sweeter, lovelier old man you just couldn't imagine, and a complete change from his much-better-known Mr. Potter in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.
This is better.The madcap adventures of a crazy family during the depression is a life affirming film that shows us that money isn't everything and that yes, you can't take it with you.One of the joys of this film is the cast Lionel Barrymore, Jimmy Stewart, Ann Miller, Dub Taylor, Edward Arnold, Eddie Rochester Anderson, Misha Auer and just about every great supporting actor and actress under the sun, all acting completely and wonderfully mad.
This is yet another great film by Frank Capra and was rewarded with an Oscar for Best Picture in 1938.Stewart comes from a rich and completely uptight family.
George Kaufman and Moss Hart, the playwrights of the original play in which this film is based, seemed to have been keenly aware that most people in their pursuit of wealth and success in life basically forget the most important point of all: To live life to its fullest, enjoying every minute of it and sharing with loved ones and friends everything, good, or bad."You Can't Take it with You" is an enormously satisfying theater play, which must have drawn Frank Capra's attention to bring it to the movies.
Mr. Arnold was a great actor.The other notable character in the film is Alice Sycamore, the young secretary that happens to fall in love with the rich Kirby heir.
My favorite american director is Frank Capra."It Happened One Night" is his first great film."Mr.Deeds Goes To Town","Mr.Smith Goes To Washington" and "Meet John Doe" are perfect examples of how to make a great film about simple,ordinary man."It's A Wonderful Life" is everybody's favorite holiday film.But "You Can't Take It With You" is Capra's masterpiece.The story is perfect,The direction is brilliant and it's impossible you don't get tears in your eyes with the sweetness and shear simplicity of Martin Vanderhof.That leads us to the best thing in this classic:Lionel Barrymore,one of the greatests actors in film history.All you have to do is see this film and "It's a Wonderful Life" and see for yourselfs.Mr.Potter is cruel,heartless,despicable and absolute fascinating(I still can't believe it ranked only 6 in the AFI list,because for me he's the greatest villain in film history)All Mr.Potter lack,Martin Vanderhof has to share.He is absolutely adorable,he has a lot of friends.(The scene in the court room is magnificent)he is sweet,and equally fascinating.(Not to mention that Lionel is really gorgeous in this film)One must remember the shining presence of Jean Arthur,and equally portrayal of good and young Jimmy Stewart.Not to forget Edward Arnold and his greedy Anthony P.
Kirby,who tries at all costs to buy Grandpa's house.But Lionel teaches him in a marvelous harmonica duet,how to enjoy life.The Plot is simply and delightul.Jean is Lionel's granddaughter,and she loves Jimmy Stewart,who is the son of the blood sucking banker Arnold.Jean decided that the two family's shall met,But Stewart's family will have a shock when they meet the wonderful and very eccentric Vanderhof family with Lionel,the grandfather anyone would love to have,Spring Byington as the writing mother(Only because someone forgot a typing writer in her house)Ann Miller as the adorable dancing sister,Essie,and a very funny Mischa Auer as the russian dancing teacher,who always arrives just in time for dinner.Pay also attencion in a small but memorable perfomance of the forgotten silent actor H.B.Warner as the broken Mr.Ramsey.I believe I already say to much,but not all this site will be enough to say what this masterpiece and Martin Vanderhof means to me
It's a warm, uplifting comedy with romance, drama, and lots of little bits for people who like "windows into the past." Just a real treat for anyone who loves getting lost in classic films..
Jean Arthur lives with an eccentric, extended family that does not worry about money (although its is made plain early on that family patriarch Lionel Barrymore earned quite a bit of moolah in his time, so no one in this crazy family need worry about where their next meal is coming from or whether they will have a roof over their heads.
As is often the case when a film is based on a stage play, there is too much fast paced dialog going on at almost any given moment.Not even stars like JEAN ARTHUR and JAMES STEWART can overcome this sort of Capra-corn which is so thick you could cut it with a pocketknife.
So simplistic are the messages trying to get through that it becomes clear we are just supposed to sit back and watch the shenanigans of a bunch of eccentrics play out to a silly and predictable conclusion.In a year that included such standouts as THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, considered a classic piece of cinema entertainment in gorgeous three-strip technicolor, it's sad to learn that Capra's stagey comedy, hammed up by a large cast that plays the comedy for sledgehammer delivery, was the winner in 1938.
Lionel Barrymore and Edward Arnold have a magnificent duel of philosophies of life, and Jean Arthur and James Stewart a perfect chemistry in this lovely romantic comedy.
As life WILL sometimes imitate art, I've gotten into some good "discussions" with folks about Grandpas way of thinking.By all means, purchase this film, see the play, and learn from it..
Watching Ann Miller, Donald Meek (he was so gosh darn cute in the movie), Jean Arthur and especially Lionel Barrymore act was a real treat.
James Stewart was fine in this picture, but he didn't really figure that prominently in it; I was much more interested in the Lionel Barrymore grandfather who long ago decided to have some fun in life and leave everything else behind, and Stewart's stuffy old rich father (well played by Edward Arnold), who eventually learns that money really means nothing in the end.
(I've always suspected that the TV series "The Munsters" was based more on this story than on "The Addams Family.") "You Can't Take It With You," originally a Kaufman/Hart play, was directed by Frank Capra, one of the great figures of the film industry.
Maybe it is just this film because normally I like Arthur, but she's awful in here.When you add Lionel Barrymore, Edward Arnold, Micha Auer and Spring Byington and have the famous Frank Capra directing, you would think this is going to be topnotch, but the movie is anything but impressive or entertaining, especially now in this day-and-age.
The movie hinges on the notion that having money is less important than having friends (ala Wonderful Life), but gets a little to black and white with the characterizations - deep down, the wealthy folks are miserable people, and the poor and middle class are noble citizens.
You'd never know it from his performance on crutches (conveniently excused in the film as a misadventurous slide down the banister in his home).More of Barrymore (the REAL actor: not the alcoholic eye-shadowed ham his brother John became) momentarily.Watch the initial scene with James Stewart and Jean Arthur.
Though there may be double and even triple entendres underlying this brilliant bit of business (pure Capra), it plays like the innocent goodnight kiss on your first date – though in fact it's a proposal of marriage.Or watch Miss Arthur and Mr. Barrymore in the bedroom scene, where he reveals why he'll never sell this house, and she reveals how much she loves James Stewart's character.
and contrast his playing here, as Grandpa Vanderhof, who has lived and survived his beloved wife's death and his decision to leave the rat-race with easy gusto, ready humor and sheer delight at the human condition.Or contrast his thoroughly detestable "Mr. Potter" in Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" eight years later, and confined to a wheelchair.THIS Barrymore played roles long after his younger brother, John, died of alcoholism and stardom.Not to slight James Stewart and Jean Arthur.
In a time where It's a Wonderful Life is known now as one of the greatest films of all time, I think a lot of people forget about the greatness that is, You Can't Take it With You. Capra's films often deal a lot with the essence of community and family that trumps all.
Capra does a great job of directing his actors to some of their best performances of their career, along with creating a unique household full of what is probably one of my favorite families in film history.
Everyone loves the Vanderhof's, and so do I.The film is very light hearted and I can understand if people think it could be corny, much like It's a Wonderful Life, but I don't think there's anything wrong with having a story that everyone can enjoy.
The mother writes plays, the daughter dances, the father makes fireworks and a few other people find their way into the house and get swept up in the same fervor.The patriarch of this clan is Grandpa, played with incredible joy and sincerity by the great Lionel Barrymore, who is unquestionably one of the finest and most versatile actors of all time.
It's funny, touching and overall great entertainment.This is a great feel-good film, and if you enjoyed It's a Wonderful Life, I would highly recommend that you see this one too..
Capra the director has great fun with some individual scenes, though others are very slackly edited and directed without much imagination, and he presides over lovely performances from Stewart (playing the same character as usual) and Jean Arthur (in a dullish, underwritten role), notably in their first scene together (she on the telephone); Lionel Barrymore looks generally rather joyless, which actually makes the role more palatable than as written - one gets the impression that all his jollity is forced, and that the spectral presence of his dead wife is what really drives the film.
P. Kirby) is, as I've said, a mere figure of fun, designed to make her husband look salvageable by comparison.The argument appears to be that all of society is one big extended family (the whole block calls Barrymore 'Grandpa', not just his own household) and the film hopes to use the model to justify a paradoxical conservatism in which the good really do know and like their place, but have also chosen it.
Lionel Barrymore gives a great performance delivering the messages of this film.Jimmy Stewart is good in this but as in some of his other earlier performances, he seems restrained in this one.
What a great Capra movie (you'll see a lot of the same people from "It's a Wonderful Life") - sit, watch, and enjoy it!.
It's been said before that other superior Capra movies were less well rewarded than this one which unaccountably for me won the "Best Director" & "Best Film" Oscars of its year, this in a vintage year with "The Adventures Of Robin Hood" and "Angels With Dirty Faces" amongst the shouldn't-have-been runners up.Of course it's not without its charms, with the seniors leading the way in the acting stakes, especially Lionel Barrymore and Edward Arnold, followed by the always watchable James Stewart and Jean Arthur, both, like so many others on view, Capra perennials.
Never mind that Edward Arnold's "Tammany Hall" prototype AP Kirby drives an innocent man to an early death; within minutes he's leading the party in a jamboree by playing a mouth-organ duet with Barrymore to salve his conscience and get us to the predictable happy-ending.Certain scenes are redolent of other films, for example Stewart and Arthur's goofy dance in the park prompted by a bunch of what look like refugee kids from "Our Town" was reworked better in "It's A Wonderful Life", while the couple's embarrassing entrance and exit at a society dinner pales alongside Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn's hilarious doings in a similar scene in Hawks' "Bringing Up Baby".
One further point to James Stewart's credit - he had the sense to recognise Jean Arthur as `the finest actress I ever worked with'.As always with Capra, the quality of the performances of the supporting cast is superb and the scenes between Lionel Barrymore and Jean Arthur are lovely as are the Vanderhoff ensemble scenes but for my money (hopeless romantic that I am) James Stewart and Jean Arthur on screen together is where this film shines - they made the cutest couple of the thirties, if not longer!.
I loved working with such a wonderful script, and it remains one of my favorite stories to this day.I enjoyed the quirkiness of the characters in this movie; however, they have been dummied down from the outrageousness of those in the play.
Frank Capra won his third and final Oscar with this very good comedy that has Jean Arthur and James Stewart falling in love.
Arthur's family, led by the priceless Lionel Barrymore, are eccentrics that just take life as it comes to them while Stewart's parents are well-to-do aristocrats that look down upon those who are not like them.
It's wonderful to see Lionel Barrymore play the completely opposite role from his Mr. Potter in Wonderful Life.This movie is required viewing for all Franco Capra fans.
In a convenient coincidence, the banker's son (Jimmy Stewart) is dating the old man's granddaughter (Jean Arthur), and the pair want to get married, so there are two conflicts here.Barrymore is in the role of the good guy, the one who's figured out that material things are less important than having friends and enjoying life.
"With malice toward none and charity to all," he quotes Lincoln, "Nowadays they say think the way I do or I'll bomb the daylights out of you." It's a wonderful character, and well played by Barrymore.Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur are endearing in their roles as well, and they also turn in very good performances.
When he finally begs Lionel Barrymore for help, we can see that he is a broken man, and it's deeply moving because Arnold plays it so well, and because Capra directs his scenes so quietly and with such understatement.Yes, there is a lot of excess here, especially with the Vanderhof family.
Barrymore is in top form as a warm, lovable man (a totally different character from what he played in "It's a Wonderful Life" 7 years later), Arthur is fresh and appealing and Arnold is very good too.
Lional Barrymore (Grandpa Martin Vanderhof) gave one of his greatest performances as a wise old man who knew that the simple things in life were more important than riches and great ambitions and gave Edward Arnold(Anthony Kirby) "The City That Never Sleeps"'53 who thought money and power was everything in this world, soon learned a very important moral lesson.
The best performance probably comes from Lionel Barrymore: he seems beleaguered by a world that just won't let him and his family *be*, and your heart goes out to him.Not a bad way to spend a couple of hours, but you'd do better to watch "It Happened One Night" if you have a taste for screwball Capra.Grade: B.
The movie works best with Stewart and Arthur but at times, they seem to be the side show.
Kaufman and Moss Hart.The cast is perfect in this movie.Jean Arthur is superb as Alice Sycamore.Lionel Barrymore is brilliant as Grandpa Martin Vanderhof.We've seen it in a few movies how well Frank Capra and James Stewart work together.This movie is not an exception.Jimmy is just terrific as Tony Kirby.Edward Arnold and Mary Forbes do very good job as his parents.Mischa Auer is very funny as Kolenkhov.It's great to watch Ann Miller and her dancing as Essie Carmichael.Dub Taylor plays Ed Carmichael.Charles Lane plays Wilbur G.
I am a big fan of Jean Arthur (Grandpa Vanderhof's granddaughter) and Jimmy Stewart (Mr. Kirby's silver-spoon fed son and love interest of Ms. Vanderhof) as well and their chemistry in this movie was very good.
I saw It's a Wonderful Life before this and it was great seeing Lionel Barrymore play a genuine, kind character - such a contrast from Mr. Potter!