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John Ford And Frank Capra: A Study Of Their Movies

John Ford and Frank Capra: A Study of Their Movies


"A great man and a great American, Frank Capra is an inspiration to those who
believe in the American dream" John Ford

"The megaphone has been to John Ford what the chisel was to
Michelangelo.....Ford Cannot be pinned down or analyzed. He is pure Ford--Which
means pure great" Frank Capra

Frank Capra and John Ford have directed many classic movies and it is
unfair to only view two of their works and summarize all there is too say about
their styles, so I won't. Instead, I will be discussing different styles and
conventions that Frank Capra and John Ford used in the four movies I viewed.
These movies are Mr. Smith goes to Washington, Mr Deeds goes to Town both
Capra, films and The Informer and Grapes of Wrath by Ford.
America in the 30's was a time of hardship economically, politically and
socially. If you have taken an American history course you know all about the
depression and the crisis that it bestowed upon the land. Hollywood, the movie
making capital of the world tried its best not to reflect the problems of the
country in its products. Instead of the grim realities of world, Hollywood lured
in the audience with escapist movies. The classic thirties genres like screwball
comedies, glamourous musicals and fantasy movies, were mere ploys to divert the
sad reality of the time and in doing so Hollywood firmly defined its role as
entertainer not critic. Capra and Ford can also be accused of following this
pattern too, with other movies they made. The 30's were also a time of the great
studio system and one had to work under the control of these institutions,
although both directors managed to achieve enough fame and power that they could
create their own visions. With this power and fame, Capra and Ford were able to
turn out movies that went against the usual Hollywood style; critical of society,
authority, government, newspapers, the police and political rebels. These men
where able to make movies...