Meet John Doe (1941)

Meet John Doe (1941)

“Meet John Doe” is a tragicomedy from 1941 by Frank Capra. The screenplay by Robert Riskin is based on a story by Robert Presnell Sr., which in turn is based on the article “A Reputation” by Richard Connell in Century Magazine from 1922.

As a parting gift, the dismissed reporter Ann Mitchell prints a fake letter from the unemployed “John Doe,” who threatens suicide in protest against social injustices.
As a parting gift, the dismissed reporter Ann Mitchell prints a fake letter from the unemployed “John Doe,” who threatens suicide in protest against social injustices. The newspaper is forced to rehire Ann and hires John Willoughby, who pretends to be “Doe.” Ann and her bosses cynically exploit the story until the fictional “John Doe” philosophy sparks an entire political movement. Finally, everyone, even Ann, takes her creation seriously … but publisher D.B. Norton has a secret plan.

Cast:

• Gary Cooper: John Doe / Long John Willoughby
• 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
• Rod La Rocque: Ted Sheldon
• Irving Bacon: Beany
• J. Farrell MacDonald: Sourpuss
• Harry Holman: Mayor Hawkins
• Warren Hymer: Angelface