Blade Runner Movie Poster (1982)

For those who have read my previous movie reviews of “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “Meet John Doe,” I should warn you that this is less of a review and more of an analysis. Spoilers are included, but I don’t believe I’ll ruin the movie for those who haven’t seen it, but if you are worried, watch the movie first, then come back and read this article. I will tell you up-front that this movie may not be your cup of tea. If you are not into science fiction or self-examination or movies that make you think, you may want to skip this one. Although it might sound narcissistic, www.paultarver.com was created to give me a place to write about the things that I like and that might interest readers as well. And I like this movie. A lot.

Now that the obligatory disclaimer out of the way, let me tell you about a movie named “Blade Runner” (1982).

I love really good science fiction. I’m generally not into fantasy science fiction, but rather prefer science fiction firmly rooted in the reality of human relationships. For example, while “Star Trek” takes place in the future, the stories’ foundations are the inter-personal relationships of the crew and the entities they encounter. “Star Wars” is at its heart an ancient hero myth set in a different time and place all wrapped up in family tragedy and tied with the ribbon of redemption. “The Robot Series” of books by Isaac Asimov spend a great deal of time examining the relationship between a human detective named Elijah Baley and a robot assistant named R. Daneel Olivaw as they solve mysteries. In my opinion, at it’s best, science fiction should be free to examine very human issues in a non-threatening way.

In many of the science fiction novels and movies I enjoy, the future is portrayed with optimism and hope that life will be better than today with lots of gadgets, new worlds to be explored and new ways to get to those worlds. Technology never overwhelms the story, but rather is used as the backdrop and the set-pieces that help tell the story of a person’s journey toward self discovery. On the other hand, Blade Runner is the exact opposite because technology is the story and it is the story’s reason for being. In the words of one of the main characters, “I’m not in the business, I am the business.”

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A dark and dirty world is on display in this film set in the year 2019. Technology has “advanced” to the point that genetic duplicates of humanity called “Replicants” are manufactured by The Tyrell Corporation. The Earth is overcrowded, polluted and oppressive enough that people are actively trying to exit the planet and move to off-world colonies. Unfortunately, many people are prevented from leaving because of age, health or genetic reasons.

Early versions of replicants used on Earth were great helpers to humanity, but they would become mentally unstable after about four years and needed to be “put-down” by special police squads called “Blade Runners.” As technology improved, replicants became virtually indistinguishable from humans and were subsequently outlawed on Earth only to be used as slaves in the off-world colonies. Replicants occassionally escaped their servitude and some returned to Earth and tried to live among humans. Blade Runners became skilled at detecting replicants by administering Voight-Kampff tests which measured subjects emotional and empathetic responses to series of questions.

By the year 2019, scientists discovered that providing replicants with “false memories” usually taken from real humans made replicants more controllable. But The Tyrell Corporation scientists never solved the problem of mental instability occurring approximately four years after a replicant’s incept (“birth”) date. The solution? Build-in a four year life span for replicants thus guaranteeing regular replacement business and preventing replicant melt-downs before they happen. The latest Nexus-6 line of replicants are the strongest, smartest, most adaptable replicants ever produced and in the words of the founder of the Tyrell Corporation, they are “more human than human.”

The movie begins with the attempted murder of a skilled Blade Runner as he administers a Voight-Kampff test to one member of a group of 5 replicants who escaped slavery and returned to Earth in an attempt to convince their “creator” to grant them more life. Rick Deckard, played by Harrison Ford, is called out of retirement to hunt down the replicants and “retire” them (the euphemistic term for killing replicants). Deckard is tired, worn out, and burned out just like the world he lives in. Deckard is “brought in” by fellow Blade Runner, Gaff (Edward James Olmos), to see his former police boss, Bryant (M. Emmet Walsh). After enduring Bryant’s prejudices and threats, Deckard is convinced/cornered and so reluctantly accepts Bryant’s invitation to come back “like the old times.” Deckard’s beliefs about the line separating humans and replicants are shaken when as part of his investigation, he goes to the Tyrell Corporation to give a Voight-Kampff test to Rachel, played to perfection by Sean Young. Deckard determines that Rachel is a replicant who doesn’t know she’s a replicant and by the end of this test Deckard starts to question his own humanity. The questions increase as the case unfolds.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In its simplest form, Blade Runner is a detective story/chase/thriller with great visuals and a great romance. Scratch the surface and you’ll find deep examination of what it means to be human. Scratch a little more and you’ll discover a thoughtful treatise on the implications of scientific advances such as genetic research, cloning, and other obvious attempts of man to play God.

The primary antagonist, Roy Batty, is played by Rutger Hauer and this character gets some of the meatiest dialogue. A case in point is the moment when Roy confronts his “creator” and demands more life. His disappointment is apparent and students of the film have debated Roy’s relationship with his creator and the reaction he has to Tyrell’s answer. Deckard is the protagonist, and yet, often questions his own motivation as he does the dirty work of retiring replicants. Weird thing is, no matter how much he questions himself, Deckard is good at what he does. Not so good that he can do it without getting up close and personal with his work, but good just the same.

Ethics, friendships, loyalty, romance and society are all covered and addressed albeit through the lens of science fiction which has always been a great way to discuss difficult topics without the baggage we all carry getting in the way. Replicant Pris is played by Darryl Hannah in one of her earliest roles, Joanna Cassidy plays Zhora, James Hong plays Dr. Chew, and William Sanderson is wonderful as the genetically disabled genius, J. F. Sebastian. It’s a great film but I promise you will not get it all in one viewing.

• First Viewing: You’ll focus on the visuals, which were stunning in 1982 when the film was released and are still stunning today. Director Ridley Scott endured the wrath of many of the people working on the film because of his single-mindedness about achieving the look and feel of the movie. Harrison Ford has apparently made peace with Scott over the years but initially he was very frustrated with the whole process of making the film. Today, many people wonder if Ford’s frustration actually shows on the screen and makes his performance better.
• Second Viewing: You’ll focus on the replicants and see the story from their point of view. Roy is captivating and hard to not watch, but all of the replicants have their moment and the actors selected to play the various roles were perfect selections. You’ll also have time to actually understand more of the relationship between Deckard and Rachel. You’ll also wonder if Deckard is just lucky or is he the Rocky Balboa of Blade Runners.
• Third Viewing: You’ll pay more attention to the awesome soundtrack and recognize the effect the music has on the mood of the scenes. You’ll also begin to wonder if Deckard is a replicant or is human. If he is human how can he empathize with his targets so much and if he is a replicant, how can he justify killing his own kind.
• Fourth Viewing: You’ll want to read Philip K. Dick’s book, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” which was the original source for the script. Do not expect the book to bear a lot of resemblance to movie other than the main character Deckard and more philosophical questions than you can shake a stick at.
• Fifth Viewing: You’ll be sufficiently immersed in the world of 2019 to watch the story the way it was meant to be seen and you’ll pick up on many of the little things such as Gaff’s fascination with origami and you’ll begin to see many of the subtle hints of plot threads that director Scott scattered throughout the film.
• Sixth Viewing: You’ll discover that you are hooked on Blade Runner and want to watch all seven of the different releases of the film to spot differences or errors. The original theater release included a voice-over by Harrison Ford that I personally don’t mind but many fans do. You might consider watching the original release with the voiceover first to get more of the backstory and then watch the Director’s Cut without the voiceover. I have to say that I’ve seen both versions of the film and though every scene is basically the same, the two films are vastly different in way they feel and I love them both. It’s something you’ll have to discover on your own, but eventually you’ll probably find yourself choosing one version or the other as your favorite like most Blade Runner fans.

No review of Blade Runner would be complete without reference to the soundtrack. Vangelis (Acadamy Award winner for Chariots of Fire) scored and preformed the music on his synthesizers and created a sound like no other science fiction movie. His use of vocals, chimes and saxophones completed the retro sounding film-noir that Ridley Scott was trying to achieve with the look of the film. It took over a decade for the soundtrack to be released for the movie due to licensing issues with Vangelis. Because of the delay there are several bootleg editions of the soundtrack music, which you should avoid because of the low quality of these recordings. The CD you want was released in 1994 by Vangelis. A 3-CD set was released in 2007 as part of the 25th anniversary of the movie’s release and according to Wikipedia, the first CD contains the same music as the 1994 CD and the 2^nd CD contains previously unreleased music from the movie while the 3^rd CD is all new music composed by Vangelis inspired by the movie. Recently, I featured the Love Theme from Blade Runner on a Valentine’s Day Edition of The Morning Show on WMOX. Here’s the full song with clips from the movie:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Blade Runner has inspired lots debates in the past 25 plus years. Go to Google and type in “Blade Runner” and you’ll get some 5.6 Million links many of which cover these controversies in depth reducing my need to cover all of them here. However, I’d like to mention just a few to give you an idea of how serious people take this film.

• Is Deckard a replicant or a human? – Probably the most asked and yet really unanswered question on the Internet. I choose to believe that Deckard is human because the relationship between Deckard and Rachel is much more dramatic knowing Deckard is human and Rachel is a replicant. At least to me, but you can make your own decision on this one. Ridley Scott says that Deckard is a replicant, but others associated with the film are adamant that he is human. You decide.
• What makes humanity…human? The film provides the question but never really answers it fully. Is it our memories, our souls or the ability to empathize? For me it is the soul, but sometimes thinking about the question can make us all, well, better humans. Perhaps it is a combination of all three. Ultimately the film seems to say that memories alone are not enough and experience alone is not enough so what are you left with?
• How does technology impact and change our world and is it always for the better? As a computer guru, I am acutely aware that I work in a field that could potentially work against humanity in spite of the good computers have brought to all our lives. Everyday I hear of some new use of technology that limits or interferes with individual freedoms. Sometimes, it’s weird to examine this issue, but it is something I think about from time to time.
• What are the moral implications of genetic research or scientists playing God? Without making a direct judgment, the film displays both the good and bad potentials of genetic research. Roy Batty makes a comment to the scientist that created his eyes that I find telling. Roy says, “If you could see what I’ve seen with your eyes.” The statement reveals a certain pity the created feels for the creator that makes me wonder if there is a point where our humanity will actually be diminished by certain scientific exploration.
• Is Deckard a hero or an anti-hero? In reverse, the same question might be asked this way: Is Roy Batty Frankenstein’s monster or is he really Deckard’s mirror image? From my point of view, I like to think of Deckard and Roy as opposite sides of the same personality. At the beginning of the movie, Deckard is burned out on life and just going through the motions; doing a job. Alternatively, Roy Batty is fighting for his survival, willing to go as far as necessary to achieve his goal. Deckard gains love as Roy loses love. Deckard finally finds hope in the life he has left, just as Roy loses the last of his life. The arc of their lives are clearly in opposition and inversely related. Roy the hunted becomes the hunter as their roles are reversed and Deckard becomes the hunted instead of the hunter.

As a confirmed fan of Star Wars and Star Trek (original cast), I have to tell you that the look of this film is a complete departure from what those other movies present as the future and perhaps that’s what makes Blade Runner so compelling. The fact is our today was yesterday’s future. As Ridley Scott explained it, “The future is old.” This is simply a realization that the future will be made up of the sum of everything that came before it. For example, it is not unusual for us to see antique cars running up and down the roads. Buildings can be 50, 60 or 100 years old, they are not all brand new. To understand what I’m talking about, take a look at this video from the sixties and notice that their vision of the future included nothing old and everything is brand new.

Click here to view the embedded video.

But the truth is, when we arrive at the future it will be familiar and yet alien at the same time, but we won’t realize it because like age itself, the future creeps up on us incrementally. However, if you take a person of today and transport them a hundred years in the future, everything would be alien because that person would not have the benefit of the previous hundred years of history to anchor himself. A strange mix of old and new is probably the way the future will really be and it is what makes Blade Runner the most realistic movie of the future I’ve ever seen and obviously I’m not alone. Here’s a list of movies or television shows that have been directly influenced by Blade Runner: A.I. Artificial Intelligence; Dark City; Soldier; Total Recall; The Matrix; Virtuosity and many more. The movie Alien and to a lesser degree Star Wars included some ‘oldness’ in their portrayal of the future, but not to the extent of Blade Runner. It is my humble opinion that Blade Runner changed the look and feel of science fiction movies forever. If that is not enough to encourage you to watch this movie, consider that Blade Runner even has a “curse” attached to it.

I usually don’t like publishing spoilers, but given the age of the film and its popularity I don’t think that’s really an issue here. Even if you know the entire storyline going into your first viewing, there’s so much in there, you’ll still be overwhelmed. For example, here’s the climax of the film where Roy Batty confronts his own death and discovers in his last moments that any life is worth saving even if it is not his own. I promise if you watch this, all it will do is make you want to get the movie and watch the rest of it.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In the end, Roy Batty, a replicant, expresses best the fear of death that humans all have. Roy says as he dies, “I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe….All those moments will be lost in time like tears in rain.” Aside from the poetry and the beauty of that line, as individuals, we are all the sum total of all our experiences just as the future will be the sum total of everything that came before. Unlike the future, when we die, all those moments and memories that make us who we are will be lost, unrecorded and forgotten. Perhaps it is a bleak conclusion, but it reminds us all to live each of those moments to the fullest and make sure you leave your mark on someone else’s life. By saving Deckard’s life, Roy ensured his immortality in Deckard’s memory.

Blade Runner is rated ‘R’ for violence, some gore and some language. It was initially considered an action thriller, but there are so many dramatic themes in the film it is hard not to classify it as a drama. I know that science fiction isn’t for everyone and this movie definitely isn’t for small children, but it is a classic film and while it didn’t do well at the box office, it has held up remarkably well as the years have gone by and has generated a huge cult following.

Here’s just a few of the accolades the film has received over the years:

• American Film Institute listed it as the 97th greatest film of all time
• Blade Runner was voted the sixth best science fiction film ever made as part of the AFI’s 10 Top 10
• The Screen Directory currently ranks Blade Runner the third best film of all time.
• One of Time’s 100 All-Time best movies.
• British movie magazine Empire voted it the “Best Science Fiction Film Ever” in 2007.
• New Scientist readers voted it the “all-time favorite science fiction” film in Oct. 2008.

If you are interested in further study of this film, I cannot think of a better resource than The Home of Blade Runner. It is a fan site that includes many links to essays and other resources to help those interested in learning all they can about an old movie that tells the story of the future in a way that is still futuristic even today. I also would like to give some credit to Murray Chapman who maintained one of the original and most extensive website dedicated to Blade Runner and helped give fans a way to share information and learn more about this great film.

Oh yeah, if in the weird way the world works, Ridley Scott, Harrison Ford, Sean Young or any of the other cast members of Blade Runner happen to run across this article in the search engines of the Internet, I’d just like to say, “Thanks.”

“I was quit when I come in here. I’m twice as quit now.” – Rick Deckard

I remember watching The Waltons with my parents the night the show paid tribute to Grandpa Walton (after Will Geer died) and I happened to see my father wipe away a tear. He tried to hide it, but I saw it and it helped me realize that it was ok for guys to have emotions even if only occasionally. “It’s A Wonderful Life” (1946) is the only movie that gets to me everytime I watch it. I don’t even have to watch the whole movie, just the last 9 minutes or so can do it.

I can’t tell you when I first saw this movie, but I must have been pretty young because I think I’ve seen it about 100 times by now. I recently wrote an article about an earlier Frank Capra movie named “Meet John Doe” and I highly recommend watching both of these movies back to back. Frank Capra was a great director who understood how to weave populist messages with Christian values and do it in a secularistic way without being preachy. Capra also had a knack for getting the best possible performances out of two of the greatest “common man” actors, Gary Cooper and Jimmy Stewart.

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Capra was born in Sicily in 1897 and migrated to the United States with his family in 1903. He became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. in 1920. He began working as a prop man in movies and soon was writing and directing silent comedies with Harry Langdon and the “Our Gang” kids. Many great actors owed their early success to Capra including Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, Gary Cooper, Jimmy Stewart, Barbara Stanwyck and Donna Reed. Capra’s 1934 movie, “It Happened One Night” was the first movie to ever win all of the top 5 honors including: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay. All in all, Capra won 3 Academy Awards for Directing. And had 3 additional nominations including one for “It’s A Wonderful Life”.

“It’s A Wonderful Life” has been named one of the best films ever made by the American Film Institute, and although the movie was considered a box-office failure, it has found a home in the hearts of people of all ages. I have some concerns about its on-going status since copyright issues have prevented many cable networks from showing the film during the holidays. Currently, it is still being shown, but usually only a couple of times each year. While I hate this, I also realize that it is possible to oversaturate too. Just take a look at how many times per year “A Christmas Story” is played. I love this movie too, but it is playing constantly during Christmas. (Though I have to admit that it just isn’t the holidays for me until I see Ralphie beat up the bully and lose the lugnuts in the snow!)

Frank Capra died of a heart attack at the age of 94 in 1991 and his legacy was providing a template for “feel good” movies. And the whole world is a little bit better for his sometimes corny, often uplifting style of filmmaking. “It’s A Wonderful Life” has been particularly instructive to me and it meant a lot to me even when I was younger. The message that a person’s wealth should be measured by the friends they surround themselves with is relevent even today. The older I get and the stronger the bonds of my friendships grow, the more aware I am of the importance of my friends and their impact on my life.

Spoilers follow…

“It’s A Wonderful Life” is the life story of George Bailey. It is a biography of a fictional character narrated by angels who are educating an angel named Clarence who is trying to earn his wings. Clarence has been assigned to George as his guardian angel and as angels go, Clarence is pretty low on the totem pole. The movie actually takes place on Christmas Eve, but the first 2/3′s of the movie is made up of flashbacks telling George’s life story and the events leading up to the moment on Christmas Eve when Clarence actually prevents George from committing suicide by jumping into the freezing river that runs next to the little town of Bedford Falls, George’s home town. George was born, raised and will likely die in Bedford Falls, even though he had big dreams of travelling and getting away from the little one-horse town.

George married his childhood sweatheart named Mary Hatch and they have four children including Zuzu, George’s “little ginger snap” (this name is a reference to a real life product called Zuzu Ginger Snaps. George’s grand dreams for his life always seem to be just out of reach. Everything seems to be out of George’s control because each time his dreams appear to be coming true, he is forced to put them on hold for the good of his family, or his business, or his town or his friends, or even for strangers. In spite of this George is a fairly happy person on the outside, but on the inside, he grows older always wishing for something better or at least different and it eats at him. During his adult life, George has been managing the family business, a building and loan company, and has helped hundreds of towns people access their dreams of owning businesses, or homes. He helps stem the tide of fear during during the crash of ’29 by giving up all of his honeymoon money to stop a run on the bank. As a child he prevents his brother from drowning at the cost of his own hearing. He lives in a drafty old house at the same time he helps his customers buy brand new homes. He gives up his chance to go to college and sends his brother instead. George sacrifices all that he dreams of in order to help others and in the end his anger which he has turned inward brings him to the brink.

In one of my favorite scenes, Jimmy Stewart nails the despair and stress of George while praying in Martini’s bar. Pay attention the next time you watch the movie and notice the stark difference in the photography in this scene and you’ll see that the film is slightly out of focus around the edges and the pictures are very grainy. Years ago, I head that this particular scene was shot during a rehearsal and Stewart’s performance was so good, Capra kept this footage even though there were technical issues with it. While writing this article, I learned that Stewart actually broke down and cried during this take only and Capra zoomed in photographically to reframe the shot and capture the tears on Stewart’s face. Either way, I personally think it makes the whole moment more real, believable and emphasizes George’s depression. Stewart gets so into the moment, he loses himself and he IS George.

Shortly after this moment George wishes he was never born and the movie takes a darker tone. Up to this point, everyone in the film has been happy except for George. Clarence decides that George’s wish to have never been born is exactly what George needs to see. Clarence grants his wish and shows him what the world would have been like had George never been born. I think deep down everyone has wondered what the world would be like without them. I know I’ve thought about it before. If you watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” it is almost impossible not to. And in the end, I believe this is exactly the question Frank Capra wanted everyone to ask of themselves when they see the movie. The truth is that you can never know exactly how you affect the lives of other people, and because of that you have a responsibility to try to leave a good mark. People you never know may be affected by the decisions you make about your own life. I’ve often thought that we never know if the old lady driving slowly in front of us is actually preventing us from being in an accident at the next traffic light because someone is going to run a redlight. We will never know if a kind word from us will prevent someone from doing themselves harm. It is actually very hard to get your mind around the concept, but the world with its billions of people would be radically different without you in it. I know it seems arrogant to think that, but just think of loved ones that have passed on and realize how much you miss them and I think you’ll get a sense of the enormity of the message Frank Capra was trying to send in this movie.

After George sees the world without him in it, he begins to understand that he is important and his tiny little part in this great, big world matters. George can only take a little bit of the world without him (especially after he learns what happens to Mary!) before he wants to be alive again and prays, “I want to live again!” It is interesting to note how Capra shows you that George is alive again. It is snowing heavily during George’s initial crises of faith, but all during the time George doesn’t exist it isn’t snowing. However, the instant the world is put right, the snow begins to fall again. This is actually the first film ever to demonstrate this particular movie technique and it has the official name: the “butterfly effect”. The idea comes from Chaos theory that something as simple as a butterfly flapping its wings can affect the weather. I’m pretty sure that Frank Capra was not aware of Chaos Theory since it hadn’t been articulated in 1946, but his point was to show that George’s absence actually affected the physical world. It was also a very effective way to show George’s trip through time and his return to ‘real’ life.

I’m going to show the last 9 minutes of the movie rather than tell you about it. All you need to know at this point is that George is in deep trouble with the law and they are about to arrest him.

Click here to view the embedded video.

George’s nemisis in this movie, Mr. Potter is played to perfection by Lionel Barrymore. It’s interesting to note that Mr. Potter never gets his due and he is never caught for his mis-deeds. But you are left with the sense that since Potter has no friends and no one loves him, Capra believes this is the worst punishment anyone could receive. Capra seems to say there is a justice in the world greater than that the government can mete out. Capra uses the same device in “Meet John Doe” and it is clear that Capra firmly believed that at least when it comes to God, justice is in good hands.

Watch this movie if you don’t watch any other movie this year. Pay attention to the details, Capra will surprise you again and again. Then watch it a second time and just feel the movie and let it happen to you, it might just change how you see your impact on the world around you. That could be a good thing and could make your life wonderful too.

Some trivia about the film:

• This was Jimmy Stewart’s first big movie since returning from serving in World War II and he was nervous about his first on-screen kiss with Donna Reed, but it was such a passionate kiss, Capra had to edit it to get it past the censors.
• Listen for Martini when he brings in the money from the “juka-box.”
• “It’s A Wonderful Life” is loosely based on the short story “The Greatest Gift” written by Philip Van Doren Stern.
• In 1990, “It’s a Wonderful Life” was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in their National Film Registry.
• Though denied by Jim Henson, there have been persistent rumors that Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street were named after the policeman and taxicab driver in the film.
• When George decides to live, he runs through the streets of Bedford Falls wishing walkers, “Merry Christmas!” and shouting at all of the buildings. The movie playing at the old theater is “The Bells Of St. Mary.” Henry Travers who plays Clarence in this movie also starred in “The Bells Of St. Mary.”
• In one scene, Donna Reed was required to throw a rock through the window of the old house Mary and George would eventually live in. Capra hired an expert to throw the rock for Donna, but she amazed everyone and hit the window perfectly.
• “It’s A Wonderful Life” cost $3.7 million to produce and only made $3.3 million in its initial run.
• Jimmy Stewart cited George Bailey as his favorite character.
• This movie was Donna Reed’s first starring role.
• Frank Capra often said that this was his favorite of all his films.
• Although the story is set at Christmas, it was actually filmed during a heat wave. If you look closely in the scenes of Jimmy Stewart at the bridge, you can see him visibly sweating.
• Because Capra wanted to avoid over-dubbing the dialogue, the props department developed a soap-based fake snow to replace the old method of painting corn flakes white because the corn flakes crunched under foot and made too much noise. The technique won many awards and was used for many years after this film.

Watching this year’s political campaigns with characters such as Joe the Plumber and Tito the Builder, I can’t help but be reminded of “Meet John Doe” and the more I think about it, the more I believe we need filmmakers like Frank Capra again. Capra’s movies often dealt with the plight of the common man and the resilience of the human spirit. Capra lived through the Great Depression and while he often shows the pain felt by regular people during this time, he also never gives up on the ability of the common man to overcome situations that he or she can’t understand or control.

I guess “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) was the first movie I ever saw directed by Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart’s performance in that film changed my life. I have identified with the character of George Bailey all of my life. Seemingly, George is unable to control what occurs in his life and ultimately this lack of control leads to the defining moment when George meets Clarence the Angel. Clarence shows George what the world would be like without his presence and George realizes that even though he might not be able to see it, he has affected the world and other people’s lives immensely. In the end George and Clarence save each other and in the end George is reminded that “the man who has friends is the richest man in town.” From time to time, I hear people talk about how “sappy” or “innocent” Capra films are, and yet his movies continue to live on in the consciousness of millions of Americans who enjoy the sappiness AND the deeper themes which are always there if you look for them.

Released in 1941, “Meet John Doe” examines many of the same themes and watching both films in chronological order you can see Capra’s growth as a director. In “It’s a Wonderful Life” Capra pays more attention to the cinematography and the sets are bigger. “Meet John Doe” is grittier and less sappy, though the ending is no less emotional.

Warning! Spoilers follow:

After being fired, Barbara Stanwyck‘s character Ann Mitchell writes a “fake” news story about a letter she claims to have received from “John Doe” complaining about all of the ills of the world and threatening to commit suicide in protest. After the news story causes a sensation, she is re-hired by the newspaper but she has to produce a real “John Doe.” Enter Gary Cooper as John Willoughby, former baseball player now living as a hobo. Willoughby’s friend and companion/advisor is fellow tramp, The Colonel, played perfectly by Walter Brennan. As Mitchell writes story after story quoting John Doe/Willoughby, the public is taken with the idea of caring for their neighbor and doing unto others and John Doe Clubs spring up all over the country. The owner of the newspaper, D. B. Norton played by Edward Arnold, where Mitchell works recognizes this as the opportunity of a lifetime and manuevers to turn the John Doe Clubs into a political organization to help elect his personally chosen presidential candidate.

James Gleason plays the hard-bitten editor of the newspaper, Henry Connell, who thinks he has seen it all and gets an real education in how slimy politics can be and learns that Norton is perverting the John Doe Clubs for his own use. John Willoughby discovers that he is a pawn in a much bigger game, and initially blames Mitchell. Michell realizes that while she continued to lie about John Doe for selfish reasons, she has fallen in love with Willoughby and she is almost destroyed when she learns the truth from Connell. Willoughby attempts to confront Norton and to exert his own influence over the John Doe Clubs at their first ever convention. Willoughby is completely defeated, almost arrested and the power of D.B. Norton is shown to be overwhelming.

The Colonel and John Willoughby escape and vanish returning to the life of tramps, but Willoughby determines that the only way to make it right is to actually go through with the suicide by jumping off the town hall on Christmas Eve. But you’ll have to watch the film to get the ending.

Capra enjoyed mixing humor and drama in his films and “Meet John Doe” is no exception. Gary Cooper is a great straight-man for Walter Brennan and Brennan gets some of the best lines in the movie. In fact, one of my favorite parts is the “Heelot speech” where The Colonel explains the economy in a very unique and honest way. You can check out his performance in the clip below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

I could write pages about the parallels to this election season. I could write about the power and abuse of power by the media, but I won’t, just watch the film. I could write about the importance and power of the common man, but I won’t, just watch the film. I could write about how easy it is for good, honest people to be convinced something is true when it is not, but I won’t, just watch the film. I could write about the spiritual references and Christian influences in this movie, but I won’t, just watch the film. I could write about importance of neighbors looking out for each other, but I won’t, just watch the film. I could write about the numerous prophetic statements and events in this film, but I won’t, just watch the movie.

Just watch the movie! (It’s about 2 hours long):