Portland Public Library

Meet John Doe, Frank Capra's [production of] ; produced at Warner Bros. Studios ; screen play by Robert Riskin ; directed by Frank Capra

eng

videorecording

Meet John Doe

49898840

Originally produced as a motion picture in 1941

Frank Capra's [production of] ; produced at Warner Bros. Studios ; screen play by Robert Riskin ; directed by Frank Capra

123

Alpha video classics

To further his presidential aspirations, oil tycoon D.B. Norton buys a newspaper, renames it, and tells managing editor Connell to downsize. After being fired, cheeky reporter Ann Mitchell retaliates in her final story by creating John Doe, who writes a "Letter to the Editor," describing his disgust at the state of the world, capped by a threat to commit suicide on New Year's Eve in protest. John Doe's story causes an instant media sensation, so Ann finds a bum to "play" him. She selects former minor league ballplayer turned hobo Long John Willoughby, who goes along with the scheme. Soon he's making motivational speeches on the radio, and becoming a popular national figure, while corporate misbehavior, consumerism, and the attempted subversion of the resultant popular movement follow. Can Willoughby become the figure of integrity and principle he had only pretended to be? Even if it means sacrificing himself so that the real John Doe's can be saved?

live action