Meet John Doe

(1941)

123 minutes

Classic / Drama

Directed by Frank Capra

Cast:

Gary Cooper as John Doe alias Long John Willoughby
Barbara Stanwyck as Ann Mitchell
Edward Arnold as D. B. Norton
Walter Brennan as The Colonel
Spring Byington as Mrs. Mitchell
James Gleason as Henry Connell
Gene Lockhart as Mayor Lovett
Rod La Rocque as Ted Sheldon
Irving Bacon as Beanie
Regis Toomey as Bert
J. Farrell MacDonald as Sourpuss
Warren Hymer as Angelface
Harry Holman as Mayor Hawkins
Andrew Tombes as Spencer
Pierre Watkin as Hammett

As a parting shot, fired reporter Ann Mitchell prints a fake letter from unemployed "John Doe," who threatens suicide in protest of social ills. The paper is forced to rehire Ann and hires John Willoughby to impersonate "Doe." Ann and her bosses cynically milk the story for all it's worth, until the made-up "John Doe" philosophy starts a whole political movement. At last everyone, even Ann, takes her creation seriously, but publisher D.B. Norton has a secret plan. The great Frank Capra, and an all-star cast, make this film a true treat.