Frank Capra (May 5, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian American film director, producer and writer who became the creative force behind some of the major award-winning films of the 1930s and 1940s. Capra directed a total of 36 feature-length films (34 of which are known to survive) and 16 documentary films during his lifetime.
His movies It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town are often cited among the greatest films ever made."AFI's 100 Greatest American Films of All Time" - 20.It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 26.Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) 46.It Happened One Night (1934)". American Film Institute. Retrieved January 24, 2020
The following are the films directed by Frank Capra, along with a listing of his awards.
Filmography Source: Films YearTitleNotesSilent films1921 La Visita Dell'Incrociatore Italiano Libya a San Francisco short news film; directorial debut1922 Fultah Fisher's Boarding House short film1926 The Strong Man 1927 Long Pants For the Love of Mike lost1928 That Certain Thing So This Is Love? The Matinee Idol The Way of the Strong Say It with Sables lost Submarine The Power of the Press Sound films1929 The Younger Generation partially silent The Donovan Affair lost soundtrack Flight 1930 Ladies of Leisure Rain or Shine 1931 Dirigible The Miracle Woman Platinum Blonde 1932 Forbidden American Madness 1933 The Bitter Tea of General Yen Lady for a Day 1934 It Happened One Night Broadway Bill 1936 Mr. Deeds Goes to Town 1937 Lost Horizon 1938 You Can't Take It with You 1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 1941 Meet John Doe 1944 Arsenic and Old Lace Filmed in 1941.1946 It's a Wonderful Life 1948 State of the Union 1950 Riding High Remake of Broadway Bill1951 Here Comes the Groom 1956 Our Mr. Sun Educational documentary / Producer and writer1957 Hemo the Magnificent The Strange Case of the Cosmic Rays Educational documentary 1958 Unchained Goddess Educational documentary / Producer and writer ONLY; Carlson dir. 1959 A Hole in the Head First narrative color film1961 Pocketful of Miracles Final Theatrical Feature Film / Remake of Lady for a Day 1964 Rendezvous In Space Final Film
War Films YearTitleNotes1942 Why We Fight: Prelude to War Co-directed with Anatole Litvak1943 Why We Fight: The Nazis Strike Short film / Co-directed with Anatole Litvak Why We Fight: Divide and Conquer Co-directed with Anatole Litvak Why We Fight: The Battle of Britain Co-directed with Anthony Veiller Why We Fight: The Battle of Russia Co-directed with Anatole Litvak1944 Why We Fight: The Battle of China Tunisian Victory Co-directed with Hugh Stewart The Negro Soldier Capra is producer only; Stuart Heisler, director1945 Your Job in Germany Short film Two Down and One to Go Why We Fight: War Comes to America Co-directed with Anatole Litvak Know Your Enemy: Japan Co-directed with Joris Ivens Here Is Germany
Films directed by Capra nominated for Academy Awards YearFilmOscar NominationsOscar WinsPerformances Nominations 1933 Lady for a Day40 Best Actress for May Robson (nom) 1934 It Happened One Night55 Best Actor for Clark GableBest Actress for Claudette Colbert 1936 Mr. Deeds Goes to Town51 Best Actor for Gary Cooper (nom) 1937 Lost Horizon72 Best Supporting Actor for H. B. Warner (nom) 1938 You Can't Take It With You72 Best Supporting Actress for Spring Byington (nom) 1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington111 Best Actor for James Stewart (nom)Best Supporting Actor for Harry Carey (nom)Best Supporting Actor for Claude Rains (nom) 1941 Meet John Doe10 1942 Prelude to War11 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature 1943 The Battle of Russia10 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature (nom) 1946 It's a Wonderful Life50 Best Actor for James Stewart (nom) 1951 Here Comes the Groom21 1959 A Hole in the Head11 1961 Pocketful of Miracles30 Best Supporting Actor for Peter Falk (nom)
Awards and nominations YearFilmAwardWinner1933Lady for a Day Outstanding Production Winfield Sheehan – Cavalcade Best Director Frank Lloyd – Cavalcade1934It Happened One Night Outstanding Production With Harry Cohn Best Director 1936Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Outstanding Production Hunt Stromberg – The Great Ziegfeld Best Director 1937 Lost Horizon Outstanding Production Henry Blanke – The Life of Emile Zola1938You Can't Take It With You Outstanding Production Best Director 1939Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Outstanding Production David O. Selznick – Gone with the Wind Best Director Victor Fleming – Gone with the Wind 1943 Prelude to War Best Documentary 1944 The Battle of Russia Best Documentary, Features Desert Victory1946It's a Wonderful Life Best Motion Picture Samuel Goldwyn – The Best Years of Our Lives Best Director William Wyler – The Best Years of Our Lives
American Film Institute Life Achievement Award (1982)
Directors Guild of America Best Director Nomination for A Hole in the Head (1959) Life Achievement Award (1959) Best Director Nomination for Pocketful of Miracles (1961)
Golden Globe Award Best Director Award for It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Venice Film Festival Mussolini Cups for best foreign film Nomination for It Happened One Night (1934) Mussolini Cups for best foreign film Nomination for Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) Golden Lion (1982)
American Film Institute recognition AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition) It's a Wonderful Life...# 20 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington...# 26 It Happened One Night...# 46 AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers It's a Wonderful Life...# 1 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington...# 5 Meet John Doe...# 49 Mr. Deeds Goes to Town...# 83 AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs It Happened One Night...# 8 Arsenic and Old Lace...# 30 Mr. Deeds Goes to Town...# 70 AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions It's a Wonderful Life...# 8 It Happened One Night...# 38 AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains 50 greatest movie heroes It's a Wonderful Life...George Bailey ...# 9 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington...Jefferson Smith ...# 11 50 greatest movie villains It's a Wonderful Life...Mister Potter ...# 6 AFI's 10 Top 10 Fantasy It's a Wonderful Life...# 3 Romantic Comedies It Happened One Night...# 3
United States National Film Registry The Strong Man (1926) The Power of the Press (1928) It Happened One Night (1934) Lost Horizon (1937) Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) Why We Fight Series of seven films (1942) It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
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