You Can't Take It With You
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Movie Reviews of You Can't Take It With You
Movie Review: Disappointing
Summary: 3 Stars
The enormously talented Frank Capra can't do screwball comedy in my opinion. This film along with "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "Pocketful of Miracles" fail at various levels. (I'm almost certain I read that Cary Grant thought "Arsenic and Old Lace" was over directed). The actors in these films seem too aware that they are in this genre. It's as if they are following techniques of "Screwball Comedy Acting 101." Edward Arnold, and James Stewart are always first rate. Aside from the excellent restaurant sequence with Stewart and Jean Arthur, the film is artificial. I don't take the Academy Awards seriously, but, for this film to win best picture is really puzzling to me.
It's not terrible like "Arsenic" or "Miracles" but it's not what I expected.
Movie Review: Wait for a better version on DVD if you can
Summary: 3 Stars
I absolutely love this movie, which is the only reason it gets three stars instead of none. The quality of the transfer of this movie is horrible. There are all kinds of nicks, scratches and even a momentary blackout. I wish Columbia cared more about its customers. It's clear they only wanted to get this movie out on DVD, regardless of the print quality. Although it advertises Trailers, the trailer for this film is not here. It is also not in widescreen format. If you can wait, I would do so. This version of the film is better than none, BUT NOT BY MUCH!Movie Review: I really didn't like this movie
Summary: 2 Stars
I know many people like it, but I just don't. Maybe its because it was one of the last Capra classics I saw, or maybe I wasn't having a good day, but I just did not like it hardly at all.
I really do like his other movies. Meet John Doe, Mr. Deeds, Wonderful Life, Happened one night, Arsenic, Mr Smith, etc. All really good, watchable, enjoyable movies.
Then again, as a born again Christian, my world-view has changed dramatically since getting saved, and that may have something to do with my dislike of this picture. (But I recently watched Happened one night, and I still liked it a lot.)
So I don't know what it is. Maybe its because several of these cast members are more familiar to me in their other Capra movies. Jimmy Stewart is Mr. Smith, or George Baily. Jean Arthur is Clarissa Saunders, and Eddie Arnold is too much like Jim Taylor in Mr. Smith, and D. B. Norton in John Doe. Lionel Barrymore is simply Henry F. Potter, and that's all there is to it! I can't suspend my disbelief at them at all.
Plus, the movie is really weird. I didn't take to the cast of zanies at all, (whereas I usually like Capra's screwballs in his other pictures.) I kept waiting for the movie to get good, and it never did for me. (Several scenes were well done, like the restaurant visit, for one.) But overall, the movie was very tedious for me to watch.
I know I'm in the minority here. It happens, eh? Sometimes we just don't like certain movies, and this is one of them for me.
Movie Review: I thought Columbia cared about classics. I thought wrong.
Summary: 2 Stars
This film itself: 5 stars.
It's a wonderful, warm, witty, and simply enjoyable movie. I love it.
The DVD:
1 star
I bought this DVD without reading any reviews (I also bought "Talk of The Town", a day-and-date Columbia release), because Columbia has, in the past, done astounding work restoring and remastering their old films ("It Happened One Night" from their Classics collection is nothing short of an amazing transfer). Apparently, their agenda has changed: they are now content to simply release anything as long as they can tout it as a "high-definition remaster", thus tricking their customers into thinking that some money and time was actually spent on striking a new print. Both this and "Talk Of The Town" look and sound absolutely horrible. The VHS version of this film has less grain and fewer sound defects (hissing, popping abound). In fact, this transfer is akin in quality to the one I often see on network television -- it's an absolute disaster on all levels. Virtually unwatchable. Avoid at all costs until Columbia treats its customers (and this film) right with a proper DVD release. Even Paramount is doing it with their catalogue releases, Columbia! Get with the program.
Movie Review: More Jimmy Stewart than Kaufman and Hart
Summary: 2 Stars
This "adaptation" of the Broadway comedy is way over-written by Frank Capra and turned into a vehicle to showcase Jimmy Stewart. Perhaps 75% of the play's dialogue is included but is broken up by many long sequences written specifically for Mr. Stewart.
The stage version of this story was mainly about the Sycamore family and their goofy home activities. Capra has changed the story to focus on the ultra-rich Kirby family and the senior Kirby's relentless quest for wealth and monopoly power. The scenes devoted to the Kirbys are not at all funny and way over-the-top with populist preaching and anti-capitalist dogma. While I tend to agree with that part of Mr. Capra's philosophy, especially since this is a Depression era movie, it really destroys the continuity of the play and makes for some uncomfortable viewing.
If you want to really enjoy "You Can't Take It With You", skip this movie and attend a live stage performance. In addition, the VHS copy has widely variable quality of picture and sound and is mostly not very good.