You Can't Take it With You (1938) Review- By Michael J. Carlisle

Title: You Can't Take it With You
Year: 1938
Director: Frank Capra
Country: US
Language: English

By 1938, Frank Capra had won two Best Director Oscars, and was a household name despite being behind the camera. Unfortunately his career was in trouble. His relationship with his Columbia Pictures boss Harry Cohn was strained, due to the studio’s stinginess and Capra’s sudden interest in expensive prestige pictures. Just when both sides seemed bound for a legal court battle, Cohn renewed interest in Capra's contract and offered him one of Broadway's biggest comedies. Capra would accept. 

In this, a man from a family of rich snobs becomes engaged to a woman from a good-natured but decidedly eccentric family. 

You Can’t Take It With You won Capra his third academy award and, though it wasn't Capra's best film of the 30's, marked a maturity in his film career. It’s a picture that shows Capra moving beyond his screwball roots to a more expansive, both good and bad, view of America. Much like his 40's films, this picture is ultimately upbeat and uplifting, but the screenplay does have some darker moments. 

Capra's picture is full to the brim with colorful characters. Lionel Barrymore plays the familiar role of a ruthless industrialist. Jean Arthur and James Stewart play lovebirds who are not unlike the people in It's a Wonderful Life. Capra wants to give a lot of time to each character, but the result is long scenes and a lack of focus. You Can't Take it With You is a rather charming film however. Even though there are distractions along the way, you can still be moved by it. 

What can't you take with you? I believe it's money. Though this message that family is FAR more important than money is a bit cliche, it was necessary during the great depression when very few people had a lot of either. It's a dated and corny movie, but I can't hate the picture for giving people hope during a hopeless time.