MANDRAKE FALLS NEW HAMPSHIRE SERIES
MANDRAKE FALLS NEW HAMPSHIRE FREE

The first scenes shot on the Fox Studios' New England street lot were in place before Capra found his replacement heroine in a rush screening. Īrthur was not the first choice for the role, but Carole Lombard, the original female lead, quit the film just three days before principal photography, in favor of a starring role in My Man Godfrey. Cooper was Capra's 'first, last and only choice' for the pivotal role of the eccentric Longfellow Deeds. As production began, the two lead actors were cast: Gary Cooper as Longfellow Deeds and Jean Arthur as Louise 'Babe' Bennett/Mary Dawson. Originally, Frank Capra intended to make Lost Horizon after Broadway Bill (1934), but lead actor Ronald Colman could not get out of his other filming commitments. The judge declares him to be not only sane, but 'the sanest man who ever walked into this courtroom'. When he realizes that she truly loves him, he begins speaking, systematically punching holes in Cedar's case and then landing one in his face.

Babe speaks up passionately on his behalf, castigating herself for what she did to him. Though Deeds has pledged to defend himself, he refuses to speak. During the hearing, Cedar calls an expert who diagnoses Deeds with manic depression based on Babe's articles and witnesses to his recent behavior. A sanity hearing is scheduled to determine who should control the fortune.

MANDRAKE FALLS NEW HAMPSHIRE FREE

He decides to provide fully equipped 10- acre (4- hectare) farms free to thousands of homeless families if they will work the land for three years.Ĭedar joins forces with Deeds' only other relative, Semple, and his domineering wife, in an attempt to have Deeds declared mentally incompetent. After the intruder comes to his senses, Deeds realizes what he can do with his troublesome fortune. He expresses his scorn for the seemingly heartless, ultra-rich man, who will not lift a finger to help the multitudes of desperate poor. After he has packed and is about to leave, a dispossessed farmer ( John Wray) stomps into his mansion and threatens him with a gun. Deeds is left heartbroken and decides to return to Mandrake Falls. She quits her job in shame, but before she can tell Deeds the truth about herself, Cobb finds it out and tells Deeds.

He wins Cobb's wholehearted respect and eventually Babe's love. Deeds, however, proves to be a shrewd judge of character, easily fending off Cedar and other greedy opportunists.

MANDRAKE FALLS NEW HAMPSHIRE SERIES

Bennett proceeds to write a series of enormously popular articles on Longfellow, portraying him as a yokel who has suddenly inherited riches, and giving him the nickname 'Cinderella Man'.Ĭedar tries to get Deeds' power of attorney in order to keep his own financial misdeeds secret. She pretends to faint from exhaustion after 'walking all day to find a job' and worms her way into his confidence. Cobb is outfoxed by star reporter Louise 'Babe' Bennett ( Jean Arthur), who appeals to Deeds' romantic fantasy of rescuing a damsel in distress by masquerading as a poor worker named Mary Dawson. Cedar gives his cynical troubleshooter, ex-newspaperman Cornelius Cobb ( Lionel Stander), the task of keeping reporters away from Deeds. Semple's scheming attorney, John Cedar ( Douglass Dumbrille), locates Deeds and takes him to New York City. During the Great Depression, Longfellow Deeds ( Gary Cooper), the co-owner of a tallow works, part-time greeting card poet, and tuba-playing inhabitant of the hamlet of Mandrake Falls, Vermont, inherits 20 million dollars from his late uncle, Martin Semple.

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