Posted by
reasonmclucus on Saturday, November 01, 2008 6:07:56 PM
Many people suggested after the nomination of Gov. Sarah Palin as the
Republican vice presidential candidate that she was comparable to
Jimmy Stewart's character in the
Frank Capra
movie "
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". The character in one of the other movies in the unofficial trilogy that included "
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" is somewhat similar to the Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
"
Meet John Doe"
is about a man plucked from obscurity because of his inspiring
speeches. In the movie set in the Depression, Barbara Stanwyck plays
columnist Ann Sheridan who is one of many employees fired from "The
Bulletin" after it is purchased by wealthy tycoon D. B. Norton (played
by Edward Arnold who was also in "Mr. Smith..."), a man with apparent
fascist tendencies who wants political power. For her final column
after being fired, she makes up a letter by a man called "John Doe" who
treatens to jump off city hall because of all the corruption, etc. in
the country. The letter becomes a sensation and as a condition of
rehiring her she has to find someone who will pretend to be the
ficticious author of the letter.
From a large group of unemployed men who claim to have written the
letter, she selects a baseball player with a bad arm played by Gary
Cooper (who also had the lead in "Mr Deeds..."). Doe takes the job in
exchange for a promise of money so he can have his pitching arm fixed
by Dr. "Bonesetter" Brown.
The paper then proceeds to carry a series of protest columns ghost
written by Sheridan under the John Doe byline. Norton decides to put
John Doe on the radio and Sheirdan's mom persuades her to provide a
more positive speech instead of the negative columns. Norton notices
his servants are entralled with the speech and decides to start a
national movement in John Doe's name.
Norton wants to use the movement to help him and his crooked friends
take over the White House with Norton as the candidate. Doe
overhears the plot and leaves town.
In the real life version Barack Obama is the person plucked from
obscurity because of his ability to deliver inspiring speeches and the
wealthy tycoon is
George Soros
who decides to have his "John Doe" run for the presidency, possibly
because Soros, who was born in Hungary, is ineligible. Obama unlike
John Doe decides to go along with the plot and run for president.
Are we in a Frank Capra movie? We'll know Tuesday. A victory by
Sen. John McCain could indicate we're in a Frank Capra movie and
everything will eventually turn out okay. A victory by Sen. Barack
Obama could indicate the movie is by someone like
Roger Corman and we don't know how things will turn out.