Top 10 Best Films Directed by Frank Capra

Here Comes the Groom is a 1951 American musical comedy directed and produced by Frank Capra, starring Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman. Based on a story by Robert Riskin and Liam O'Brien, it follows the story of a foreign reporter who has five days to win back his former fiancée, or else he will lose the orphaned children he has adopted. Filming took place from late November 1950 to January 29, 1951, with the film released by Paramount Pictures in the U.S. on September 20, 1951.

Piccolo player Mike Scanlon loses his girlfriend due to his dull lifestyle, so he decides to stage a robbery to gain fame. However, the robbery goes wrong, and Mike finds himself on the run from the police, disguised as a famous singer with a public gimmick of wearing a mask.

Pete reveals his plan to Winnifred Stanley, who has long been in love with her cousin Wilbur but feels too socially awkward to pursue him. In a twist reminiscent of *Pygmalion*, Pete teaches Winnifred to feel more confident in herself. Her newfound self-assurance erupts during a wedding rehearsal. She and Emmadel engage in a scuffle on the front lawn. Winnifred confesses the fight, and Emmadel proudly claims to be the daughter of a fisherman.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1951
Genre: Musical, Romantic Comedy
Director: Frank Capra
Stars: Bing Crosby, Jane Wyman, Alexis Smith, Anna Maria Alberghetti
IMDb Rating: 6.4/10

Riding High is a 1950 black-and-white musical comedy about horse racing, starring Bing Crosby and directed by Frank Capra. Unlike typical musical films, the songs were performed live on set rather than lip-synced to studio recordings. The film is a remake of Capra's earlier work, *Broadway Bill* (1934), written by Robert Riskin. While the film is mostly lighthearted, it takes an unexpected tragic turn in its storyline.

Yale graduate Dan Brooks is set to marry Margaret, the daughter of wealthy businessman JL Higgins, and join the family’s canning business. However, he is far more interested in racing his horse, Broadway Bill.

After some lackluster work performance, Dan and his friend Whitey leave town to race Broadway Bill in the Royal Derby. They first need to come up with the entry fee, leading them to try and scam money from various sources. Dan’s former professor, Pettigrew, tries to swindle him, and both men are forced to sing their old Yale school song when they can’t settle a restaurant bill. Maggie’s sister Alice, who secretly loves Dan, lends him money in exchange for a lien on her belongings. Whitey is beaten up during a craps game, and Broadway Bill is kicked out of the race due to Dan’s unpaid feed bill, leaving Dan in jail.

A wealthy man places a 1-to-100 bet on Broadway Bill, sparking rumors that the horse is sure to win. The odds quickly shift, but gamblers and a crooked jockey attempt to manipulate the race. Against all odds, Broadway Bill wins but collapses at the finish line and dies of a heart attack.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1950
Genre: Black-and-white Musical
Director: Frank Capra
Stars: Bing Crosby, Coleen Gray
IMDb Rating: 6.2/10

State of the Union is a 1948 political drama directed by Frank Capra, exploring a man's ambitions to be nominated as the Republican presidential candidate and the schemes of those around him. The *New York Times* described it as "a sharply satirical film... more cutting in its portrayal of the schemers and their unrepentant accomplices than the original." The screenplay, written by Myles Connolly and Anthony Veiller, is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Russell Crouse and Howard Lindsay, which debuted in 1945.

Capra and his screenwriters remained deeply faithful to the original play, updating the script during filming to reflect current events. Spencer Tracy was the first choice of both Capra and the playwrights to take on the lead role. Katharine Hepburn also stars, alongside Adolphe Menjou, Van Johnson, and Angela Lansbury in key supporting roles. This film marked Capra’s only project with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was the second and final film produced by Liberty Films before its dissolution in 1951.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1948
Genre: Drama
Director: Frank Capra
Stars: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

It's a Wonderful Life (1946) is an American film directed and produced by Frank Capra, adapted from the short story *The Greatest Gift* by Philip Van Doren Stern.

The film is set in the fictional town of Bedford Falls, post-World War II. The story follows George Bailey (James Stewart), a man contemplating suicide on Christmas Eve, who is visited by his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers). Clarence has been sent to help George in his darkest hour. Much of the film reflects on George’s life through the eyes of Franklin and Joseph, two invisible angels preparing Clarence for his mission to save George. The audience witnesses the profound impact George has had on the lives of others and the changes he’s brought to the world.

The movie has become a Christmas classic worldwide, despite its initial financial failure, grossing only half of its production cost. *It's a Wonderful Life* is now in the public domain and regarded as a cultural treasure.

The film earned five Academy Award nominations, though it didn’t win any. However, it has since been ranked as one of the 100 best American films of all time by the American Film Institute, and it holds the top spot for the most inspirational film of all time.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1946
Genre: Drama
Director: Frank Capra
Stars: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Henry Travers
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Here Is Germany (1945) is an American propaganda documentary directed by Frank Capra, with a screenplay written by William L. Shirer, Gottfried Reinhardt, Ernst Lubitsch, Georg Ziomer, and Anthony Veiller. Like its companion piece *Know Your Enemy: Japan*, this film explores why one of the major Axis powers initiated World War II and what steps must be taken to prevent them from doing it again.

The film begins with scenes of everyday life in Germany, narrated by Walter Huston. It shows individuals such as housewives, postal workers, farmers, and police officers going about their tasks, emphasizing that these people are not so different from Americans and seem relatable. Anthony Veiller’s narration then asks, 'But can we?' The film swiftly transitions to footage of Nazi concentration camps and piles of corpses. The narrator reflects that this is not the first time Germany has waged war, mentioning that while their generation fought against the 'Nazis,' their ancestors fought against the 'Huns' (a derogatory term for Germans during World War I), and that his grandfather fought the 'Prussians.' The narrator suggests that these wars are all part of the same German thirst for conquest. The militarism of the Prussian state is identified as the root of a misguided ideology that has perpetuated throughout German history.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1945
Genre: Propaganda Documentary
Director: Frank Capra
Stars: Walter Huston, Anthony Veiller, John Beal
IMDb Rating: 6.2/10

War Comes to America is the seventh and final entry in Frank Capra’s *Why We Fight* series, focusing on the events that led to the United States' involvement in World War II.

The film opens with an idealized portrayal of American history, covering the early settlements, the American Revolution (skipping the Civil War), and the country’s ethnic diversity. It highlights the 22 nationalities of American immigrants, 19 of which were European, using contemporary terms such as 'Black,' 'Japanese,' and 'Chinese.' The first part of the film concludes with a lengthy celebration of American innovation, economic wealth, and social ideals.

The latter portion of the film makes a detailed argument, illustrated with maps and animated diagrams, showing that the United States’ entry into the war was essential for its self-defense. It discusses the catastrophic consequences for America if the Axis powers had triumphed in Asia and Africa: Nazi Germany’s control over Europe and Africa would provide them with vast raw materials and industrial capabilities. With one-quarter of the world’s population—around 500 million people—enslaved for labor, Germany would dominate much of Europe and Africa. Furthermore, Germany’s conquest of Russia would add immense resources and industrial capacity to its empire. The film concludes with a dramatic sequence on the attack on Pearl Harbor, showing Japanese negotiators in Washington, led by Saburo Kurusu, still in talks with the U.S. while the attack is happening in Hawaii. This moment marks the 'last straw' that brought the United States into the war.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1945
Genre: Documentary
Director: Frank Capra
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10

You Can't Take It with You is a comedic film directed by Frank Capra, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. Produced by Columbia Pictures in 1938, the movie stars James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, and Edward Arnold.

The film received seven Academy Award nominations, winning two: Best Picture and Best Director (Frank Capra). This marked Capra's third Oscar within five years, following his wins for *It Happened One Night* (1934) and *Mr. Deeds Goes to Town* (1936). It was also the highest-grossing film of the year.

Alice (Jean Arthur), an ordinary young woman from a quirky family, falls in love with Tony Kirby (James Stewart), a wealthy banker’s son. Tony's father, Anthony P. Kirby (Edward Arnold), and his elitist mother (Mary Forbes) strongly oppose the relationship. When the Kirbys are invited to dinner to meet Alice's eccentric family, everything goes awry. Tony, the arrogant son of a Wall Street tycoon, is unaware that his father plans to force Alice's family to sell their home to make way for a real estate development, much to the dismay of his fiancée and her unconventional family.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1938
Genre: Comedy
Director: Frank Capra
Stars: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, Edward Arnold
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

Pocketful of Miracles is a 1961 American comedy film starring Glenn Ford and Bette Davis. Directed and produced by Frank Capra, it was filmed in Panavision. The screenplay by Hal Kanter and Harry Tugend is based on the script by Robert Riskin for the 1933 film *Lady for a Day*, which in turn was adapted from Damon Runyon's 1929 short story *Madame La Gimp*. The original 1933 film, also directed by Capra, was one of two films he remade; the other being *Broadway Bill* (1934) with the later remake *Riding High* (1950).

This film marked the final project for both Capra and veteran actor Thomas Mitchell, as well as the screen debut of Ann-Margret. Set in 1930s New York, it follows the story of Rudy Martin, a nightclub owner deeply in debt, who dies, leaving his daughter Elizabeth, known as Queenie, to transfer ownership of the club to a kind-hearted racketeer named Dave the Dude. Attracted to Queenie, Dude helps her transform the club into a renowned hotspot. Two years later, she has paid off her father’s debts. As things look up for Dude, he believes his good fortune comes from his daily purchase of an apple from *Apple Annie*, an elderly street vendor and leader of the Broadway beggars. Dude is preparing to make a deal with Chicago mob boss Steve Darcey, and Queenie agrees to marry him. However, just as Dude is about to finalize the deal, his men can’t find Annie.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1961
Genre: Comedy
Director: Frank Capra
Stars: Glenn Ford, Bette Davis, Hope Lange, Arthur O'Connell, Peter Falk, Thomas Mitchell, Edward Everett Horton, Mickey Shaughnessy
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

A Hole in the Head (1959) is a DeLuxe Color comedy film presented in CinemaScope, directed by Frank Capra. The film stars Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson, Eleanor Parker, Keenan Wynn, Carolyn Jones, Thelma Ritter, Dub Taylor, Ruby Dandridge, Eddie Hodges, and Joi Lansing, and was released by United Artists. It is based on the play of the same name by Arnold Schulman.

The film features the song "High Hopes," written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, which became a signature Sinatra tune and was used by John F. Kennedy in his presidential campaign the following year. Sinatra plays Tony, a dreamer from a humble background, whose old friend Jerry Marks, now a wealthy man, expresses interest in Tony's plan to build Disneyland in Florida (the film predates Disney World by 12 years). However, Jerry becomes concerned when Tony seems overly desperate while betting on a dog. The movie concludes with Tony, his girlfriend Eloise, and his son Ally singing "High Hopes" on the beach. Sinatra also performs "All My Tomorrows," another Cahn/Van Heusen song, during the opening credits.

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1959
Genre: Comedy
Director: Frank Capra
Stars: Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson, Eleanor Parker, Keenan Wynn, Carolyn Jones, Thelma Ritter, Dub Taylor, Ruby Dandridge, Joi Lansing, Eddie Hodges
IMDb Rating: 6.3/10

Our Mr. Sun is a one-hour American television film from 1956, presented in Technicolor, written, produced, and directed by Frank Capra. The film is a documentary that explains the workings of the Sun and its vital role in human life. It was first broadcast on CBS in 1956.

The film stars Frank Baxter as "Dr. Research" and Eddie Albert as a "fictional writer," a recurring character in the Bell Laboratory Science Series. Marvin Miller provided the voice for the animated Sun, while Sterling Holloway, who went uncredited, voiced an animated version of chlorophyll. The film is notable for being the final project of actor Lionel Barrymore, who voiced Father Time. It was first broadcast on television two years after Barrymore’s death in 1954.

Our Mr. Sun, along with the companion film Hemo the Magnificent (about blood circulation), became popular educational films used in elementary and high school science classes from the late 1950s until the early 1980s. The film is now available on DVD along with another of Frank C. Baxter’s works, The Strange Case of the Cosmic Rays (1957).

DETAILS:
Release Year: 1956
Genre: Educational Documentary
Director: Frank Capra
Stars: Eddie Albert, Dr. Frank C. Baxter
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10