It’s Frank Capra’s birthday, and we’re going to recommend that you do two things to commemorate the occasion: First, arrange to watch a Capra picture today. TCM is showing several of his best throughout the day, but, in a rare misstep for that network, the last one airs at 6 p.m. ET (really, TCM? No prime time for Capra on his birthday?). But surely you can make other arrangements—patronize an area video store, borrow a disc from a friend, whatever you have to do. Netflix has Arsenic and Old Lace and Here Comes the Groom available for streaming; neither is what we’d choose for you to watch, but they’re better than nothing.
Amazon offers Arsenic and Old Lace, You Can’t Take It with You, It’s a Wonderful Life, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Platinum Blonde, Meet John Doe, Lost Horizon, It Happened One Night, American Madness, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, among others, available for streaming (some are even free, if you’re an Amazon Prime member).
The second thing we strongly recommend is that you avail yourself of Trav S. D.‘s insightful, heartfelt, and passionate commentary “Why We Need Frank Capra.” It’s a must-read, plain and simple, and we agree with virtually every word in it.
