Top 10 🤩 Frank Capra – It’s A Wonderful Life/Mr Smith Goes To Washington/You Can’t Take It With You/It Happened One Night DVD – Claude Rains, Claudette Colbert 👏

Four films directed by Hollywood legend Frank Capra. James Stewart stars in the heartwarming Christmas fantasy ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946) as George Bailey, a man who has spent his entire life in the small town of Bedford Falls. Despite his yearning to see the world, George has always sacrificed his personal ambitions for the sake of his family and the local community, settling down to marry his childhood sweetheart, Mary (Donna Reed), and raise a family. However, when a huge amount of money goes missing from the savings and loans company he works for, George panics and finds himself preparing to commit suicide. However, he is shown the error of this idea by Clarence (Henry Travers), an angel who has been sent to Earth in order to earn his wings. To this end, Clarence shows George just how badly Bedford Falls and its residents would have turned out had he never been born. Stewart also stars in the Oscar-winning political fantasy ‘Mr Smith Goes to Washington’ (1939). When naive Jefferson Smith (Stewart) is chosen to replace a recently deceased senator, he heads for Washington full of idealistic dreams of serving his country, looking forward to working with his idol: senior senator Joseph Paine (Claude Rains). Upon his arrival, he is ridiculed in the press for his gullibility, but with the aid of his secretary, Saunders (Jean Arthur), he begins to realise that the world of politics is a cut-throat one full of double dealing. When he discovers that Paine is working on a scheme for a new dam which will only profit him and his cronies, Smith sets out to expose the man he formerly idolised. In ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ (1938) Martin Vanderhof (Lionel Barrymore) is an eccentric who retired from the rat race 30 years ago and now uses his fortune to encourage his family and friends to pursue their interests. While Vanderhof paints (badly), other family members make fireworks, party masks and practice ballet. The only comparatively normal relative is Alice (Jean Arthur), Vanderhof’s granddaughter, who works as a receptionist for businessman Anthony P. Kirby (Edward Arnold). Alice is in love with Kirby’s son Tony (Stewart) but matters are complicated when it transpires that Kirby wishes to purchase and demolish Vanderhof’s mansion in order to build on the land. In ‘It Happened One Night’ (1934), heiress Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) flees her disapproving millionaire father (Walter Connolly) when he forbids her to marry worthless playboy King Westley (Jameson Thomas). En route to her fiance, Ellie meets unemployed reporter Peter Warne (Clark Gable). The unlikely pair are forced to rough it together when their bus breaks down, but Peter’s plans to sell the story of their journey together hit a snag when he finds himself falling in love with Ellie. Both Colbert and Gable won Academy Awards for their performances – the first time any co-stars had won together.

Titles Comprise: It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) This collectors edition of Frank Capra’s masterpiece is the ultimate feel good film. Starring the unforgettable James Stewart as George Bailey the man who receives the greatest Christmas gift of all. A superb ensemble cast includes Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore this high spirited Christmas tale is directed by the immortal Frank Capra and ranks as an all-time favourite of fans and critics alike. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939) James Stewart Jean Arthur and Claude Rains star in this award-winning 1939 classic about an idealistic small-town politician who heads to Washington and suddenly finds himself single-handedly battling ruthless politicians out to destroy him… You Can’t Take It With You (1938) James Stewart Jean Arthur Lionel Barrymore and Edward Arnold star in this screwball comedy. Arthur stars as Alice Sycamore the stable family member of an offbeat clan of free spirits who falls for Stewart the down-to-earth son of a snooty wealthy family. Amidst a backdrop of confusion the two very different families rediscover the simple joys of life… It Happened One Night (1934) Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert team up for laughs as mismatched lovers in this 1934 screwball comedy classic. Spoiled Ellie Andrews (Colbert) escapes from her millionaire father (Walter Connolly) who wants to stop her from marrying a worthless playboy. En route to New York Ellie gets involved with an out-of-work newsman Peter Warne (Gable). When their bus breaks down the bickering couple set off on a madcap hitchhiking expedition. Peter hopes to parlay the inside story of their misadventures into a job. But complications fly when the runaway heiress and brash reporter fall in love.