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The Name Above The Title
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APRIL 2016: The Name Above the Title by Frank Capra
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I just ordered a copy of the book. Frank Capra is one of my favorite directors. His films entertain you on so many levels. I can see the influence of his work in some of our contemporary directors. It Happened One Night is my favorite film, not just because it's Capra, but because it really is a great film. I have never seen any documentaries on Capra, but I've seen snippets of him being interviewed and he seemed like he would have been an interesting person even if he wasn't a director. My Dad is the one who told me Capra did a film on the negro soldier in the 40s. I saw a bit of it last year, but will have to check it out again.
I am really glad I have this book so can finally join in the discussion. As for favourite movie - that is really a hard one. Arsenic & Old Lace, It's a Wonderful Life & of course, It Happened One Night. Must admit to not knowing much about him at all, just surprised that he was involved in so many wonderful movies without being a stand out in my mind at least.
Arsenic & Old Lace is good fun. I'm curious to know/read about his relationship with Barbara Stanwyck; whatever that relationship may have been.
Mod
I always like reading about immigrants during the turn of the century. There was a rough and tumble quality that I like, and their struggles are presented in a very different way than immigrants' lives are today. Of course there have always been stigmas attached to them, but I find a lot of the stories then were about people making something out of nothing and moving ahead of the squalor of their lives but never forgetting their roots. They often sent a lot of money back home to take care of family that had not yet had the opportunity to come to America. I think immigrants now have similar experiences but the news emphasizes the few who commit crimes and mooch off of the government. It is unfortunate because I think sometimes the people who come here and become citizens are often more proud of their citizenry than natural born citizens.
I have read before that people found Capra to be arrogant and therefore disliked him. I do not feel that to be the case in this book, although he is certainly self assured and opinionated. His negative reactions to Harry Langdon are an example. Some people found Langdon to be difficult to work with in spite of his cherubic personality on the screen. It is always interesting to see what the real actors were like.
What do you think of the Capra/Stanwyck love affair? Did it surprise you? Do you think they could have made it last?
Mod
Well Samantha I must admit you made me look twice re the love affair. It was hinted at in my edition of the this book, which made me realise I am reading the original 1971 version. Are the later different much, besides the introduction by Ms Jeanine Basinger ? I was surprised to see only a few paragraphs devoted to Mr Deeds. And yes, his ego is certainly coming through loud and strong however I feel this helped him deal with Cohn.
Mod
Samantha wrote: "I guess I'm reading between the lines a bit, as one must do with both the movies and the memoirs of classic movies and their stars. I have the original version as well. Here is a nice blog article ..."Thanks for that Samantha, appreciate it.
Mod
I read "The Name Above the Title" quite a few years ago, but it's stayed with me, and has helped inform my viewings of his films (I've seen all I can get my hands on, both talking and silent.) I think I'd have a revisionist view if I read it again; some of his remembrances have proved to be wholly or partly inaccurate (his claim that he invented Harry Langdon's screen character, for instance.) But as a picture of the immigrant experience, the rough-and-tumble world of the silent era, and how one individual can leave their creative stamp on film -- and bring to it a high level of social responsibility -- this is a book for anyone interested who that man listed above the title was.
Pre-Reading Questions
1. What do you hope to learn from this book?
2. Which Frank Capra movies are your favorite? Why?
3. Have you ever read other books about or seen documentaries about Capra? What do you like and dislike about him?
Reading Goals
Week 1 pages 1-57 (chapters 1-3)
Week 2 pages 57-113 (chapters 4-6)
Week 3 pages 113-190 (chapters 7-9)
Week 4 pages 190-253 (chapters 10-13)
Week 5 pages 253-325 (chapters 14-16)
Week 6 pages 325-400 (chapters 17-19)
Week 7 pages 400-446 (chapters 20-21)
Week 8 pages 446-end (chapters 22-23)
Happy reading!