WHAT’S PLAYING
IN THE THEATER
Early on, Tony reveals to
Alice an exciting and bold idea
he and a school pal once had
for developing solar energy.
Unfortunately, as the pair of
young inventors grew up, life
took over with other expecta-
tions and responsibilities — in
Tony’s case, a future behind a
desk as a banking executive. A
dream bites the dust.
As for Alice, well, Tony can’t
get over her crazy family, a
blend of related people (plus a
couple stray folks they’ve taken
in) all living under the same roof
— dancing, making candy, writ-
ing plays, building fi recrackers
and collecting stamps. Basi-
cally, they’re doing what they
want to do and getting by just
fi ne, thanks to “the same one
who takes care of the lilies of
the fi eld,” according to Grandpa
Vanderhof.
Tony says, “In their own way
they’ve found what everybody’s
looking for,” adding (maybe as
a personal excuse?), “but that
takes courage. Everybody’s
afraid to live.”
Alice replies with her grand-
father’s stance that “most
people nowadays are run by
fear. … They’re scared to save
money and scared to spend it.”
She says her grandpa is mostly
critical of those who “scare you
to death so they can sell you
something you don’t need.”
We learn Grandpa Vanderhof
was not always such a freespir-
it. A successful businessman
himself once, he suddenly real-
ized while riding up the offi ce
elevator one day that he wasn’t
having any fun. So he walked
out, leaving his fat paycheck
and promising future behind.
Just like that.
17
ON THE SCREEN
As a result, Alice says, he
taught the rest of the family to
not be afraid — and to have fun.
Meanwhile, Tony’s father is
trying to hammer out a massive
monopoly while dealing with
fellow execs, lawyers and real
estate agents — and trying to
ignore ulcers. He doesn’t seem
to be having any fun. At least
not until his eff orts land him
squarely on — you guessed
it — Grandpa Vanderhof’s
doorstep.
The depth — and fun
— packed into this movie
runs the spectrum: a “Home
Sweet Home” sign always
falling down, a discussion of
“isms,” harmonica music and
a hilarious courtroom scene
(after everyone from both sides
spends time packed in a jail
cell). My personal favorite is
when an IRS agent shows up
trying to collect back taxes from
Grandpa Vanderhof. (Spoiler
alert: He’s not successful.)
Hands down, the best part
of this fl ick is the characters
themselves, played by some of
Hollywood’s greats, including
Eddie “Rochester” Anderson
and Ann Miller, who portrays, of
all things, a wanna-be dancer.
Barrymore and Stewart
later starred in another Capra
classic — “It’s a Wonderful
Life” (1946). And take note of
“Jimmy” — a raven who ap-
pears in both movies, plus
dozens of others, including the
“The Wizard of Oz” (1939). He’s
the one landing on the scare-
crow’s shoulder.
The bottom line: You really
and truly can’t take it with you.
And since that’s true, why
not spend your life having
more fun?
WHO WAS FRANK
CAPRA?
NOVEMBER 17�24, 2021
long and successful fi lm career.
Wonderful Life” (1946).
Oscars for Best Picture and three
1966, after which he published his
Capra’s fi lms brought him two
Frank Capra was born in Bisac-
for Best Director: “It Happened
quino, Sicily, on May 18, 1897, and One Night” (1934), “Mr. Deeds
immigrated to the United States
Goes to Town” (1936), and “You
when he was fi ve. He earned an
engineering degree at the Califor-
Can’t Take It With You” (1938). He
also directed such landmark mov-
nia Institute of Technology in 1918 ies as “Mr. Smith Goes to Wash-
(then known as Throop College
ington” (1939), “Meet John Doe”
of Technology) and then began a
(1941), and the ever-popular “It’s a
He retired from fi lmmaking in
autobiography, “The Name Above
the Title,” in 1971.
He retired from fi lmmaking
in 1966 and was honored with a
life achievement award from the
American Film Institute in 1982.
— WWW.WESLEYAN.EDU/CINEMA/
COLLECTIONS/CAPRA.HTML
Specializing in
HOMETOWN
Real Estate
Keisha Anderson
Real Estate Agent
541.910.8827
Mobile
App
www.johnjhoward.com
A sure sign that fall is here is the Anthony Lakes Ski Patrol Ski Swap .
This year’s swap is planned for November 20, 2021 at the Rivera Activity Center,
located at Second and Y Ave., La Grande.
NOV. 20
2021
Riveria
Activity
Center
This is a great place to
get deals on both new
and used equipment.
The sale will be from
12:30 to 3:30 pm.
Equipment check-in
is from 9 am to noon.
Equipment pickup
and payout is from
4-5 pm. This sale is
one of the Ski Patrol’s
biggest fundraisers of
the year. For additional
information call Zak at
208-596-2807.