You may have seen the movie It’s a Wonderful Life a dozen times. It’s been played over and over. Although It’s a Wonderful Life is a great story, I’m always a little annoyed by the fact that it perpetuates the false notion that when we die we become angels. Frank Capra directed another classic comedy-drama movie called Meet John Doe, which I found very thought-provoking and moving. Since the copyright owners of both movies failed to renew the copyrights, they can be viewed on YouTube.

 Meet John Doe was made in 1941 and stars Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck. If you haven’t seen it, New Years Eve might be a good time to do so. According to Wikipedia, it was a box office hit and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Story. Google users show an approval rating of 91%.
I think it would be appropriate for middle school age and up. The youngest members of the family might go to bed early, and maybe the elementary age kids could play some rounds of “Sorry” or watch another movie in a different room.  The movie lasts about 2 hours.

In the movie, a woman reporter makes up a story about a man dubbed “John Doe,” who plans to kill himself because he is so disillusioned by America’s neglect of “the little people.” The newspaper decides to pay an ex-ballplayer who needs money to pose as “John Doe.” The situation spurs a political movement, which is misused by a fascist candidate for his own advantage. “John Doe” develops a conscience, which makes for a superb ending.

If you have pre-teens, teens, or young adults watching, it may be a good time to discuss what effects dishonesty can have. You might even discuss the meaning of fascism and whether it was really fair to describe President Trump as a fascist, as some have, or whether he actually showed signs of wanting to put more power in the hands of the people. Perhaps this movie could incite prayer for America and its leaders.