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You Can't Take It with You

  • 19381938
  • PassedPassed
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
26K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, Spring Byington, Edward Arnold, Mischa Auer, Samuel S. Hinds, Donald Meek, and Ann Miller in You Can't Take It with You (1938)
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  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance

The son of a snobbish Wall Street banker becomes engaged to a woman from a good-natured but decidedly eccentric family, not realizing that his father is trying to force her family from their... Read allThe son of a snobbish Wall Street banker becomes engaged to a woman from a good-natured but decidedly eccentric family, not realizing that his father is trying to force her family from their home for a real estate development.The son of a snobbish Wall Street banker becomes engaged to a woman from a good-natured but decidedly eccentric family, not realizing that his father is trying to force her family from their home for a real estate development.

IMDb RATING
7.8/10
26K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Frank Capra
  • Writers
    • Robert Riskin(screen play)
    • George S. Kaufman(based upon the play by)
    • Moss Hart(based upon the play by)
  • Stars
    • Jean Arthur
    • James Stewart
    • Lionel Barrymore
Top credits
  • Director
    • Frank Capra
  • Writers
    • Robert Riskin(screen play)
    • George S. Kaufman(based upon the play by)
    • Moss Hart(based upon the play by)
  • Stars
    • Jean Arthur
    • James Stewart
    • Lionel Barrymore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 174User reviews
    • 51Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 2 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:02
    Trailer

    Photos119

    James Stewart and Jean Arthur in You Can't Take It with You (1938)
    James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Dorothy Babb, Gloria Browne, Roland Dupree, Joe Geil, and Marion C. Rotolo in You Can't Take It with You (1938)
    Edward Arnold, Mary Forbes, Donald Meek, and Ann Miller in You Can't Take It with You (1938)
    James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Spring Byington, Edward Arnold, Mischa Auer, Mary Forbes, Ann Miller, and Dub Taylor in You Can't Take It with You (1938)
    James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, Spring Byington, Mischa Auer, Ann Miller, and Dub Taylor in You Can't Take It with You (1938)
    Ruth Robinson in You Can't Take It with You (1938)
    James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Irving Bacon, Mary Forbes, and Robert Greig in You Can't Take It with You (1938)
    Spring Byington in You Can't Take It with You (1938)
    You Can't Take It with You (1938)
    James Stewart and Jean Arthur in You Can't Take It with You (1938)
    James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, and Edward Arnold in You Can't Take It with You (1938)
    James Stewart and Jean Arthur in You Can't Take It with You (1938)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jean Arthur
    Jean Arthur
    • Alice Sycamoreas Alice Sycamore
    James Stewart
    James Stewart
    • Tony Kirbyas Tony Kirby
    Lionel Barrymore
    Lionel Barrymore
    • Martin Vanderhofas Martin Vanderhof
    Edward Arnold
    Edward Arnold
    • Anthony P. Kirbyas Anthony P. Kirby
    Mischa Auer
    Mischa Auer
    • Kolenkhovas Kolenkhov
    Ann Miller
    Ann Miller
    • Essie Carmichaelas Essie Carmichael
    Spring Byington
    Spring Byington
    • Penny Sycamoreas Penny Sycamore
    Samuel S. Hinds
    Samuel S. Hinds
    • Paul Sycamoreas Paul Sycamore
    Donald Meek
    Donald Meek
    • Poppinsas Poppins
    H.B. Warner
    H.B. Warner
    • Ramseyas Ramsey
    Halliwell Hobbes
    Halliwell Hobbes
    • DePinnaas DePinna
    Dub Taylor
    Dub Taylor
    • Ed Carmichaelas Ed Carmichael
    Mary Forbes
    Mary Forbes
    • Mrs. Anthony Kirbyas Mrs. Anthony Kirby
    Lillian Yarbo
    Lillian Yarbo
    • Rhebaas Rheba
    Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
    Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
    • Donaldas Donald
    • (as Eddie Anderson)
    Clarence Wilson
    Clarence Wilson
    • John Blakelyas John Blakely
    Josef Swickard
    Josef Swickard
    • Professoras Professor
    Ann Doran
    Ann Doran
    • Maggie O'Neillas Maggie O'Neill
    • Director
      • Frank Capra
    • Writers
      • Robert Riskin(screen play)
      • George S. Kaufman(based upon the play by)
      • Moss Hart(based upon the play by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The stenographer Alice Sycamore is in love with her boss Tony Kirby, who is the vice-president of the powerful company owned by his greedy father Anthony P. Kirby. Kirby Sr. is dealing a monopoly in the trade of weapons, and needs to buy one last house in a twelve block area owned by Alice's grandparent Martin Vanderhof. However, Martin is the patriarch of an anarchic and eccentric family where the members do not care for money but for having fun and making friends. When Tony proposes Alice, she states that it would be mandatory to introduce her simple and lunatic family to the snobbish Kirbys, and Tony decides to visit Alice with his parents one day before the scheduled. There is an inevitable clash of classes and lifestyles, the Kirbys spurn the Sycamores and Alice breaks with Tony, changing the lives of the Kirby family. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • screwball comedy
    • unconventional family
    • eccentric family
    • eccentricity
    • patchwork family
    • 142 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • You'll love them all for giving you the swellest time you've ever had!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Ann Miller was only 15 years old when this movie was filmed. Her character is called on to perform numerous (amateur) ballet positions, including dancing en pointe. She had never been trained to do so, and wasn't using shoes with the proper support. She was just forcing her feet up onto their toes, which was very painful for her. She hid this from the cast and crew, but would cry (out of sight) off stage. James Stewart noticed her crying, though he didn't know why, and would have boxes of candy to make her feel better.
    • Goofs
      When Alice is in the courtroom, she is wearing a trench coat as newspaper photographers take pictures. In the newspaper pictures, she is not wearing the coat.
    • Quotes

      Grandpa Martin Vanderhoff: Maybe it'd stop you trying to be so desperate about making more money than you can ever use? You can't take it with you, Mr. Kirby. So what good is it? As near as I can see, the only thing you can take with you is the love of your friends.

    • Connections
      Edited into The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1962)
    • Soundtracks
      Valse Brilliante Op. 34 No 2
      (1838) (uncredited)

      Music by Frédéric Chopin

      Played on an xylophone by Dub Taylor

    User reviews174

    Review
    Top review
    Absolutely satisfying Capra!
    One message. "Nothing is worth doing if you can't enjoy it, and when it's over- you can't take it with you!"

    Do any of Capra's works actually speak 'that' one particular message? Perhaps the closest to the above is "It Happened One Night". "Lost Horizon" is about rediscovery and peace of mind. "Mr Smith" is politically and small town oriented and "Mr Deeds" deals with the same except without some political yawn. George Bailey should have had a better dosage of the "You Can't Take it With You" policy in "It's a Wonderful Life".

    Here is a play that exercises Frank Capra's famous adage with all humour already built in. Why shouldn't it work?

    The stage version was a phenomenal success, written superbly by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. If their story is slightly lacking, look no further than the delightful cast of characters. Mr Poppins, toy and mask maker. Alice's Father who meddles with fireworks. Essie the ballerina, Penny the playwright and the wonderful Russian ballet teacher. The uptight Kirby banking corporation. Then there's the "Mr Smith" duo, Tony (Jimmy Stewart) and Alice (Jean Arthur).

    The stand out performer here, is naturally the lovable Lionel Barrymore as Grandpa Vanderfhoff. Although the first film in which the damaging effects of his arthritis began to show, Capra had his leg put in a cast and had him move around on crutches. He relishes his performance.

    I have heard of complaints which discuss the fact this film fails to address corruption and greed in a similar manner to "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" which successfully played its part going against the American capital. Once again, Capra emphasises his favourite theme of the little guy up against the world and succeeds, but "You Can't Take it With You" basically does not even make a mild attempt to criticise the American system of government, past or present, even though I know very little about it.

    On different levels, look at this film in the light of discussing heavier issues, as the aforementioned greed and corruption. I just don't think Mr Capra would have liked it as much for one of his works to be remembered like that, especially with the basic message staring at us right in the face.

    Nevertheless, it is another of Capra's life saving feel good movies. All it is encouraging us to do is to have a little fun.

    Rating: 8/10
    helpful•32
    12
    • Calysta
    • Jan 23, 2000

    FAQ3

    • At the time this movie was made, was there any provision for the humane treatment of animals? For example, a kitten, a bird and a dog are in several scenes with fireworks blowing up. How did they keep the animals calm during the loud noises? Did they use deaf animals? Or stuffed animals as stand-ins when the fireworks were shooting off?
    • The Vanderhof family and all the others who lived in the house supposedly were devoted to having fun and being happy, but did that also apply to Rheba and Donald? They seem to be servants, but it wasn't clear if they were employees of the family or if they also just did things for fun.

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 29, 1938 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Ne mozes poneti sa sobom
    • Filming locations
      • Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,644,736 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 6 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, Spring Byington, Edward Arnold, Mischa Auer, Samuel S. Hinds, Donald Meek, and Ann Miller in You Can't Take It with You (1938)
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