‘The Incident’ Transformed This Hollywood Producer: A Thanksgiving Story

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” — Hebrews 13:2

Frank Capra (1897-1991) was the Oscar-winning Italian-American filmmaker of “It Happened One Night,” “You Can’t Take It with You,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” and the most famous of all, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

He worked with some of the greatest actors of all time, including Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Jimmy Stewart, Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, Bing Crosby, Betty Davis, Glenn Ford,
Ann-Margret and Joan Crawford.

An incident early in his career changed his life forever.

It happened soon after he won five Oscars in 1934 for the surprise hit, “It Happened One Night,” starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.

Capra was on cloud nine on Oscar night, and he was only 37 years old. “I had scaled the Mount Everest of Filmlandia,” he said in his autobiography, “The Name Above the Title,” which I highly recommend.

But then, he became depressed. “All roads from Everest lead downward,” he thought. What would he do for an encore? He became ill. His fever rose, he lost weight and his doctors feared he had tuberculosis.

The Mysterious ‘Little Faceless Man’ That Changed His Life

During this ordeal, he wrote the following:

“Being an extraordinary person, it was fitting that I die of an extraordinary ailment. Maybe the gods plan it that way for their favorite sons…”

Capra had a few friends take care of him at home: Max Winslow, a song-publishing partner of Irving Berlin, and his wife. He writes:

“Max and his wife, Tillie, spent a great deal of time with Lu [Capra’s wife] while I was in bed. They were dear friends. Lu loved them. We went fishing with them in the St. Lawrence River every year. But they were both Christian Scientists and I kidded the pants off Max about it…

“About the tenth day, when I was fading fast, Max came in early in the morning to tell them there was a gentleman in the library to see me.

‘Max, look, I’ve got three doctors already.’

‘No doctor, Frank. Just a man.’

‘Max, if it’s one of your voodoo guys, throw him, will you?’

‘Frank, he’s just a nice gentleman. See him for one minute, just for my sake.’

‘Okay. For your sake, and for one minute. Bring him in.’

‘He won’t see you in bed.’

‘What?!!’

‘He’s just across the hall in the library. Get up.’

“Max helped me out of bed, put a robe on me, and pushed me toward the door.

‘Max, hold me up. The room’s swimming.’

‘You can make it. Go on. I’ll sit here and play the radio.’

“I was so mad that I could spit. But I was also intrigued about a voodoo treatment. I made it across the hall and into our second-floor den. A little man rose from a chair; completely bald, wearing thick glasses — as faceless a man as you will ever see. There were no introductions. He simply said: ‘Please sit down, sir.’

“I sat down, weak as a cat, and just as curious. The little man sat opposite and quietly said: ‘Mr. Capra, you’re a coward.’

‘A what?’

‘You, sir, you can talk to hundreds of millions, for two hours — and in the dark.’

“‘A coward, sir. But infinitely sadder — you are an offense to God. You hear that man in there?’ Max had turned on the radio in my room. Hitler’s raspy voice came shrieking out of it. ‘That evil man is desperately trying to poison the world with hate. How many can he talk to? 15 million — 20 million? And for how long — 20 minutes? You, sir, you can talk to hundreds of millions, for two hours — and in the dark. The talents you have, Mr. Capra, are not your own, not self-acquired. God gave you those talents; they are His gifts to you, to use for His purpose. And when you don’t use the gifts of God blessed you with — you are an offense to God — and to humanity. Good day, sir.’

“The little faceless man walked out of the room and down the stair. In less than 30 seconds he had ripped me open with the truth: exposed the fetid pus of my vanities.

“I don’t know how long I sat there, fighting back hot tears of shame, before I angrily stormed back into my room on rubbery legs. Hitler was still ranting. Max smoked his pipe.

‘Turn that damn thing off… and Max, get Lu up here, right now. Please.’

“Searching for underwear in my dressing room, I saw myself in a tall mirror: a skinny old man. I jumped on the scales: I had lost thirty-four pounds.

“When Lu came in I was pulling on my trousers. The sight of her drawn, lined face was like a knife thrust.

‘Lu, get packed. We’re going Palm Springs.’…

“From the moment I tottered feebly, supported by her shoulder, into our Desert Inn cottage, the fever never returned. And, glory be, I began to gain a pound a day. What had happened? Who was that faceless little man who told me I was a coward and an offense to God? I didn’t know, never would know, never wanted to know.”

Frank Capra Makes a Series of Inspired Films

Frank Capra was a changed man, a “humble” Frank Capra, searching for films with a message. He went on to produce many great films that, although not many won any Academy Awards, did become classics such as “Lost Horizon” (1937), “You Can’t Take it With You” (1938), “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (1939), “Meet John Doe” (1941), “Arsenic and Old Lace” (1944) and the most famous of them all, “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946). His last major film was “Pocketful of Miracles” (1961).

Capra also did his part to counter the influence of Hitler and the Nazis, with such films as “Prelude to War” (1942) and “Why We Fight” (1943).

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Upcoming Appearance

FREE LECTURE — University Club of Winter Park, Florida, Monday, Dec. 4: I’ll be speaking on “It All Started with Adam: Would Adam Smith, the founder of free-market capitalism, be happy or distraught if he returned today for his 300th birthday?” The University Club is located at 841 N. Park Ave. in Winter Park. Refreshments at 3:30 p.m., lecture at 4 p.m. This lecture is open to the public without charge. See you there.

You Nailed It!

A Victory for Liberty in Argentina

“We shall never change our political leaders until we change the people who elect them.”

I’m given credit on the Internet for having said the above quote, but I’m sure someone else said it before I did. Perhaps Leonard Read or Russell Kirk.

But last week’s election in Argentina confirmed this saying. The citizens of Argentina were finally fed up with the Peronistas who had ruled this once-great country since the 1940s. A hundred years ago, Argentina was one of the richest nations in the world, but after Juan Peron (1897-1974) took over the presidency in 1946, he and his followers have led the country down a disaster road of socialism, protectionism, runaway inflation and corruption.

The public had had enough and voted for the libertarian economist Javier Milei, an up-and-coming star, who wants to take a buzzsaw to government spending and bureaucracy, and is even considering replacing the Argentine peso with the U.S. dollar. Other countries such as Ecuador have dollarized successfully.

Milei may not accomplish everything he wants in his home country, given that his political party remains a minority in the legislature. But it’s a step in the right direction.

Milei is a student of Milton Friedman and Murray Rothbard and has written numerous articles in favor of limited government, laissez-faire and the gold standard.

“For more background on Peron and the new Milei revolution, see The Roar of the Argentinian Lion – by Axel Kaiser (discoursemagazine.com)

John Maynard Keynes once said, “Practical men who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist.”

Indeed, that’s why I write free-market textbooks, to influence students who will someday vote or run for government. See my two latest editions of “Economic Logic” and “The Making of Modern Economics” at http://www.skousenbooks.com.

Yours for peace, prosperity and liberty, AEIOU,

Mark Skousen