Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Page #24

Synopsis: Longfellow Deeds (Gary Cooper), a resident of small-town Vermont, leads a simple life until he inherits a vast fortune from a late uncle. Soon, unscrupulous lawyer John Cedar (Douglas Dumbrille) brings Deeds to New York City, where the unassuming heir is the object of much media attention. When wily reporter Babe Bennett (Jean Arthur) gains the trust and affection of Deeds, she uses her position to publish condescending articles about him -- but are her feelings for him really that shallow?
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Production: Columbia Pictures
  Won 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations.
 
IMDB:
8.0
Rotten Tomatoes:
89%
NOT RATED
Year:
1936
115 min
544 Views


BABE:

Probably as small as Mandrake Falls.

LONGFELLOW:

(finding a kindred

soul)

Gosh! What do you know about that!

Babe leans her head back in a reminiscent mood. We get a

feeling that, for the moment, she has forgotten she is

Babe Bennett, out on a story.

BABE:

Ah, it's a beautiful little town,

too. A row of poplar trees right

along Main Street. Always smelled

as if it just had a bath.

MED. CLOSE SHOT - THE TWO

Longfellow watches her face intently.

BABE:

I've often thought about going

back.

LONGFELLOW:

You have?

BABE:

Oh, yes. I used to have a lot of

fun there when I was a little girl.

I used to love to go fishing with

my father. That's funny. He was a

lot like you, my father was. Talked

like you, too. Sometimes he'd let

me hold the line while he smoked -

and we'd just sit there for hours.

And after awhile, for no reason,

I'd go over and kiss him and sit

in his lap. He never said very

much but once I remember him saying:

"No matter what happens, honey,

don't complain."

LONGFELLOW:

He sounds like a person worth while

knowing.

There is a pause while Longfellow watches her, and she is

lost in thought.

BABE:

(continuing)

He played in the town band, too.

LONGFELLOW:

He did? I play the tuba—

BABE:

Yeah, I know.

LONGFELLOW:

What did he play?

BABE:

The drums. He taught me to play

some.

LONGFELLOW:

He did?

BABE:

Yes. I can do "Swanee River." Would

you like to hear me?

LONGFELLOW:

(enthusiastically)

Sure!

147. MEDIUM SHOT

She picks up a couple of branches. With the two sticks she

drums on the bench seat - and sings "Swanee River."

When she is finished, though clearly delighted, he shows

her a long face of mock-disappointment.

BABE:

Oh, I suppose you could do better.

LONGFELLOW:

Sure. I can sing "Humoresque."

BABE:

"Humoresque"? I'll bet you don't

even know how it goes.

LONGFELLOW:

Sure. Look! You sing it over again,

and I'll do "Humoresque" with you.

BABE:

It had better be good.

She starts again, and he sings "Humoresque" in counterpoint

to her drumming.

CUT TO:

EXT. PARK - BEHIND SOME BUSHES

148. CLOSE SHOT - BOB AND FRANK

They wait with their camera. When they hear the singing,

they look up, and then at each other in surprise.

BOB:

I wonder if they'd want to make it

a quartet.

FRANK:

Shhh!

149. MEDIUM SHOT

Longfellow and Babe. They are having a grand time with

their singing. A policeman saunters into the scene and

stands watching them for a few seconds, without their being

conscious of his presence. He smiles, shakes his head and

passes on out of scene. Over the shot we hear the low moan

of a siren in the distance.

CLOSE SHOT - THE TWO

They reach the climax of their song - and laugh joyously.

At this moment, the shrieking of the siren is nearer and

louder. Longfellow looks up quickly. Excited, he jumps up

and runs toward street. Babe looks up, surprised.

LONGFELLOW:

(as he runs off)

Fire engine! Fire engine! I want

to see how they do it. Wait for

me, will you?

151. CLOSE SHOT - BOB AND FRANK BEHIND BUSHES

Frank grabs the camera.

FRANK:

Looks like the evening is not going

to be wasted!

152. MEDIUM SHOT

They dash by the policeman, who looks up, startled.

153. LONG SHOT

As the fire engine slows down - and people are beginning

to gather. We see Longfellow running toward the truck and

hopping aboard.

MED. SHOT AT FIRE TRUCK

As Longfellow jumps on.

FRANK:

Hello - what do you want?

LONGFELLOW:

(short salute)

Captain Deeds - fire volunteer -

Mandrake Falls.

FIREMAN:

(amused)

Hi, Cap! Boys, meet the Captain!

LONG SHOT - REVERSE ANGLE

Bob and Frank running with their cameras toward Longfellow.

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Robert Riskin

Robert Riskin (March 30, 1897 – September 20, 1955) was an American Academy Award-winning screenwriter and playwright, best known for his collaborations with director-producer Frank Capra. more…

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