Meet John Doe is one of director Frank Capra’s less-remembered flicks, but for my money it belongs right up there with It’s A Wonderful Life and Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. This flick from 1941 stars Gary Cooper as a hobo who ace reporter Barbara Stanwyck turns into a national hero. This movie is a powerful reminder that while times change, people don’t – which will either depress or humble you, depending on your disposition. 

A Hunter history lesson – I had to review A Man Called Horse for a “Native Americans In Film” course in college. The movie is so-so, but is notable for its fairly historically accurate representation of the brutal Mandan “Sun Dance” ritual. Look it up, or watch the movie, but it’ll make you cringe more than anything you’ve ever seen in Saw. It also stars Richard Harris, so if you’re a Harry Pot-Head who always wanted to see Dumbledore in the buff, well, now’s your chance. 

I would say nobody has ever played drunk better than W.C. Fields, except I suspect half the time he actually was drunk. TCM is having a Fields Day on Friday, but if you can only catch one, I’d recommend The Bank Dick. Somehow, comedies about amoral assholes are even funnier when they’re 70-plus years old.