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Meet John Doe is a 1941 American comedy-drama film, directed and co-written by Frank Capra, which stars Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward Arnold. The movie tells the story of a newspaper columnist who, desperate to keep her job, fabricates a letter from a fictional unemployed man named John Doe, who threatens to jump off City Hall's roof in protest of social ills in America. This plot sets in motion a series of events that transform John Doe into a national hero, inspiring a mass movement of people who band together under the philosophy of the common man.

The film begins with Ann Mitchell (Barbara Stanwyck), a newspaper columnist who has been fired from her job. Desperate to keep her position and facing an uncertain future, she creates a fictional character named John Doe, who represents the common man, and writes a letter under his name, in which she blames the system for the ills of society and suggests that people should stand together to fight for their rights. The letter, published in the newspaper where Ann works, becomes an instant sensation, and John Doe becomes a symbol of hope for the working class.

Soon, people from all over the country start contacting Ann, asking to join John Doe's movement. To keep up the momentum, Ann decides to hire a man to pose as John Doe and give speeches to crowds. Gary Cooper plays Long John Willoughby, a former baseball player who is hired to play the part of John Doe. Long John is initially reluctant to get involved in the scheme but soon empathizes with the people's problems and begins to take his role seriously.

As John Doe's movement gains momentum, local politicians and businessmen become worried, seeing it as a threat to their interests. One of them, a wealthy newspaper publisher named D.B. Norton (Edward Arnold), decides to manipulate the movement and turn it into a political tool for his own purposes. He convinces John Doe to create a political party, with Norton himself as its leader. Moreover, Norton uses John Doe's popularity to garner his own political ambitions, leading to a complete shift in the direction of John's original message.

In the midst of these political maneuvers, Ann and Long John become increasingly suspicious of Norton and his motives. They try to stop him from using John Doe and his followers as puppets in his self-serving political agenda. In the end, the truth about Norton is exposed, and John Doe delivers a rousing speech that inspires the people to fight for what is right and fair.

Meet John Doe is a thought-provoking film that explores themes of the American Dream, societal inequality, and the power of the media in shaping public opinion. The film highlights how people can be manipulated and used for political and economic interests. It also delves deeper into the loss of identity in a mass movement, the start of which is intended to fight against social ills but eventually loses sight of its initial objective.

Gary Cooper delivers an outstanding performance as Long John Willoughby. His portrayal of the character's transformation from a cynical, self-pitying tramp into a devoted advocate for justice and the common man is convincing and heartfelt. Barbara Stanwyck is equally convincing as Ann, a smart and capable woman struggling to keep her job in a male-dominated industry.

Edward Arnold is excellent as the manipulative D.B. Norton, successfully portraying the character's transformation from a power-hungry businessman to a corrupt politician. Arnold's performance adds another layer of depth to the film and gives it a sense of subtlety.

In conclusion, Meet John Doe is a well-crafted film with a compelling storyline, memorable characters, and insightful commentary on the nature of politics and society. Its themes remain relevant, making it a classic tale that resonates with the issues of our time.

Meet John Doe is a 1941 comedy with a runtime of 2 hours and 2 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6.