The first of the big social comedies of the thirties, MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN demonstrates the victory of small town innocence and good intention over big city greed and sophistication. Longfellow Deeds (Gary Cooper) is a shy, slow country man of few words but much American wisdom. He is a greeting card poet who inherits $20 million and winds up on trial for his sanity after trying to give it away to the unemployed.

Frank Capra won an Academy Award for his superb direction, the secret of which is perhaps his intimate rapport with actors.