This Weekend’s LRPA After Dark Feature:
1941’s “Meet John Doe”
Join Lakes Region Public Access Television at 10:30 p.m. this
Friday and Saturday night (December 29 & 30) for this week’s
“LRPA After Dark” encore presentation of 1941’s romantic comedy
“Meet John Doe,” starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck.
In
“Meet John Doe,” the viewer is introduced to columnist Ann
Mitchell (Stanwyck), who has been laid off from her newspaper
due to budget cuts. In her last act at the paper, Ann composes
and prints a fake letter in her column from an anonymous,
down-on-his luck man who threatens to jump from the roof of City
Hall on Christmas Eve as a protest against the mistreatment of
the little man and continued societal injustices. She signs the
letter “John Doe.” The column becomes a sensation, selling
papers and creating loads of interest from the public. Everyone
wants to meet John Doe! The editor is delighted with the
sensation that the column has created, but is dismayed when Ann
reveals that the story is bogus. The two decide to hire an
unemployed man to impersonate John Doe, eventually settling on
Long John Willoughby (Cooper), a former baseball pitcher whose
bad arm has forced him out of the game and into hard times. He
is kind, quiet and a bit naïve: just the man for the job. John
Doe’s story and popularity begin to spread, and local “John Doe”
political clubs begin to spring up around the country. At first,
Willoughby enjoys the attention and perks that come with being
John Doe, but soon starts to see that many people want to use
him for their own benefit. The newspaper’s publisher, D.B.
Norton (supporting actor Edward Arnold), wants to use Doe’s
popularity to run for political office. When Willoughby realizes
what’s happening, he faces a moral dilemma: should he expose
Norton and condemn his plan? If he does so, what happens to his
own credibility and his future?
Directed by Frank Capra, “Meet John Doe” is considered to be one
of the director’s finest films. The plot’s concerns were a
favorite of the director: how does an ordinary man make his way,
against all odds, in a difficult situation? Film historians see
this movie as the final film in Capra’s trilogy about American
Individualism, the other two being “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town” and
“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” It is Capra’s powerful
indictment of the dangers of Fascism and “group think.” “Meet
John Doe” was huge success with movie goers and critics alike.
It was one of the top grossing films of the year, and helped to
cement Gary Cooper’s status as a film legend. Maybe you’ve never
had the pleasure of seeing “Meet John Doe.” If that’s true, then
meet us on the couch, grab your popcorn and join LRPA after dark
for this heartwarming “dramedy” from the past.
Obituaries
William E. Brown, Sr.
William E. Brown, Sr., 77, of Loudon, NH, passed away peacefully
after a brief illness, December 18, 2017 at the CRVNA hospice
house in Concord.
Born April 25, 1940 in Northwood, NH, the son of the late Clyde
and Florence (Wells) Downs and Richard Brown, he was a 1959
graduate of Coe-Brown Academy. He worked for Rivco in Penacook,
NH for 40 years. After his retirement, he worked part-time for
NHMS. He was also a volunteer firefighter for 20 plus years for
the Loudon Fire department. He was a longtime member of the
Northwood Crank pullers snowmobile club.
He
loved NASCAR and enjoyed traveling to various tracks. He and his
predeceased wife, Karen, were also avid campers.
He
was predeceased by his wife of 37 years, Karen (Beard) Brown, in
1998. Also, two brothers Carroll Downes and Roland Brown. He
leaves behind his companion of 17 years, Carole Martin of
Pembroke, NH; four children: son William E. Brown Jr. and his
wife Terri ( Lucier) Brown of Concord, NH and daughter Gail
(Gibeau) Dertorossian and husband Benon Dertorossian of Waltham
MA; son Scott Brown of Loudon and daughter April (Brown) Eastman
and husband Charles Eastman of Penacook, NH. He also leaves
behind ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and
numerous friends and family members.
In
lieu of flowers donations can be made in his name to Loudon Fire
Department and the CRVNA hospice.
A
celebration of life will be held on Tuesday January 2nd, 2018 at
Charlie’s Barn in Loudon, 29 So. Village Road, Loudon.
A
private family burial will be held in the spring.
