Reply #4: Capra did a move in the 30s which was a precursor to "Life" [View All]

[ashling]

called "American Madness" with Walter Huston as the head of a bank that was having trouble with his board of directors. They are leery of his willingness to loan money to people in need and they want him to step down so they can sell to NY Trust During the squabble, a bank officer was forced to allow the bank to be robbed by crooks who held his gambling note. He had the blame shifted to the head teller(Pat O'Brien) (who had been in prison, but given a second chance by Houston) the word gets out and there is a run on the bank. It looks like Houston is going to be fired, and the Bank sold until everybody finds out what trouble he is in and there is a run on the bank to deposit money!


Huston's character makes some very prescient statements about lending to keep the economy going and what will happen if bank's stop lending. I wish I could remember those lines

a great film!