Rare Capra work, and one of the few films to properly utilize the genius of the astonishing Walter Huston. Central theme of stressed-out bank president Huston as idealistic individual against the cruelty of the faceless crowd, struck a blow against Hooverism and for FDR's New Deal.
Like the single-set interiors of GRAND HOTEL, Capra filmed AMERICAN MADNESS totally within an enormous bank set, all the action taking place inside board rooms and vaults and behind tellers' cages, moving his camera with fluid truck and dolly shots, boom shots, and quick cuts that keep up the
already established frenetic pace. To further create this sense of urgency, Capra cut out all dissolves (a device used to indicate the passing of time). He overlapped speeches and then had his actors hurry through their actions and dialogue.
AMERICAN MADNESS captured authentically the hysteria of the Great Depression; nor does the gratuitous romantic subplot mar its otherwise noble intentions. leave a comment