Frank Capra

FRANK CAPRA d1991. Italian-born American film director, producer and writer who became the creative force behind some of the major award-winning films of the 1930s and 1940s. Born in Italy and raised in Los Angeles from the age of five, his rags-to-riches story has led film historians such as Ian Freer to consider him the "American Dream personified". He became one of America's most influential directors during the 1930s, winning three Academy Awards for Best Director from six nominations, along with three other Oscar wins from nine nominations in other categories. Amongst his leading films were ; It Happened One Night (1934) / Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) / You Can't Take It with You (1938) and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). During WW2, he served in the US Army Signal Corps and produced propaganda films such as the Why We Fight series. After WW2, his career declined as his later films, such as ; It's a Wonderful Life (1946), performed poorly when they were first released. In ensuing decades, It's a Wonderful Life and other films were revisited favorably by critics. Outside of directing, he was active in the film industry, engaging in various political and social activities. He served as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, worked alongside the Writers Guild of America and was head of the Directors Guild of America. He died in California aged 94 on September 3rd 1991