You Can't Take It with You

You Can't Take it With You was an important example of the category of end-of-depression heart warming movies made by Frank Capra in the 1930s. It's a 1938 romance about two families from the opposite side of just about everything, whose lives are disrupted by Cupid.

The movie is based on a popular play by George S. Kaufman, and the cast included Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, Jimmy Stewart, Edward Arnold, Spring Byington, and Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson. Among the many uncredited bit players we find the celebrated dance instructor Arthur Murray.

The movie earned Capra the Best Picture Oscar as producer, and the Best Director Oscar.

Although it won no other Oscars it had five nominations.

• Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Spring Byington
• Best Cinematography - Joseph Walker
• Best Film Editing - Gene Havlick
• Best Sound, Recording - John P. Livadary (Columbia SSD)
• Best Writing, Screenplay - Robert Riskin

---

You Can't Take It With You is a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by George S. Kaufman about a house full of dreamers, anarchists, and other lovable losers presided over by their indulgent and loving grandfather. Also a notable film of 1938 with Lionel Barrymore as the patriarch. It ends with a grand, accidental fireworks explosion.