Frank Capra

Frank Capra (May 18, 1897 to September 3, 1991) was an Italian born American film director who became one of Hollywood's most influential directors of the 1930s and 1940s. His films specialized in heartwarming stories that celebrated ordinary people standing up to corruption and celebrated American ideals. He won three Academy Awards for Best Director from six nominations, served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1935 to 1939, and helped found and lead the Directors Guild of America. His best known films include It Happened One Night, the first film to sweep the five top Academy Awards, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, You Can't Take It with You, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and It's a Wonderful Life, which was a commercial disappointment on release but later became a beloved holiday classic. During World War II he produced the Why We Fight documentary series for the United States Army.