Capra, Frank

Capra, Frank
(1897-1991)
   Frank Capra was born in Sicily, and his family moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1903. Capra obtained a degree in chemical engineering from Throop college of Technology in 1918, and served briefly in the army until the end of World War I. He began to direct silent movies in the early 1920s, and moved to Hollywood in 1923, where he directed a number of Harry Langdon films. In 1928, Capra began working for Columbia Pictures. After a number of average successes, he achieved a major breakthrough with It Happened One Night (1934), starring Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. The film won five Oscars, including best director. In 1936, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town with Gary Cooper was another prize winner, with an Oscar for best direction. More awards and nominations came for You Can’t Take It with You (1938) and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939).
   Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Capra volunteered for service in the army and became head of the Army Pictorial Service. He directed and produced the propaganda series Why We Fight, and one of the films, Prelude to War, won the Oscar for Best Documentary in 1942. Capra was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Order of the British Empire, and French Legion of Merit in recognition of his services.
   In 1947, Capra produced and directed It’s A Wonderful Life (1947), starring James Stewart. Although not an immediate success, the film became recognized as a classic and is shown regularly at Christmas on television across the world. After a number of unnoteworthy films and television documentaries, Capra made A Hole in the Head with Frank Sinatra in 1959. His last film, Pocketful of Miracles (1961), was neither a commercial nor critical success, and Capra retired in 1966. He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Film Institute in 1982.
   See also Cinema.

Historical Dictionary of the Roosevelt–Truman Era . . 2015.

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  • Capra, Frank — born May 18, 1897, near Palermo, Sicily, Italy died Sept. 3, 1991, La Quinta, Calif., U.S. U.S. film director. At age six he immigrated with his family to the U.S. After holding various jobs in the film industry, he emerged as a major director… …   Universalium

  • Capra, Frank — ► (1897 1991) Director cinematográfico estadounidense. Su etapa de mayor celebridad se abrió con Sucedió una noche (1934), entre otras comedias amables. En los años 50 su carrera declinó. Óscar en 1935, 1937 y 1939. * * * (18 may. 1897, cerca de… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Capra,Frank — Cap·ra (kăpʹrə), Frank. 1897 1991. American filmmaker who won an Academy Award for his direction of It Happened One Night (1934), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), and You Can t Take It with You (1938). * * * …   Universalium

  • Capra — Capra, Frank …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Frank Capra — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Frank Capra Nombre real Francesco Rosario Capra Nacimiento 18 de mayo de 1897 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Frank Capra Jr. — Frank Capra Jr. (* 20. März 1934 in den USA; † 19. Dezember 2007 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) war ein US amerikanischer Filmproduzent. Er war eines von drei Kindern des Regisseurs Frank Capra und seiner zweiten Frau Lou Capra. Capra war… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Frank Capra (disambiguation) — Frank Capra (1897–1991) was an Academy Award winning Italian American film director. *Frank Capra may also refer to: * Frank Capra, Jr. (1934–2007), film studio executive and son of the aforementioned Frank Capra * Frank Capra III (b.1959),… …   Wikipedia

  • CAPRA (F.) — CAPRA FRANK (1897 1991) L’itinéraire de Frank Capra est celui d’un petit Sicilien né à Palerme en 1897, arrivé aux États Unis à l’âge de six ans et désireux d’avoir un jour, selon le titre original de son autobiographie, The Name above the Title… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Frank R. Pierson — Frank Romer Pierson (* 12. Mai 1925 in Chappaqua, New York, USA) ist ein US amerikanischer Drehbuchautor, Filmregisseur und Filmproduzent. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Kurzbiografie 2 Filmografie 2.1 Autor …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Frank Romer Pierson — (* 12. Mai 1925 in Chappaqua, New York, USA) ist ein US amerikanischer Drehbuchautor, Filmregisseur und Filmproduzent. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Kurzbiografie 2 Filmografie 2.1 Autor …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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