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Frank Capra

Birth Name:
Francesco Rosario Capra
Birth Place:
Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy
Profession
Director, Producer, Writer, Actor, Soundtrack, Editor, Assistant director, Animation department
Frank Capra

Fast Facts

  • Received the Distinguished Service Medal in 1945 for directing and co-directing a lauded series of morale-boosting films for the U․S․ Army called "Why We Fight․"
  • Graduated from the California Institute of Technology with a degree in chemical engineering in 1918
  • Directed his first silent film for Columbia Pictures in 1927 and made his first talkie in 1929
  • Got his start when he answered a help-wanted ad for a movie director in 1924 and convinced the San Francisco producer that he was experienced, even though he had never seen a movie before
  • Wrote comedy for vaudeville star Harry Langdon before breaking into silent film
  • Quote: "If I couldn't make films the way I wanted them, I didn't want to make them at all․ I collaborate with thousands, really, but not by committee․ One man has to make the decisions fast, not by logic but gut feeling ․․․ and it should be the director․"
  • Quote: "The love of people ․․․ the freedom of each individual and the equal importance of each individual (are) the principle on which I based each of my films․"
  • Quote: "[on his archive at Wesleyan] "I have nothing to hide from anyone․ Let people make of these things what they will, because what they will make of them will tell us not only who I am, but who and what they are․""
  • Co-founded the Screen Directors Guild, which would eventually become the Directors Guild of America
  • Known for his widespread influence on the film industry in the '30s and '40s, as well as his work on the iconic films "It's a Wonderful Life," "It Happened One Night," "You Can't Take It With You" and "Mr․ Smith Goes to Washington․"
  • Served as the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences from 1935 to 1938

Awards

  • 1932Audience Referendum - IN-COMPETITION:Nominated
  • 1934Oscar - Best Director:Nominated
  • 1934Mussolini Cup - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
  • 1935Oscar - Best Director:Winner
  • 1935Mussolini Cup - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
  • 1936Mussolini Cup - Best Foreign Film:Nominated
  • 1936Special RecommendationWinner
  • 1937Oscar - Best Director:Winner
  • 1938NYFCC Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 1939Oscar - Best Director:Winner
  • 1940Oscar - Best Director:Nominated
  • 1946NYFCC Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 1947Oscar - Best Director:Nominated
  • 1947Golden Globe - Best Director:Winner
  • 1960DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures:Nominated
  • 1962DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures:Nominated
  • 2001PGA Hall of Fame - Motion PicturesWinner
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