Between 1922 and 1961, Frank Capra directed 36 feature-length films (34 of which survive) and 16 documentaries.
It’s a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and It Happened One Night are often cited among the greatest films ever made.
Filmography
Silent films
1922 Fultah Fisher’s Boarding House Fireside Productions Mildred Owens/Ethan Allen/Olaf Skavlan short film; directorial debut
1926 The Strong Man, Harry Langdon Corporation Harry Langdon
1927 Long Pants Harry Langdon Corporation Harry Langdon
For the Love of Mike, Robert Kane Productions, Claudette Colbert-Ben Lyon lost
1928
That Certain Thing Columbia Viola Dana
So This is Love? Columbia Shirley Mason
The Matinee Idol Columbia Bessie Love / Johnnie Walker
The Way of the Strong, Columbia, Mitchell Lewis, Alice Day, William Norton Bailey
Say It with Sables, Columbia, Helene Chadwick, Francis X. Bushman, Margaret Livingston; lost
Submarine Columbia Jack Holt / Ralph Graves / Dorothy Revier
The Power of the Press Columbia Douglas Fairbanks Jr. / Jobyna Ralston
Sound films
1929
The Younger Generation Columbia Ricardo Cortez partially silent
The Donovan Affair Columbia Jack Holt lost soundtrack
Flight Columbia Jack Holt / Ralph Graves
1930
Ladies of Leisure. Columbia, Barbara Stanwyck, Ralph Graves
Rain or Shine Columbia Joe Cook
1931
Dirigible Columbia Jack Holt / Ralph Graves / Fay Wray
The Miracle Woman Columbia Barbara Stanwyck
Platinum Blonde Columbia Loretta Young / Robert Williams / Jean Harlow
1932
Forbidden, Columbia Barbara Stanwyck, Adolphe Menjou
American Madness Columbia Walter Huston
1933
The Bitter Tea of General Yen Columbia Barbara Stanwyck / Nils Asther
Lady for a Day Columbia May Robson / Warren William / Guy Kibbee
1934 It Happened One Night Columbia Clark Gable / Claudette Colbert
Broadway Bill Columbia Warner Baxter / Myrna Loy
1936 Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Columbia Gary Cooper / Jean Arthur
1937 Lost Horizon Columbia Ronald Colman / Jane Wyatt
1938 You Can’t Take It With You Columbia Lionel Barrymore / Jean Arthur / James Stewart
1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Columbia James Stewart / Jean Arthur
1941 Meet John Doe Frank Capra Productions Gary Cooper / Barbara Stanwyck
1943 Why We Fight: Prelude to War U.S. War Department Documentary / Co-directed with Anatole Litvak
Why We Fight: The Nazis Strike U.S. War Department Documentary / Short film / Co-directed with Anatole Litvak
Why We Fight: Divide and Conquer U.S. War Department Documentary / Co-directed with Anatole Litvak
Why We Fight: The Battle of Britain Warner Bros. Documentary / Co-directed with Anthony Veiller
Why We Fight: The Battle of Russia U.S. War Department Documentary / Co-directed with Anatole Litvak
1944
Why We Fight: The Battle of China U.S. War Department Documentary / Co-directed with Anatole Litvak
Tunisian Victory U.S. War Department Documentary / Co-directed with Hugh Stewart
The Negro Soldier U.S. War Department Documentary / Capra is producer only; Stuart Heisler, director
Arsenic and Old Lace [2] Warner Bros. Cary Grant / Priscilla Lane
1945
Your Job in Germany U.S. War Department Documentary / Short film
Know Your Enemy: Japan U.S. War Department Documentary / Co-directed with Joris Ivens
Two Down and One to Go U.S. War Department Documentary / Short film
Why We Fight: War Comes to America U.S. War Department Documentary / Co-directed with Anatole Litvak
1946
It’s a Wonderful Life Liberty Films James Stewart / Donna Reed
1948
State of the Union Liberty Films Spencer Tracy / Katharine Hepburn
1950
Riding High Paramount Pictures Bing Crosby Remake of Broadway Bill
1951
Here Comes the Groom Paramount Pictures Bing Crosby / Jane Wyman
1956
Our Mr. Sun Bell Laboratories Eddie Albert / Lionel Barrymore Educational documentary / Producer and writer
1957
Hemo the Magnificent Bell Laboratories Richard Carlson / Dr. Frank Baxter / Mel Blanc Educational documentary / Producer and writer
The Strange Case of the Cosmic Rays, Bell Laboratories Educational docu
1958
The Unchained Goddess Bell Laboratories Richard Carlson Educational documentary / Producer and writer
1959
A Hole in the Head Sincap Productions, Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson First color film
1961
Pocketful of Miracles, Franton Production, Glenn Ford, Hope Lange, Bette Davis; Remake of Lady for a Day
Academy Awards and Nominations
1933 Lady for a Day 4 0 Best Actress for May Robson (nom)
1934 It Happened One Night 5 5 Best Actor for Clark Gable
Best Actress for Claudette Colbert
1936 Mr. Deeds Goes to Town 5 1 Best Actor for Gary Cooper (nom)
1937 Lost Horizon 7 2 Best Supporting Actor for H. B. Warner (nom)
1938 You Can’t Take It With You 7 2 Supporting Actress, Spring Byington (nom)
1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 11 1 Best Actor for James Stewart (nom)
Best Supporting Actor for Harry Carey (nom)
Best Supporting Actor for Claude Rains (nom)
1941 Meet John Doe 1 0
1942 Prelude to War 1 1 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
1943 The Battle of Russia 1 0 Oscar Award for Documentary Feature (nom)
1946 It’s a Wonderful Life 5 0 Best Actor for James Stewart (nom)
1951 Here Comes the Groom 2 1
1959 A Hole in the Head 1 1
1961 Pocketful of Miracles 1 0 Best Supporting Actor for Peter Falk (nom)
