Frank Capra filmography

Publicity photo of director Frank Capra

Frank Capra (May 5, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian American film director, producer and writer who became the creative force behind some of the major award-winning films of the 1930s and 1940s. Capra directed a total of 36 feature-length films (34 of which are known to survive) and 16 documentary films during his lifetime.

His movies It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town are often cited among the greatest films ever made.[1]

The following are the films directed by Frank Capra, along with a listing of his awards.

Filmography

Source:[2]

Films

YearTitleNotes
Silent films
1921La Visita Dell'Incrociatore Italiano Libya a San Francisco short news film; directorial debut
1922Fultah Fisher's Boarding House short film
1926The Strong Man
1927Long Pants
For the Love of Mikelost
1928That Certain Thing
So This Is Love?
The Matinee Idol
The Way of the Strong
Say It with Sableslost
Submarine
The Power of the Press
Sound films
1929The Younger Generationpartially silent
The Donovan Affairlost soundtrack
Flight
1930Ladies of Leisure
Rain or Shine
1931Dirigible
The Miracle Woman
Platinum Blonde
1932Forbidden
American Madness
1933The Bitter Tea of General Yen
Lady for a Day
1934It Happened One Night
Broadway Bill
1936Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
1937Lost Horizon
1938You Can't Take It with You
1939Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1941Meet John Doe
1944 Arsenic and Old LaceFilmed in 1941.
1946It's a Wonderful Life
1948State of the Union
1950Riding HighRemake of Broadway Bill
1951Here Comes the Groom
1956Our Mr. SunEducational documentary / Producer and writer
1957Hemo the Magnificent
The Strange Case of the Cosmic RaysEducational documentary
1958Unchained GoddessEducational documentary / Producer and writer ONLY; Carlson dir.
1959A Hole in the HeadFirst narrative color film
1961Pocketful of MiraclesFinal Theatrical Feature Film / Remake of Lady for a Day
1964Rendezvous In SpaceFinal Film

War Films

YearTitleNotes
1942Why We Fight: Prelude to WarCo-directed with Anatole Litvak
1943Why We Fight: The Nazis StrikeShort film / Co-directed with Anatole Litvak
Why We Fight: Divide and ConquerCo-directed with Anatole Litvak
Why We Fight: The Battle of BritainCo-directed with Anthony Veiller
Why We Fight: The Battle of RussiaCo-directed with Anatole Litvak
1944Why We Fight: The Battle of China
Tunisian VictoryCo-directed with Hugh Stewart
The Negro SoldierCapra is producer only; Stuart Heisler, director
1945Your Job in GermanyShort film
Two Down and One to Go
Why We Fight: War Comes to AmericaCo-directed with Anatole Litvak
Know Your Enemy: JapanCo-directed with Joris Ivens
Here Is Germany

Films directed by Capra nominated for Academy Awards

Year Film Oscar Nominations Oscar Wins Performances 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 Best Supporting Actress for 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 Academy Award for Best 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 3 0 Best Supporting Actor for Peter Falk (nom)

Awards and nominations

Year Film Award Winner
1933 Lady for a Day Outstanding Production Winfield Sheehan – Cavalcade
Best Director Frank Lloyd – Cavalcade
1934 It Happened One Night Outstanding Production check With Harry Cohn
Best Director check
1936 Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Outstanding Production Hunt Stromberg – The Great Ziegfeld
Best Director check
1937 Lost Horizon Outstanding Production Henry Blanke – The Life of Emile Zola
1938 You Can't Take It With You Outstanding Production check
Best Director check
1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Outstanding Production David O. Selznick – Gone with the Wind
Best Director Victor Fleming – Gone with the Wind
1943 Prelude to War Best Documentary check
1944 The Battle of Russia Best Documentary, Features Desert Victory
1946 It's a Wonderful Life Best Motion Picture Samuel Goldwyn – The Best Years of Our Lives
Best Director William Wyler – The Best Years of Our Lives
American Film Institute
Directors Guild of America
Golden Globe Award
Venice Film Festival
American Film Institute recognition
United States National Film Registry

References

  1. ↑ "AFI's 100 Greatest American Films of All Time" - 20.It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 26.Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) 46.It Happened One Night (1934)". American Film Institute. Retrieved January 24, 2020
  2. ↑ "Frank Capra: 10 essential films". BFI. May 18, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2025.