In this star-studded depression era classic of good-hearted poor folks vs. heartless moneygrubbing rich people, the stage is set when a munitions factory wants to expand (how evil can you get???), but it will mean razing and redeveloping 10 blocks or so and destroying a whole neighborhood of poor but good hearted folks.
The lynchpin property is owned by a cantankerous but lovable old coot who is the only person who can hold out against the big money guy. Jimmy Stewart, Jean Arthur, …, and Lionel Barrymore as the cantankerous but lovable old coot. A huge cast of characters, and I do mean characters round this film out.
This is the movie that got me started thinking about Evil Developer Movies as a theme, and it’s just great!
Best Picture, 1939 and
Frank Capra, Best Director