I generally love Capra films, but this one, unfortunately, is a glaring exception.
The original play, written by two of the best writers of this century is a 19-character, one-room, tight, poetic, fast, funny, intimate comedy. The film by comparison is a 153-character, multiple-set, watered-down, prosaic and preachy, slow, unfunny film stocked with us-against-them grandstanding and crowd scenes. I wonder what Kaufman and Hart thought of the movie.
This film won Academy Awards for Best Film and Best Director. It was nominated for Best Screenplay and other awards. Probably the vast majority of Academy members had never seen the play because if they had, it's hard for me to believe they would be so impressed by this film.
The play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1937. The script is available in the book Three Plays by Kaufman & Hart.
If possible, see the original play before you see the film. I'm glad I did.
Two other hilarious plays by Kaufman & Hart:
Once In A Lifetime - Is the 1932 film version of this play lost? I can't find it anywhere. Apparently Singin’ in the Rain borrowed from this play.
The Man Who Came To Dinner - There was a 1972 NBC Hallmark Hall of Fame TV Special production with Orson Welles in the title role that I remember being wonderful. Is it available anywhere?
In 1983-4 there was an excellent revival on Broadway with Jason Robards heading a wonderful cast. I was lucky enough to see this production in New York. And lucky for you, a video is available.
For the benefit of search engines, here is a jumble of details: Directed by Kirk Browning – Ellis Rabb – Writing credits – Moss Hart (play) and – George S. Kaufman (play) – Elizabeth Wilson .... Penny Sycamore – Carole Androsky .... Essie Carmichael (as Carol Androsky) – Rosetta LeNoire .... Rheba – Jack Dodson .... Paul Sycamore – Bill McCutcheon .... Mr. De Pinna – Christopher Foster .... Ed Carmichael – Arthur French .... Donald – Jason Robards .... Grandpa Martin Vanderhof – Maureen Anderman .... Alice Sycamore – Orrin Reiley .... Henderson – Nicolas Surovy .... Tony Kirby – George Rose .... Boris Kolenkhov – Alice Drummond .... Gay Wellington – Richard Woods .... Anthony P. Kirby – Meg Mundy .... Mrs. Anthony P. Kirby – Page Johnson .... A man from the Department of Justice – Colleen Dewhurst .... Grand Duchess Olga Katrina – Wayne Elbert .... Jim – Jason Robards III .... Mac – Daniel A. Bohr .... producer – Ellen Krass .... executive producer (as Ellen M. Krass) – Production Design by James Tilton – Costume Design by Nancy Potts – Reed Jones .... musical staging – Ellis Rabb .... director: original stage production – Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) – Vestron Video – Great Performances – Showtime