Meet John Doe (1941)
Cassie Vogelpohl
Reporter Ann Mitchell (Barbara Stanwyck) is laid off after the newspaper she works for is bought out. Angrily, she types up her final column before leaving, in the form of a letter supposedly sent from a man named John Doe who is disgruntled over losing his job and who claims he is going to commit suicide by jumping off a building on Christmas Eve. The paper prints the column and there is uproar in the town because it seems that everyone can relate to John Doe’s sentiments. A reinstated Ann suggests they should hire a man to play John Doe. John Willoughby (Gary Cooper), a shy former baseball player who is down on his luck, signs a deal with the paper. Numerous newspapers are printed with headlines of John Doe’s protests at the unfairness of the world and John quickly becomes a media sensation. After giving a moving radio speech, John runs away because he fears he may lose his baseball career due to the publicity he is getting. Ann finds him in a small town after he is recognized. She tries to convince him to stay with the story because of his influence over the common people. Citizens of the small town give John a moving account of the positive impact he has had on their community. John decides to return to his persona and travels on a lecture tour.
The story takes a turn when Norton, owner of the newspaper, tells Ann that he wants John to announce a new third political party and Norton wants to be the presidential candidate for it. Ann is alarmed because she realizes that Norton’s plan will not be for the good of the people, but rather will benefit big business types like Norton himself. John overhears Norton's political plotting as well as his toast to Ann, and furiously confronts them. Later that night there is a large convention held in John Doe’s name. John is about to speak and come clean with the whole story, when newsboys run in and distribute papers saying John is a fake. The papers were created by Norton in order to head off John in calling out his plan. The mob of people become angry and John runs off disgraced. Time passes and on Christmas Eve Ann is afraid that John, depressed by the events that occurred, will attempt to jump off the building, as his persona had claimed he would do. John Doe does in fact show up and approach the edge of the roof. He leans over the edge, but he is stopped when Norton steps from the shadows, telling him that if he jumps his suicide will be for nothing. He goes to jump again but Ann rushes in and pleads with him and confesses her love. John finally gives in and carries Ann down the stairs.
Meet John Doe is
representative of Hollywood films that offer entertainment to moviegoers, but with
a political theme. Although this film
portrays corruption within the American political machine, it conforms to