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We're not just here to tell you what's happening, but why. From me, Emily Maitlis. And me, John Sopal. With Global's award-winning podcast, the News Agents dropping daily, covering everything you need to know about politics and current affairs. And the News Agents USA.
Listening to the news agents on America's number one podcast network, iHeart. Open your free iHeart app and search the news agents to start listening. This is Lee Habib, and this is Our American Stories, the show where America is the star and the American people. Coming to you from the city where the West begins. Fort Worth, Texas.
Our next story is called Mr. Capra's Wonderful Life. It's a story for the ages. The man who brought iconic classics to the big screen. Including his three Academy Award winners.
It happened one night, Mr. Deeds goes to town. and you can't take it with you. has a life story that's as remarkable as any movie he'd ever made. including mister Smith Goes to Washington and his nineteen forty six classic, It's a wonderful life.
Uh oh oh oh. I wish I had a million dollars. What's wrong? Frank Camper's origin story is itself the Classic American story. and a classic love story too.
not just his love of people and the medium he would come to master. film. but his love of America. his love of the country that adopted him. Indeed, Camper so loved his country that he served at the height of his career.
directly under Chief of Staff General George Marshall. the most senior officer commanding the US Army, To help bring to life a seven-episode documentary series called Why We Fight. During World War II, The films were commissioned by our government to boost the morale of Americans in the fight overseas. and millions of Americans at home. One film in this series, Prelude to War, won the 1942 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
By 1945, the year Capra was discharged as a colonel, 54 million Americans had seen the films. Camper for his service to his country. was awarded the Legion of Merit and Distinguished Service Medals. Francesco Rosario Capra's love affair with America began not too many years after he was born. in eighteen ninety seven in Palermo, Sicily.
Capra was named after his grandfather. who built and designed churches for a living. The youngest of seven children, his parents, Roman Catholics both. Immigrated to the United States in 1903, ending up in Los Angeles. Like millions of immigrants before and after, The campers didn't come here to change America.
They came to have America change them. and change the cappers' lives for the better America did. How much did Camper love his country? In 1982, while being honored in Los Angeles by the American Film Institute with their Lifetime Achievement Award, Capper seized the opportunity to thank the American people. And America itself for the opportunities and freedom his adopted country afforded him.
In a speech in front of the titans of the movie industry, Capra started by thanking the many people who guided him along the way. great writers, actors, and executives alike. He then explained the secret to his success as a storyteller. The art of Frank Campra is very, very simple. It's the love of people.
And add two simple ideals. to this love of people. The freedom of each individual And the equal importance of each individual. And you have the principle of upon which I based All my films. This was not mere sentiment, Caper was expressing, and he knew more than most how to summon sentiment in his storytelling.
Pop, you want a shock? I think you're a great guy. Those words sprang from a deeper well. from his Catholic worldview and the ideals and governing principles. the country he loved.
But Capra wasn't finished, saving the best part of his speech and the most personal part of his speech for the last. It started humbly and evocatively. An occasion like this And we all get together to pay homage. to our craft. It forces me to think.
How in the hell did I get up here?
Well Nearly 79 years ago, I celebrated my sixth birthday. and the black, dark hole of a creaking ship crammed with wretching, praying, terrorized immigrants. Thirteen days of misery And then the ship stopped. And my father grabbed me and carried me up the steep iron stairs to the deck. And then he shouted, Chico, Look at that.
At first, all I saw was a deck full of people on their knees crying and rejoicing. My father cried, That's the greatest light since the sire of Bethlehem. I looked up. And there was the statue of a great lady, Taller than a church steeple. Holding a lamp over the land we were about to enter, And my father said, It's the light of freedom.
Jico. Remember that. Freedom. The audience was mesmerized as Caper recounted this pivotal moment in the life of his family in vivid detail. put in the audience on that ship.
as only a master story teller can do. Caper continued with stars like Bob Hope and Betty Davis. on the edge of their seats. and the edge of tears. Capra closed things out, looking up to the heavens to address his deceased family members, and this time, It was Capra himself.
who was on the edge of tears.
So Finally. There is something I must say. to some other members of my family. And I believe that they will hear me. Mara?
Papa? Big brother bed. Josephine, Tony, little sister Anne, Remember the day we arrived at the Southern Pacific station? Here in Los Angeles, And Papa and Mama kissed the ground. Look.
The American Film Institute has given me Its Life Achiever Award. And for that, I am thanking them. And all my friends We have come here. But For America. Just for living here.
I kissed the ground. Thank you very much. Caper's words were preceded. By then President Ronald Reagan's words.
So the young fellow sitting at at uh Frank's table One of Frank's dearest friends. Bob Hope, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you very much. I wouldn't have missed this affair for our man. Frank.
And there's another friend of yours that sent a telegram. and they've asked me to read it. Said, dear Frank, You have recognized and helped us to recognize All that is so wonderful about the American character. Ronald Reagan. Camper's films also helped us recognize the character of Jesus.
Here are words that Capra told to an interviewer in 1960. Movies should be a positive expression that there is hope, love, mercy, justice, and charity. A filmmaker has the unrestricted privilege of haranguing an audience for two hours stretches. The chance to influence public thinking for good. or for evil.
It is therefore his responsibility to emphasize the positive qualities of humanity. by showing the triumph of the individual. over adversities. Capra died peacefully in his sleep at his home in La Cuenta, California. In 1991, At the age of 94, In the country he loved, surrounded by the people he loved.
And the God he loved too. They say that art mirrors life. But sometimes Life. Mirrors art. That, at least, was Camper's hope.
The headline to his New York Times obituary said it best. Frank Capra whose films helped America keep faith in herself. He's dead at 94. The story of the wonderful life of Frank Camper. An immigrant story and love story for the ages.
here. on our American stories. Stop settling for weak sound. It's time to level up your game and bring the boom. Hit the town with the ultra-durable LGX-Boom portable speaker and enjoy vibrant sound wherever you go.
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