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Over time, the third party grows larger, partly because Arthur has fallen for the big lug, but mostly because Cooper wants to give his money away in a socialistic small farm scheme. Cooper's newfound popularity and generosity panics his crooked lawyers, who try to confiscate the inheritance by committing Cooper to the nuthouse. But don't worry, a crowd-pleasing happy ending is in the works.
How I felt about it. No one can accuse director Frank Capra of lacking sympathy for the earnest and decent common man, who is the hero of (apparently) all of his films. Capra's two favorite stand-ins for the Great Commoner were Gary Cooper and James Stewart.
Stewart was more excitable than the stolid Cooper, which was probably why Stewart got the nod in two of Capra's most famous movies, It's a Wonderful Life and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Cooper had his advantages, though. His bearing and physique were more intimidating, but not to worry, he'll only sock you if he thinks you deserve it.
Jean Arthur was the female lead in the present film and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Her character is similar in both films. She is the experienced and cynical (yet young and beautiful) confidante of our yokel-made-good hero, who eventually discovers that, gosh, he's what America really stands for after all, and it's her life that's been led the wrong way.
Not to fault the acting abilities of Cooper or Arthur (or Stewart, for that matter), but Capra's oversized endorsement of the common man might be more convincing if it didn't seem intended to manipulate Joe Sixpack into the theaters. This manipulation is orchestrated through exaggeration: the lawyers (and other members of the privileged class) are shameless and selfless opportunists, while our hero, be it Cooper or (better yet) Stewart is a remarkable combination of integrity, idealism, patriotism, common sense, and directness. And yes, he's looking for a woman who is as good as his mother. But only if she's as hot as Jean Arthur, Barbara Stanwyck, or Donna Reed.
Exaggeration is also evident in the status of our hero. Mr. Deeds, a.k.a. Gary Cooper. He inherits a great fortune, a high most of us will never experience. (Not that his good luck would change him in any way). Then he is on the brink of being committed to an asylum, a low most of us will omit until the nursing home or hospice beckons late in life. The great high and great low only set the scene for the inevitable, underdog triumph of heroic David against the evil forces of Goliath, but David and Goliath differ not in size, but in class. One has to wonder: did Capra eat at the small-town diner, or at the Swan Club? I suspect the latter. In other words, his street life has no cred.