Exhaustive, freewheeling ... Wasson correctly gauges that neither Capra nor his America were all sunshine and optimism. There was little simple about Capra. That’s why he’s still worth studying.
Wasson draws on the director’s own archives, previously unseen documents and personal writings, to chronicle the man’s life in unprecedented close-up detail. And, as always, the writing is superb. Wasson is a real craftsman, not only a biographer but also a storyteller, using facts as a jumping-off point to paint a full picture of Capra’s personal and professional lives. For fans of film history or biographies in general, this is a winner.
