The first of director Frank Capra's independent productions (in partnership with Robert Riskin), Meet John Doe begins with the end of reporter Ann Mitchell's (Barbara Stanwyck) job. Fired as part of a downsizing move, she ends her last column with an imaginary letter written by "John Doe." Angered at the ill treatment of America's little people, the fabricated Doe announces that he's going to jump off City Hall on Christmas Eve. When the phony letter goes to press, it causes a public sensation. Seeking to secure her job, Mitchell talks her managing editor (James Gleason) into playing up the John Doe letter for all it's worth; but to ward off accusations from rival papers that the letter was bogus, they decide to hire someone to pose as John Doe: a ballplayer-turned-hobo (Gary Cooper), who'll do anything for three squares and a place to sleep. "John Doe" and his traveling companion The Colonel (Walter Brennan) are ensconced in a luxury hotel while Mitchell continues churning out chunks of John Doe philosophy. When newspaper publisher D.B. Norton (Edward Arnold), a fascistic type with presidential aspirations, decides to use Doe as his ticket to the White House, he puts Doe on the radio to deliver inspirational speeches to the masses -- ghost-written by Mitchell, who, it is implied, has become the publisher's mistress. The central message of the Doe speeches is "Love Thy Neighbor," though, conceived in cynicism, the speeches strike so responsive a chord with the public that John Doe clubs pop up all over the country. Believing he is working for the good of America, Cooper agrees to front the National John Doe Movement -- until he discovers that Norton plans to exploit Doe in order to create a third political party and impose a virtual dictatorship on the country. The last of Capra's "social statement" films, Meet John Doe posted a profit, although Capra and Riskin were forced to dissolve their corporation due to excessive taxes.

Barbara Stanwyck - Ann Mitchell
Edward Arnold - D.B. Norton
Walter Brennan - The Colonel
Spring Byington - Mrs. Mitchell
James Gleason - Henry Connell
Gene Lockhart - Mayor Lovett
Rod La Rocque - Ted Sheldon
Irving Bacon - Beany
Regis Toomey - Bert Hansen
John Farrell MacDonald - Sourpuss Smithers
Warren Hymer - Angelface
Harry Holman - Mayor Hawkins
Andrew Tombes - Spencer
Pierre Watkin - Hammett
Stanley Andrews - Weston
Mitchell Lewis - Bennett
Charles Wilson - Charlie Dawson
Vaughan Glaser - Governor
Sterling Holloway - Dan
Mike J. Frankovich - Radio Announcer
Knox Manning - Radio Announcer at Convention
John B. Hughes - Radio Announcers at Convention (less info)