You Can't Take it With You Trivia Quiz

Answer: Edward Arnold

Anthony Kirby's plan to buy up all the land in a certain area is being thwarted by the refusal of one family to sell to him. He offers them far more than the house is worth, but they refuse to sell, because the house itself matters to them, and its loss would not be compensated for by the provision of money, no matter how much. Kirby simply cannot understand this.

After making his first stage appearance (as Lorenzo in 'The Merchant of Venice'), Edward Arnold began his professional career in 1907. He had a lengthy career on stage and in film, with over 150 roles, mostly character parts rather than leading man roles.

Answer: James Stewart

Young Tony Kirby may be in the family business, but you just know that Jimmy Stewart wouldn't play anyone who was as dreadful as his father! When he falls in love with Alice, the stage is set for comedy, because she is part of the (more than a little eccentric) family that refuses to sell their house.

This was the first of three classic films that James Stewart made for Frank Capra, the others being 'Mr Smith Goes to Washington' (1939) and 'It's a Wonderful Life' (1946).

Answer: Jean Arthur

Alice Sycamore is rightly concerned that Tony's family will find her family difficult to handle, and tries to avoid having them come together. She is initially unaware that her family's house is a problem for the Kirby business, and is simply worried that they are too simple and unconcerned with appearances to meet the approval of the Kirby family.

Jean Arthur, often cited as the quintessential female star of screwball comedies, had previously worked with Frank Capra in 'Mr. Deeds Goes to Town' (1936), and would reunite with him and James Stewart in 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' (1939).

Answer: Lionel Barrymore

Martin Vanderhof (who is universally called Grandpa, even though he is not strictly everyone's grandfather) is the free spirit at the core of the eccentric group. He has accumulated a number of additions to the household who are not related by blood, but have arrived in need and found a welcome role. His philosophy is pretty much summarised by the title, and he encourages everyone to find as much pleasure as they can in life, without worrying about financial considerations.

At the time of making this film, Barrymore was starting to suffer from crippling arthritis, so his character was given a leg cast to explain his difficulty in moving.

Answer: Mary Forbes

Used to moving in rather more elegant circles, Meriam Kirby is appalled by what she experiences when Tony and his family make a surprise visit to Alice's family, coming a day before the arranged date. As the Kirby's are departing, everyone is arrested because it has been discovered that they have been making illegal fireworks. Mrs Kirby spends much of the time during which they are all held in jail, waiting to appear in court, insulting Alice and her family.

The British actress Mary Forbes appeared in more than 130 films between 1919 and 1958.

Answer: Harry Davenport

The court scene plays the pivotal role of getting the various subplots integrated. His repeated request to know what on earth the Kirbys were doing in such a disreputable place leads to Alice declaring that she cannot stay engaged to Tony, because his family has treated hers so badly. Her subsequent departure from town leads Grandpa to decide to sell the house after all.

Harry Davenport came to movies after a lengthy stage career, and specialised in roles suited to his age. If you watched closely, you would have seen him in 'Gone With the Wind', in which he played Dr. Meade.

Answer: Charles Lane

Wilbur G. Henderson's shock at discovering that Grandpa Vanderhof has never filed an income tax return helps to establish the happy-go-lucky attitude to life that is so irritating to Kirby. The rest of the family don't seem to understand why Henderson has a problem!

Charles Lane was another of Frank Capra's favorite actors, appearing in 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' (1939), 'Arsenic and Old Lace' (1944) and 'It's a Wonderful Life' (1946). Television audiences may remember him from his frequent appearances on Lucille Ball's shows.

Answer: Ann Miller

The scene in which Essie is encouraged to dance, and praised for her enthusiastic, if inept, performance, is only one of the times we are made aware that the Vanderhof household is full of people living happy lives as they pursue their dreams, without worrying about the judgments that others may make.

Ann Miller, a highly talented dancer who would go on to a stellar career, was only fifteen when she played this part.

Answer: Spring Byington

Penny Sycamore's conversation with Grandpa in which they discuss the illegal fireworks, and all agree that they don't fell the least bit guilty about breaking the law, because the fireworks are fun, presages the arrest scene. She is trying to write a play, and periodically interrupts scenes to change the conversation towards her newest idea. None of them sound terribly promising, though.

Spring Byington was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Penny Sycamore.

Answer: H. B. Warner

The death of his competitor from a heart attack leads Kirby to realise that he is a lonely man with no friends. He returns to the Vanderhof house as the family is moving out, gets involved in a bout of harmonica playing, and realises that they are good people. Alice returns, and the movie ends with the two families sharing a meal.

After a career as a leading man, including playing Jesus Christ in Cecil B. De Mille's silent 1922 epic 'The King of Kings', he made the transition to supporting roles, and appeared in a number of other Frank Capra films, including 'Mr Deeds Goes to Town' (1936) and 'It's a Wonderful Life' (1946), in which he played the drunken town pharmacist.