Meet John Doe

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Meet John Doe, 1941.

TCM's Dave Karger introduces Meet John Doe, 1941.

TCM's Saturday afternoon host Tiffany Vazquez introduces Meet John Doe, 1941.

Robert Osborne introduces Meet John Doe, 1941.

Opening titles followed by a searing exercise in newsroom house-cleaning, featuring Ann (Barbara Stanwyck) pleading with Connell (James Gleason) in Frank Capra's Meet John Doe, 1941.

Not yet revealed to the public, ex-minor leaguer Willoughby (Gary Cooper), a.k.a. “John Doe,” killing time on the newspaper’s dime, with pal “the colonel” (Walter Brennan), reporter Beany (Irving Bacon) playing along, and infiltrator Mike (Pat Flaherty) sowing doubt, in Frank Capra’s Meet John Doe, 1941.

Staff-slashing editor Connell (James Gleason) doesn’t know that Ann (Barbara Stanwyck), whom he fired the day before, invented “John Doe,” whose suicidal letter she featured in her final column, and she offers a blinding pitch to launch the stunt and win back her job, in Frank Capra’s Meet John Doe, 1941.

Actress Laura Dern offers this personal appreciation of TCM's December, 2012 Star Of The Month, Barbara Stanwyck.

Vagrant Gary Cooper, having agreed to become the fictional and suicidal "John Doe," dines with pal "The Colonel" (Walter Brennan) as journalists Ann (Barbara Stanwyck) and Connell (James Gleason) plan their campaign, in Frank Capra's Meet John Doe, 1941.

Significant SPOILER here, as “John Doe” (Gary Cooper) contemplates jumping after all, power broker Norton (Edward Arnold) and his men offering cynical advice, and Ann (Barbara Stanwyck) breaks down in a desperate last attempt, nearing the climax of Frank Capra’s Meet John Doe, 1941.

"John Doe" (Gary Cooper) delivers his first radio address, written by Ann (Barbara Stanwyck), who invented his persona, to an audience including his pal "the colonel" (Walter Brennan), editor Connell (James Gleason) and evil magnate Norton (Edward Arnold) in Frank Capra's Meet John Doe, 1941.

A reporter's fraudulent story turns a tramp into a national hero and makes him a pawn of big business in Meet John Doe (1941), directed by Frank Capra and starring Gary Cooper.