1936
Longfellow Deeds, a naive, poetic tuba player from Mandrake Falls, inherits 20 million dollars from his late uncle, Martin W. Semple, and is brought to New York by attorney John Cedar and press agent Cornelius Cobb. Cedar attempts to gain control of Deeds' fortune through a power of attorney, while cynical reporter Babe Bennett, under the alias Mary Dawson, infiltrates Deeds' life to write sensational stories about his eccentricities. Deeds falls in love with Babe, sharing his dreams and even proposing, but he discovers her true identity and feels betrayed, leading him to decide to return home to Mandrake Falls. Before leaving, Deeds encounters a desperate farmer who inspires him to use his inheritance to buy farms for impoverished families, a plan that Cedar and the Semple relatives challenge by having Deeds declared insane.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Small-town Longfellow Deeds inherits a vast fortune and must navigate greedy lawyers, shifting from his simple life to New York high society.
Open full beat sheetLongfellow Deeds is listed as Protagonist. A naive, poetic, tuba-playing man from Mandrake Falls who inherits 20 million dollars. In the parsed data, Longfellow Deeds is connected to 46 scenes, 133 dialogue lines, 134 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
46 scenes / 133 dialogue linesCornelius Cobb is listed as Press Agent. A hardened, impatient ex-newspaperman working for Cedar. In the parsed data, Cornelius Cobb is connected to 31 scenes, 34 dialogue lines, 34 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
31 scenes / 34 dialogue linesBabe Bennett is listed as Reporter. A cynical newspaper reporter who initially exploits Deeds for a story but falls in love with him. In the parsed data, Babe Bennett is connected to 28 scenes, 48 dialogue lines, 49 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.
28 scenes / 48 dialogue linesJohn Cedar is listed as Antagonist. A sharp, dignified, and greedy attorney who manages the Semple estate. In the parsed data, John Cedar is connected to 23 scenes, 47 dialogue lines, 47 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
23 scenes / 47 dialogue linesMac is listed as Editor. The aggressive editor of the Daily Mail. In the parsed data, Mac is connected to 12 scenes, 20 dialogue lines, 21 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
12 scenes / 20 dialogue linesBudington is listed as Attorney. A small, frightened-looking partner in Cedar's firm. In the parsed data, Budington is connected to 9 scenes, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
9 scenes / 0 dialogue linesDr. Emil Von Holler is listed as Psychiatrist. An eminent Austrian psychiatrist hired by Cedar to prove Deeds is insane. In the parsed data, Dr. Emil Von Holler is connected to 7 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
7 scenes / 10 dialogue linesMrs. Meredith is listed as Housekeeper. Longfellow's sweet, timid, and fluttery housekeeper. In the parsed data, Mrs. Meredith is connected to 7 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
7 scenes / 7 dialogue linesA montage of a car crash and newspaper headlines announcing the death of Martin W. Semple and the search for his heir.
Mac, the editor, pressures Corny on the phone to reveal the identity of the Semple heir.
Mac, Cornelius CobbCedar and his team confirm Longfellow Deeds is the heir and decide to travel to Vermont.
Cornelius Cobb, John Cedar, BudingtonCedar, Cobb, and Anderson arrive in Mandrake Falls and struggle to get information from a local rail agent.
John Cedar, Cornelius Cobb, BudingtonCedar and his team meet Longfellow Deeds and inform him of his inheritance.
Mrs. Meredith, John Cedar, Cornelius Cobb, Budington, Longfellow DeedsCedar and Cobb inform Longfellow about his inheritance and discuss his future.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius Cobb, John Cedar, Mrs. MeredithThe town gathers to bid farewell to Longfellow as he departs for New York.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius Cobb, John CedarLongfellow travels to New York with Cedar and Cobb.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius Cobb, John CedarCedar meets with his associates to discuss the inheritance and the Power of Attorney.
John Cedar, BudingtonGeorge Semple and his wife argue about the inheritance.
Mac berates his reporters for failing to get a story on Longfellow.
Babe Bennett, MacBabe tricks Mac into giving her a vacation by promising a big story on Deeds.
Babe Bennett, MacExterior shot of the large residence.
Longfellow is fitted for a suit while Cedar tries to pressure him into signing a Power of Attorney.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius Cobb, John Cedar, BudingtonHallor arrives to claim Mrs. Semple is Longfellow's uncle's common-law wife.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius Cobb, John Cedar, Dr. Emil Von HollerLongfellow and Cobb walk to the board room.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius CobbLongfellow is elected Chairman of the Board and discovers the opera's financial deficit.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius CobbLongfellow dismisses the opera directors and leaves with Cobb.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius CobbLongfellow deals with Hallor and Cedar regarding a fake wife claim.
Longfellow Deeds, John Cedar, Dr. Emil Von HollerCobb discusses women with Longfellow.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius CobbLongfellow outsmarts his bodyguards.
Longfellow DeedsLongfellow encounters a fainting Babe Bennett.
Longfellow Deeds, Babe BennettLongfellow takes Babe to dinner.
Longfellow Deeds, Babe BennettLongfellow and Babe dine; Longfellow is mocked by a group of poets and writers, leading to a physical confrontation.
Longfellow Deeds, Babe Bennett, MacMorrow catches up to Longfellow and Babe, expressing admiration for the fight and inviting them on a binge.
Longfellow Deeds, Babe BennettBabe reports to Mac about her success in manipulating Longfellow for the story.
Babe Bennett, MacMac praises Babe for her progress in getting close to Deeds and tells her to stay undercover.
Babe Bennett, MacWalter wakes up a hungover Deeds, who learns about his wild night out.
Longfellow Deeds, Mrs. MeredithCobb confronts Deeds about the negative press and the 'Cinderella Man' label.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius Cobb, Mrs. MeredithDeeds and Babe go on a date while photographers follow them.
Longfellow Deeds, Babe BennettDeeds shares his patriotic vision of America while visiting Grant's Tomb with Babe.
Longfellow Deeds, Babe BennettLongfellow and Babe look over Times Square and discuss the negative press articles.
Longfellow Deeds, Babe BennettLongfellow and Babe walk in the park, share personal stories, and sing together while being watched by reporters.
Longfellow Deeds, Babe Bennett, Cornelius CobbBabe struggles to write a hit piece on Longfellow and receives a phone call from him.
Babe BennettBabe and Mabel discuss Longfellow's character and the morality of their journalistic pursuit.
Babe Bennett, Mrs. MeredithLongfellow plays the tuba, is interrupted by Walter, and then leads the household staff in an echo experiment.
Longfellow DeedsGuests arrive for a party and gossip about Longfellow.
Babe prepares to leave to avoid seeing Longfellow.
Babe Bennett, Mrs. MeredithLongfellow arrives at the apartment to see Babe, while photographers hide.
Longfellow Deeds, Babe Bennett, Mrs. MeredithLongfellow and Babe walk together, discuss his return to Mandrake Falls, and share an emotional moment where Longfellow gives her a poem he wrote for her.
Longfellow Deeds, Babe BennettBabe tells Mac she is quitting her job after Longfellow proposed to her.
Babe Bennett, MacLongfellow prepares for his lunch with Babe, obsessing over details.
Longfellow DeedsCobb reveals to Longfellow that Babe is a reporter who has been using him.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius CobbBabe receives a phone call from Longfellow.
Babe Bennett, Mac, Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius CobbCobb connects Longfellow to Babe Bennett on the phone; Longfellow realizes she is the one writing the articles about him and hangs up, feeling betrayed.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius CobbBabe realizes she is talking to Longfellow and tries to explain, but he hangs up on her.
Babe BennettLongfellow confronts Babe over the phone, hangs up, and decides to return home. A butler enters, and Longfellow tells Walter to pack his things.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius CobbLongfellow, Cobb, and Walter head for the exit. A commotion is heard from the foyer.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius CobbA desperate farmer confronts Longfellow with a gun, venting his frustrations about poverty. Longfellow eventually calms him down.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius CobbLongfellow feeds the farmer and listens to his story.
Longfellow DeedsLongfellow is processing applicants for his farm donation plan.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius CobbCedar convinces the Semple relatives to sign an agreement to challenge Longfellow's estate management.
John CedarLongfellow continues his work, exhausted, and shares a sandwich with a farmer.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius CobbLongfellow eats with a visitor while Cobb arranges lunch for the crowd outside. Deputies arrive to arrest Longfellow for insanity.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius Cobb, John Cedar, BudingtonBabe tries to see Longfellow but is blocked by the guard.
Babe BennettCobb tries to convince a despondent Longfellow to fight the insanity charges.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius CobbCobb leaves the room and encounters Babe, who offers to help.
Cornelius Cobb, Babe BennettThe sanity hearing begins. Longfellow refuses counsel.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius Cobb, John Cedar, Babe BennettCedar presents his opening arguments and calls Babe Bennett to the stand.
John Cedar, Babe Bennett, Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius Cobb, MacThe Falkner sisters testify that Deeds is pixilated.
John Cedar, Longfellow Deeds, Dr. Emil Von HollerVarious witnesses testify to Deeds' eccentric behavior.
John CedarCedar calls Dr. Von Holler to the stand.
John Cedar, Dr. Emil Von HollerDr. Von Holler is sworn in and testifies that Longfellow Deeds is a manic depressive, using a blackboard chart to illustrate his diagnosis.
John Cedar, Dr. Emil Von Holler, BudingtonThe defense rests. The Judge asks Deeds if he has anything to say, but Deeds remains silent. The Judge prepares to commit Deeds to an institution.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius Cobb, John Cedar, Babe Bennett, MacBabe Bennett interrupts the proceedings to defend Deeds. Mac and others join in, leading to the Judge allowing Deeds to speak.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius Cobb, John Cedar, Babe Bennett, MacDeeds takes the stand and defends himself by pointing out the 'doodling' habits of the Judge and Dr. Von Holler, arguing that everyone has eccentricities.
Longfellow Deeds, John Cedar, Dr. Emil Von HollerLongfellow testifies, explaining his behavior and his plan to give away his fortune, while Cedar grows increasingly frustrated.
Longfellow Deeds, Cornelius Cobb, John Cedar, Babe Bennett, Mac, BudingtonThe Judge dismisses the case, declaring Longfellow sane, and Longfellow reunites with Babe.
Longfellow Deeds, John Cedar, Babe Bennett, BudingtonHe's news! Every time he blows his nose, it's news. A corn-fed bohunk like that falling into the Semple fortune is hot copy . . . But it's got to be personal. It's got to have an angle. What does he think about? How does it feel to be a millionaire! Is he going to get married! What does he think of New York! Is he smart? Is he dumb? . . . A million angles!
It's easy to make fun of somebody if you don't care how much you hurt 'em. I think your poems are swell, Mr. Brookfield, but I'm disappointed in you. I know I must look funny to you, but maybe if you went to Mandrake Falls you'd look just as funny to us . Only nobody would laugh at you and make you feel ridiculous - 'cause that wouldn't be good manners.
It's merely a suggestion. I don't wish to press the point, Mr. Deeds, but if you'll give me your Power of Attorney we'll take care of everything. It'll save you a lot of petty annoyances. Every shark in town will be trying to sell you something.
You wouldn't dare go into court with a case like this - and you know it! I leave it to you, Mr. Deeds. Can you conceive of any court not being in sympathy with any woman who gave up the best years of her life for an old man like your uncle?
She's the star reporter on The Mail. Every time you opened your kisser, you gave her another story. She's the dame who slapped that monicker on you - 'Cinderella Man.' You've been making love to a double dose of cyanide!
My dream has been answered, but my life's just as bleak, I'm handcuffed and speechless in your presence divine - For my heart longs to cry out, if it only would speak, 'I love you, my angel - be mine, be mine.'
Cobb, Cobb! Never mind about Cobb. Use what little brains you've got! Find out something yourselves, you imbecilic stupes! Now get out of here before I really tell you what I think of you. Come on, get out!
Oh, yes, there've been a lot of them around here already. Strangest kind of people. Salesmen - politicians - moochers - all want something. I haven't had a minute to myself. Haven't seen Grant's Tomb yet.
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