logo
episode-header-image
Today
10m 29s

Frank Capra: The American Dream Personif...

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

On this episode of Our American Stories, few filmmakers embody the American Dream as vividly as Frank Capra. Born in Sicily in 1897, he carried the memory of arriving at New York Harbor and seeing the Statue of Liberty through World War I and into Hollywood's golden age. In films like It's a Wonderful Life, Capra celebrated resilience, community, and the strength of ordinary people.

Our own Lee Habeeb, along with recordings of Capra himself, shares the story of the immigrant boy who rose to direct some of Hollywood's greatest films.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Today
Why Boston Stood by Edwin Booth After His Brother Assassinated Lincoln
On this episode of Our American Stories, after John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln in April 1865, the Booth name became synonymous with betrayal. But his older brother Edwin Booth was already one of America’s most celebrated actors, with deep roots in Boston and a repu ... Show More
10m 49s
Today
David George Built a Church While Running Toward Freedom
On this episode of Our American Stories, David George was enslaved, captured, and chased across colonies before he found anything close to freedom. But something else held through the chaos: his faith. After escaping bondage, George helped plant the roots of what would become the ... Show More
17m 58s
Oct 31
Halloween: The Strange and Storied History of an American Holiday
On this episode of Our American Stories, every October, porches glow with carved pumpkins and streets fill with costumed children, but the roots of Halloween reach much deeper than candy and costumes. The holiday began as All Hallows’ Eve, a night of remembrance that blended Chri ... Show More
39m 16s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2018
The Statue of Liberty
The life of an American icon from her birth at a French dinner table to her place in the hearts of people all over the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
1h 52m
Jan 2022
1000 Dolls
It's the early 1970s. Frank Schaeffer is an American kid living in the Swiss Alps – the son of an influential Christian art historian - who daydreams of one day making Hollywood films. But for that he needs a show-reel to prove himself. The ripples of Frank's creative ambitions w ... Show More
31m 53s
Nov 2025
My identity is a superpower — not an obstacle | America Ferrera (re-release)
Hollywood needs to stop resisting what the world actually looks like, says actor, director and activist America Ferrera. Tracing the contours of her career, she calls for more authentic representation of different cultures in media -- and a shift in how we tell our stories. "Pres ... Show More
15m 21s
Feb 2025
Episode #222 - What's True About Al Capone? (Part I)
The life of the gangster Al Capone could be understood as a violent expression of the American Dream. A poor kid from Brooklyn, born to immigrant parents, used his wits, fists, and a certain ruthless determination to build an empire. The underworld figure has been the fodder for ... Show More
1h 13m
Jun 2020
The Sunday Read: 'The Man Who Saw America'
<p>In this episode of The Sunday Read, we look at the complexity, diversity and humanity of America through the eyes of Robert Frank — one of the most influential photographers in history — who, through his camera, collected the world.</p><p><em>This story was recorded by Audm. T ... Show More
1h 3m
Sep 2024
Coming to America
<p>The story of this country is told through the eyes of immigrants. This episode of the Velshi Banned Book Club will explore two critically acclaimed additions to the American immigration literary canon: “How the García Girls Lost Their Accents” by Julia Alvarez and “American St ... Show More
38m 8s
Jul 2025
Across Oceans
The thousands of interviews in the StoryCorps archive reflect the American experience— and the United States is, as the saying goes, a nation of immigrants. This week: Stories about people who found their way in the USA. Leave us a voicemail at 702-706-TALK, or email us at podcas ... Show More
15m 55s
Dec 2020
Film special
<p>We hear from eye-witnesses to some classic moments in cinema history – from It’s a Wonderful Life to Satyajit Ray’s Apu trilogy via Studio Ghibli, the Sound of Music and Charlie Chaplin’s Great Dictator.</p><p>Plus, film critic Helen O’Hara tells us about the history of Christ ... Show More
50m 2s