Frank Capra

Italian-born American film director, born in 1897. After emigrating to Los Angeles as a child, he worked his way into the movies and made his feature directing debut with The Strong Man (1926) starring Harry Langdon. He became one of the defining directors of the studio era, known for It Happened One Night (1934), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), and It's a Wonderful Life (1946). His films champion ordinary people against corrupt institutions. He won three Best Director Oscars. He died in 1991.