It’s quite a long time since I saw this film but the characters I remember most vividly are those played by Lionel Barrymore and the always delightful Spring Byington.

It’s testament to the quality of their playing that, for me, they even outclass James Stewart and Jean Arthur, two of the greatest stars of the era:

@rudely_murray Yeah, Lionel Barrymore is always absolutely brilliant. I admire his work very much, and cannot complement it highly enough. Spring Byington was very good too. Here's an interesting bit of trivia you might like: Spring Byington played Lionel Barrymore's daughter in You Can't Take It with You but in 1935 they were in a movie together called Ah, Wilderness! with Wallace Beery, in which Barrymore and Byington played husband and wife! Also, Jean Arthur, who is one of my favorite actresses, played his granddaughter in this film, but was only 22 years younger than him!

Yeah it's hard to choose against the two headliners in Stewart and Arthur, but this seems to be one of those times where they are just there to set the table for all the characters in the movie. There are plenty to choose from but Lionel Barrymore and Edward Arnold really stand out. I also get a kick out of seeing actors in early parts and Dub Taylor, who I love in so many westerns, gets a nod here as the son in-law who plays a part of getting everyone thrown in jail.

@HarrisonHanksHackman Very cool! I agree with everything you said, and you're so right about the amount of crazy, wonderful characters in the film. Thanks for participating in the discussion! This is the only movie I've seen Dub Taylor in, but it's nice to know he went on to get other roles. Yeah, he was hilarious!

Barrymore and Arnold really shine in this, and it deserves its two Academy Awards. It's one of Capra's very best. The only thing that made me a bit uncomfortable about the production is that it seemed like a presentation of the play. I wish they could have somehow made it less stagy and more like a film than a play. But it's still a classic.

So many standouts in this film but I'll choose Barrymore.

@bratface said:

So many standouts in this film but I'll choose Barrymore.

You and me both.

Barrymore had perhaps the most likable character; but Arnold had a tougher job, and did it splendidly: start out as a curmudgeon, but end up as a likable guy.

@Moon_Doggie said:

Barrymore had perhaps the most likable character; but Arnold had a tougher job, and did it splendidly: start out as a curmudgeon, but end up as a likable guy.

Haha, you're right! This film showed Lionel at his most likeable, but Arnold was fantastic as well. He's a tremendous character actor. Loved the character arc he went through here.