Clarence Budington Kelland (1881–1964)

It was in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town that Frank Capra perfected the blend of comedy and social commentary that would become his trademark. The screwball comedy was graceful rather than frantic, and the social elements of Robert Riskin's fine screenplay are handled in an even-handed manner that earned Capra the second of his three Academy Awards for Best Director. Both Gary Cooper, as the tuba playing no-nonsense Longfellow Deeds, and Jean Arthur, as the reporter who exploits him until she falls for his goodness are wonderful in this true Capra classic.

Longfellow Deeds (Cooper) lives in the small town of Mandrake Falls where he earns his living writing greeting card poems and spends his free time playing the tuba. He is less than enthused when a bunch of big city attorneys show up at his door to tell him he has just inherited 20 million dollars from a relative he’s never met. They want him to sign over his power of attorney. Deeds goes to the city with them mainly so he can get a look at Grant's Tomb.

Cooper’s Deeds is honest and good, but no pushover. His initial reluctance about the situation proves wise as everyone wants to mooch off him while at the same time making him look a fool. Deeds gives as good as he gets and wins over the crusty Cornelius Cobb (Lionell Stander) to his way of doing things, but he can't get around the way a certain Louise Bennet is mocking his every escapade in the papers, making him look like a country bumpkin.

But Deeds knows it doesn't matter when he meets the sweet Mary Dawson (Jean Arthur), a lady in distress who becomes his constant companion. The lonely deeds no longer has to go off by himself like he did back home, where he talked to an imaginary girl. He tells Mary that she makes up for all the fakes he's met and writes a poem to her telling her how much he loves her. But nothing is as it seems to Deeds.

Arthur is wonderful as the cynical reporter who slowly realizes that Longfellow is straightforward and honest. She realizes it is everyone else’s viewpoint that is distorted. But will the truth ruin everything? Deeds is ready to pack it up and head back to Mandrake Falls until a starving farmer during the Great Depression gives Deeds an idea. It sets in motion a courtroom showdown where, as Cobb says, “Lamb Bites Wolf!”

Cooper and Arthur are memorable together in this wonderful Frank Capra classic. You’ll definitely get choked up when she reads Longfellow's poem about her on the steps of her apartment. Arthur does, because the words he has said earlier to a group of published poets making fun of him echo in her heart: "I guess it's alright to hurt someone as long as you don't care how much you hurt them."

If all the great Capra classics were represented by a vase full of red roses, this would be the one white rose in the center. It is flawless and pure, and represents everything that was special about the films of the first director allowed to have his name above the title. After seeing this film, you'll know why.… (más)

That reference to "The Federal Agent Mysteries" puzzles me. What I read was a standalone book, so I don't know when somebody decided it is a part of a series.
It's about a young temporary -- apparently a summer hire -- park ranger who gets involved with two young ladies and a bunch of characters who are very reminiscent of those in "The Maltese Falcon."
From what I know about Clarence Budington Kelland, he would not have copied Dashiell Hammet's work on purpose, but the similarities are too striking to be ignored.
Still, this is an OK story, well worth reading as light entertainment.
Another reviewer said this was her first experience of author Kelland but she was hooked. Well, I sure do understand!
He called himself "the best second-rate writer" and except for the "second-rate" part, I agree.
And I highly recommend Mr. Kelland and his books and stories.… (más)

Since this book was born even before I was, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that all the good -- and correct -- words have already been used about this book.
Yes, it is exciting and the heroine is a funny character and the setting is unusual.
So all that's left for me to say is Clarence Budington Kelland was a very prolific writer from about the late 1920s to the early 1960s. He is perhaps best known today, 2023, as the author of "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town."
"Stolen Goods" has no message and makes no claim to be great literature. In fact, Wikipedia says he said of himself that he was "the best second-rate writer in America"!
But "Stolen Goods" is a lot of fun.… (más)