Frank Capra III is the grandson of legendary director Frank Capra who gave the world movies like It’s a Wonderful Life and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Frank Capra III is also in the film business, you might have seen his work in The Adventures of Pluto Nash and Jack Frost, but probably not.
Now, imagine yourself having the same name as your very famous relative but not having nearly the success they did (Frank Capra III hasn’t directed anything yet, but he is only 47). I imagine that it must really suck being the Frank Capra who was the first assistant director of North, when your grandfather has an entire style of film named after him.
Poor Frank Capra III, though he was the second assistant director on Star Trek IV and that must count for something.
6 responses to “Frank Capra III”
Frankie
Looking for you
Candice
REPRINT OF LETTERS SENT TO ST. JUDES HOSPITAL IN TENESSEE. PLEASE READ UNTIL YOU COME TO FRANK CAPPA.
FORWARD TO FRANK CAPPA III. HIS HERITAGE AND THE LIFE STORY OF DANNY THOMAS MIGHT CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US IN THE SPACE AGE.
LETTER ONE
Your tale about St. Jude is very moving. I could tell you alot about Jude because I am an expert on the lion of Judah but I would rather comment on the Tom in Thomas. As a child Danny-daddy was synonymous with children. To me Thomas sounded like Magic Tom Auburn of the Magic Tom children’s party show in Montreal. Thomas I associated with everything for children – like Montrealer Ted Zeigler, a contemporary on television at CFCF. They were the common greats not as special as Bob Hope or a Carol Burnett but the performers we knew to be part of the maistream entertainers on sit coms. They appealed to kids in a very showman way like Danny Kaye – to me these two were equivalent entertainers. Dick Van Dyke was another.
I emulated this crowd and instead of USA I helped to bring the entertainers home to Montreal festivals. For your guys it must have been a vacation in Canada. The two faced Janus – for us we were all the crowd of locals here in Montreal – the eastern block. There are those like the Osmonds who feel that we and Celine are not part of the Vegas scene -indeed we are Radio City.
The children’s format is certainly not Vagas but with the Montreal baby boom it better fits Montreal. Wonder how little Rene will feel growing up in that estranging place. Memphis is in Tenessee, a place Dolly has blessed for children. I hope to generate Twenty Twenty Tenessee a concept for a Science Fiction land to complement her Motherly magic kingdom.
I have previously worked with Radio CJAD on the Halloween Adventure collecting funds to send poor kids to camp out of town.
Sorry I can’t help you with funds now but I will mention you as a charity that Danny created to members of the Lebanese and Protestant communities I often come into contact with. Up here we don’t see much of his memory anymore, but I am a historian. Loved that man as a kid.
I used to try and decorate children’s hospitals here. They told me they already had their own nurses. Shame – that is no way to think. Danny had the right attitude. I have been rather negative to children’s hospitals because of their protectionist policy but seeing Danny’s resolve changes that for me. I truly believe Danny was a good man, and I too follow those who have faith in goodness. I am a descendent of the great Maggid of Vilna Lithuania. I had a stroke so do not have any funds right now, but I offer you a blessing in Mr. Thomas’s
name.
LETTER TWO
I guess you are wondering how I came to you. It is because I have done volunteer work all my life. Now again as a fan of science fiction I am preparing for the 2009 WORLDCON. I had visited the New York World fair in 1964 with my dad who liked to travel. When he was ten there was a great big fair in New York but he never got to go during the great depression. When I was 9 years old he took us to New York in 1964.
It was amazing. For the rest of my life I have worked to recapture the feeling of that great American experience. So what has this to do with Danny?
I always liked Danny and every so often I wonder what happened to reruns of his old shows. Than when doing research on a film by ”’Frank Cappa”’
which was shown in the Hall of Science at the NY World fair I noticed
that it was Danny Thomas which I associate with that other likeable entertainer Danny Kaye.
I already had an ideas for a science fiction theme park near Dollyland and I
guess the rest is inspiration – a little story for your children perhaps.
Danny Thomas was the voice OF THE NARRATOR for the last film by one of America’s greatest ever producers Frank Cappa who produced ‘Its a Beautiful Life.’
I am old and ill but I will not commit suicide as did a poor friend who was into the environment movement. I will turn to St. Jude and Tenessee. The Tenessee Valley Authority – we have our own Hydro-Quebec inspired by Rene Levesque under the Jean Lesage government. Beyond electricity this is the beginning of a great new America, we have seen the marvels, and Rene Levesque had seen the hollocaust -all my life I have worked to prevent nuclear mishaps and my friend discovered the evil goings on in Alberta where important documents were being shredded by the provincial leader.
We must save NORTH AMERICA.
A CHAIN OF PEOPLE-PLACES-EXPERIENCES, IN AN AMERICA I NEVER, KNEW BUT ALWAYS APPRECIATED, GATHERS STRENGTH TO RESIST AND WITH RESILIENCE – A RENAISSANCE BLOSSOMS.
A HAPPY HOUR IN WHICH WE WILL TRIUMPH OVER CHILDREN’S DISEASES AND THAT AMERICA WILL BE FREE TO PLAY IN THE OUTDOORS AGAIN.
BORN IN A GREAT BLIZZARD AMOS JACOBS-DANNY THOMAS TRIUMPHED.
ST. JUDES YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO SET US ON A PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT.
YOU HAVE NOT JUST BEEN GIVEN A SIMPLE GIFT-
YOU AND THE TENESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY MUST WORK TO ENSURE
THAT GIFT IS NOT FORSAKEN BY GREED.
ALL AMERICA MUST CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM THE SPIRIT OF
DANNY THOMAS-AMOS JACOBS AND
SAINT JUDE!
.
We must save North America and the world in
Danny Thomas’s name and
through the inspiration of Buckminister Fuller.
Twenty twenty Tenessee: Memphis, Knoxville,
St. Judes and the Tower of the Sun:
A WORLD WITH A TOMORROW
the legacy of Danny Thomas.
On a temple to St. Jude
the ”Inspirational ‘Spire’ and a spirit”:
I have found Danny once more.
Hello,
This if for Frank Capra III. How can I get a hold of you?
My name is Robert Granados and I am historian for the Lincoln High School Alumni Assn.
A Wikipedia entry on Lincoln High School (Los Angeles) lists your grandfather, Frank Capra, the director of such great films as “It’s a Wonderful Life” and others, as an alumnus of my old alma mater. I have not had any luck in verifying that he ever attended Lincoln High in Los Angeles. I have, however, found mention of his attending Manual Arts High School, also an L.A. school. It would be fantastic if he did attend Lincoln and I could undeniably say so but I can’t. I do know that other notables did attend: Robert Young, Robert Preston and John Huston. Mr. Huston did not graduate because he left to pursue life as a boxer.
How that fact (?) got attached to the Wikipedia piece I do not know.
Please help me know if your grandfather attended L.H.S.
I just worked with Frank Capra III while he was the 1st assistant director on a new TV series pilot and I will have to say he is one of the BEST and nicest people I have EVER been around on a set. Being on and around the set as a wanna be actor you see lots of personalities. I am NOT kissing you know what here, in my opinion I believe Frank Capra III sets an example of how one should be treated on and off any job site, he is respectful, cordial and funny. Frank is THE BEST PERIOD!!!!
I just worked with Frank Capra III while he was the 1st assistant director on a new TV series pilot and I will have to say he is one of the BEST and nicest people I have EVER been around on a set. Being on and around the set as a wanna be actor you see lots of personalities. I am NOT kissing you know what here, in my opinion I believe Frank Capra III sets an example of how one should be treated on and off any job site, he is respectful, cordial and funny. Frank is THE BEST PERIOD!!!!
I just worked with Frank Capra III while he was the 1st assistant director on a new TV series pilot and I will have to say he is one of the BEST and nicest people I have EVER been around on a set. Being on and around the set as a wanna be actor you see lots of personalities. I am NOT kissing you know what here, in my opinion I believe Frank Capra III sets an example of how one should be treated on and off any job site, he is respectful, cordial and funny. Frank is THE BEST PERIOD!!!!