Frank Capra's 1920s Immigrant Trilogy: Immigration, Assimilation, and the American Dream.

Although almost every author who writes about Frank Capra's films mentions the famed director's Italian ethnicity and his immigrant origins, few delve into how these identities influenced his work. Despite Capra's claims, three works in the vast body of Capra scholarship have argued that Capra's immigrant and ethnic identities are, if not a strong influence, then at least an important issue to consider when evaluating his work. The Strong Man tells the story of a first generation American, who is a naï ignorant of American customs and only half-aware of American citizens' frequent attempts to take advantage of him. Conversely, For the Love of Mike and The Younger Generation focus on second generation Americans who seek to reconcile their ethnic status with their drive for American success. Despite these differences, in each film Capra castigates an American Dream corrupted by materialism and looks to the characters who have maintained their immigrant innocence and/or ethnic standing to recoup the mythic ideal that drew so many to the U.S.