D.B. Norton was supposed to represent the Fascist powers that were taking over Europe (Hitler in Germany, Mussonlini in Italy, Franco in Spain). If you notice, the United States Government is not involved in the story except for a brief scene where surprise is shown that people are going off relief -- due to the help they are given by the John Doe Clubs.
D.B. Norton is a wealthy industrialist who wants political power. He has his own security force. He has money to buy what he wants. When he sees his servants listening to John's speech on the radio and applauding, he realizes the political power he can have if he can just get John Doe on his side. John (Willoughby), though he has taken the position as John Doe for a job, understands that the principles of the John Doe Clubs state that NO politicians are allowed to be involved. Norton attempts to buy off John and Ann, and when that doesn't work, he uses his private security force to destroy the rally and discredit John.
Dictators are not voted into power; they TAKE it. Norton was on his way to taking power. He was trying to use the John Doe Clubs to that end. He did not believe in the club's ideals except to further his own goals. And when John would not co-operate, Norton was ready to destroy him through lies and brute force -- not unlike the techniques that brought Hitler, Franco, and Mussolini to power. Frank Capra, an immigrant to the United States, wanted to show freedom could be corrupted to dictatorship.
One very important point in this movie that a lot of people seem to be missing completely is that the people looking out for each other was just that -- neighbors helping neighbors (the teachings of the Christ). In the movie, the U.S. government was not demanding this. It was a grass-roots movement. And D.B. Norton wanted to exploit that movement for his own political gains. I don't see any grass-roots movements of today doing anything to get people off welfare, but using exploiting that idea to gain power . . .
Just some thoughts,
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jdbna
15 years ago
I just witnessed "people looking after people" first hand following the floods in Tennessee. Remarkable yet ordinary. It was what we were supposed to do.
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