Martin Vanderhof - Model for Today's Protestors of the US Government's Tax & Spend Policy

When I was a youngster I came across a book with several plays in it. 1 of those plays was "You Can't Take It With You" by Moss & Hart*. I enjoyed reading it & loved the fun, carefree spirit of the Vanderhof family. Over the years I have often reread it. Later I got a chance to see it done on TV starring Jason Robards. I also got to see the movie version directed by Frank Capra. While there were some changes, the movie was true to the spirit of the play.

Now why do I bring this up?

I was recently watching the movie version again & realized that even though the play is 75 years old this year, the play/movie are just as relevant as ever, especially the scene where Grandpa Vanderhof (played by Lionel Barrymore in the movie) dealt with the IRS Agent who came to collect the back income tax Grandpa owed. Here is that scene:

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Was I right or not? Doesn't what the IRS agent sound like someone from the government today? Especially when he says that the Government gives you "everything".

But the best line is when Grandpa says he wouldn't mind paying for what the government did, "if it were something sensible". let's face it, the way our money is spent makes even less sense now than it did back in "37 under FDR. If you watch the movie, I guarentee you will love the way he finally gets out of having to pay income tax.

OK folks, all together now: "Not with my money---no sir."

* While they only wrote together for a decade, George S. Kaufman & Moss Hart left a huge legacy (together & with others) in the theater that is hard to match by anyone else.

# Yes, that is Jimmy Steward as Tony Kirby. This was his 1st movie for Frank Capra. Other faces you make recognize are Jean Arthur as Alice Sycamore, Ann Miller as Essie Carmichael & Spring Byington as Penny Sycamore.

Eddie "Rochester" Anderson who plays Donald was best known as Jack Benny's butler. However, that was only 1 part of his career. He was an accomplished actor & appeared in over 60 movies. He played Uncle Peter in "Gone With the Wind". 1 of his biggest roles was in Vincent Minneli's debut film, Cabin in the Sky. He gave a memorable performance as Joseph 'Little Joe' Jackson. In the movie he played opposite Ethel Waters as his long suffering wife. Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington were also in the movie.

Charles Lane played Wilbur G. Henderson, IRS agent. For the TV Generation he is probably best known as Homer Bedloe in "Petticoat Junction. He often was used by Lucille Ball as his comedic foil in several of her TV series. He dies in 2007 at the age of 102. His last role was as the narrator of the 2006 short "The Night Before Christmas".