Although it's worn less well than some Frank Capra films from his best period, this is still a charming and amusing study of a carefree, eccentric family and their tangles with the authorities.

It gave Capra his third Academy Award for best director and his second for best picture.

And there were five other nominations. Lionel Barrymore, who plays the head of the family, was crippled at the outset of the film by the arthritis that had been troubling him for years.

He had doubts about continuing his career, but Capra insisted on having him as Grandpa Vanderhof.

He put a plaster cast on Barrymore's foot and explained it by having Vanderhof say that he has sprained his ankle after his granddaughter dared him to slide down the banisters - wholly in keeping with the character!

Capra added Jean Arthur and James Stewart for the romantic leads, plus one character who hadn't been in the original play, a Mr Poppins, who makes ingenious toys for fun, and is delightfully portrayed by gnomish Donald Meek.

The results are wonderful and warm, or faintly irritating, according to your tastes!