May 1977 marked the 80th birthday of the man whom many film historians consider America"s foremost film director, in point of both longevity and quality of product.Capra"s career began with the emergence of Hollywood as the world film capital. Serving his apprenticeship as gag writer for Mack Sennett, Capra then found himself behind the director"s megaphone in the twenties. He was responsible for the emergence of Harry Langdon as a pantomimic clown whom many considered the equal to Keaton and Lloyd.His two superb Langdon films, The Strong Man and Long Pants, find remarkable sympathetic audiences when they are screened today.