Meet John Doe, a man who never existed, but whose impact on society cannot be ignored. When a local newspaper columnist is fired and prints a fake letter from a fictional John Doe threatening suicide to protest society's ills, the story takes a life of its own. The newspaper, looking to boost sales, hires a derelict to play the role of John Doe, but things take a surprising turn when the made-up philosophy starts a whole political movement. As the grassroots movement gains momentum, those in power try to manipulate it for their own gain, but John Doe, the man who never was, has other plans. A heartwarming and thought-provoking tale of how one man's idea can inspire a nation.

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Some movies that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as Meet John Doe include A Matter of Life and Death, Gentleman Jim, Swing High, Swing Low, Going My Way, The Shop Around the Corner, Woman of the Year (1942).