Mr. Smith Goes to
Washington (1939)
Starring
Jean Arthur, James Stewart
Director
Frank Capra
Awards
Academy Awards
Best Original Story - Lewis R.
Foster
Academy Awards Nominations
Best Actor - James Stewart)
Best Director - Frank Capra
Best Picture
Best Supporting Actor - Harry Carey
Plot Synopsis
Frank Capra's much-loved political parable staring James Stewart
and Jean Arthur, is a classic of American cinema. When a Wisconsin senator dies, patriotic
boy scout leader Jefferson Smith is appointed his successor. Smith's appointment comes at
the suggestion of crooked political strategist Jim Taylor who needs a "yes man"
in the office - and the innocent starry-eyed Smith's considered too naive to suspect foul
play. But Smith's savvy secretary Saunders knows the whys and wherefores, the ins and outs
of the Beltway. She gives Jeff the info he needs to go head-to-head with corrupt senator
Joseph Paine, champion forgotten causes and fight for good old American values.
Film Notes
"Political heavyweights decide that Jefferson Smith (James
Stewart), an obscure scoutmaster in a small town, would be the perfect dupe to fill a
vacant U.S. Senate chair. Surely this naive bumpkin can be easily controlled by the senior
senator (Claude Rains) from his state, a respectable and corrupted career politician.
Director Frank Capra fills the movie with Smith's wide-eyed wonder at the glories of
Washington, all of which ring false for his cynical secretary (Jean Arthur), who doesn't
believe for a minute this rube could be for real. But he is. Capra was repeating the
formula of a previous film, Mr. Deeds Goes to
Town, but this one is even sharper; Stewart and Arthur are brilliant, and the
former cowboy star Harry Carey lends a warm presence to the role of the vice president.
Bright, funny, and beautifully paced, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is Capra's ode
to the power of innocence - an idea so potent that present-day audiences may find
themselves wishing for a new Mr. Smith in Congress. The 1939 Congress was none too
thrilled about the film's depiction of their august body, denouncing it as a caricature;
but even today, Capra's jibes about vested interests and political machines look as
accurate as ever." (Robert Horton, Amazon.com)
Two slimy fat-cat legislators recruit Jefferson Smith, an
innocent and staunchly principled Montana scout leader, as the state's new Senator, hoping
to exploit his naviete and community pride to bring home pork-barrel funds. Once he
ascends to Capitol Hill, however, Mr. Smith finds nothing but deep-rooted corruption in
Washington, D.C., and, absolutely refusing to submit to cynicism, he tirelessly takes the
message of the American people right to their out-of-touch representatives. Based on Lewis
R. Foster's novel The Gentleman From Montana. The Hopper boys are played by Billy
Watson, Delmar Watson, Johnny Russell, Harry Watson, Gary Watson and Baby Dumpling.
Rated: NR