No. 34 - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) Frank Capra, Columbia Pictures The Greatest Of All Capra Hits!

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

Director: Frank Capra; Screenplay: Sidney Buchman, Myles Connolly, Lewis R. Foster; Rated Approved

Starring: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, Thomas Mitchell, Edward Arnold, Beulah Bondi, Harry Carey, Eugene Pallette

Plot Summary: Idealistic young man Jefferson Smith is unexpectedly appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill a vacant seat. Initially, Smith is seen as easily manipulated by corrupt political figures, including his state's powerful political boss and even his childhood hero, Senator Joseph Paine. However, when Smith proposes a national boys' camp that interferes with a corrupt land scheme, he finds himself in a fight for his ideals against the powerful forces of political corruption. 

Defining Moment: the filibuster

Trust me, there is no single segment of film like this. This is the pinnacle for Frank Capra, James Stewart and all democracy in our United States.

Something subtle you might have missed:  that darn hat

Jefferson Smith arrives in Washington, D.C. and visits the home of fellow Tennessee Senator Joe Paine, a friend of his father and a man he has admired all of his life. He's introduced to the Senator’s lovely daughter, and, well, Jeff’s becomes a bit nervous. As the two exchange pleasantries, the camera pans down to his hands. He is fidgeting with his hat, then he drops it, fidgets some more, then drops it again. This continues for a bit. On the way out, he knocks over a lamp. This sweet little scene is one of those Capra moments to be treasured. (View the scene HERE on YouTube)

Memorable Quotes:

"I wouldn't give you two cents for all your fancy rules if, behind them, they didn't have a little bit of plain, ordinary, everyday kindness and a - a little lookin' out for the other fella, too... That's pretty important, all that. It's just the blood and bone and sinew of this democracy that some great men handed down to the human race, that's all!" - Senator Jefferson Smith

"Your friend, Mr. Lincoln had his Taylors and Paines. So did every other man who ever tried to lift his thought up off the ground. Odds against them didn't stop those men. They were fools that way. All the good that ever came into this world came from fools with faith like that. You know that, Jeff. You can't quit now. Not you." - Clarissa Saunders

Dad's Review:

Many of Frank Capra's well-known films projected the nation most folks wanted to call home. These flicks were idyllic and wonderful. The unlikely hero takes his licks, stumbles, yet wins in the end. It’s easy to view these classics through the lens of reality, and scoff, "That's not real." Today, some might even laugh at such innocence on display. Maybe things never were that simple and that's a shame.

Through Jefferson Smith, we become the novice, young politician who travels to Washington with an agenda including: 1) save the world, and 2) save Tennessee. He is fresh and eager. He knows nothing of the vicious game he's about to be forced to play. He's innocent to the cruelties of politics and the press. He’s a babe from the wilderness, and suitable prey for the political machine. He will be used, bullied, smeared, ground up and spat out upon the hot pavement. Then laughed at...

Is there a single honest and decent politician? I am not sure when political corruption started in America. I am guessing it was about 15 minutes after we declared ourselves a nation. The real kick in the pants is that, apparently, this is just "human nature". The big dog brutally dominates and uses the small dogs for his benefit. It is all about power and money... and the powerful will spend and plot and maneuver to get it all.

Tell me, this is not the government we have today. Well, it is, and it is worse than ever.

The genius of this film is that Mr. Smith is actually representing we the people. This is how most common folks think it works. We identify with him immediately. It helps that Smith is portrayed by the great James Stewart, one of America’s most beloved stars. We root for him, and all his naïveté and uncertainty. We see he is a man of simple, honest, Boy-Scout principals. We love it when he goes around Washington punching each reporter in the face who spread lies about him. Finally, someone holds someone else responsible for their actions!

Another key to the film is the relationship between Smith and fellow senator, Joseph Paine. Smith see him as a mentor, even a father figure. Smith has no idea that Paine is has become corrupt. Smith has no idea that Paine's job is to keep the junior senator busy and out of the way. To accomplish this, Paine proposes that Smith trot off and create a bill for his boy's camp - it's busy-work to keep him out of important matters. What Paine does not know is that Smith’s new boy's camp will purchase land right in the middle of the secret new dam-building scheme under the control of poweful political boss Jim Taylor. The corrupt Paine is on Taylor's payroll, so he has to supports the scheme. Smith's new bill will draw too much attention.

Taylor and Paine must stop the young Senator. To accomplish, they implement a devious plan to drum up lies, defame the young man in the press and get him thrown out of Washington.

As their plan goes into action, Smith can't believe what is happening to him. His mentor has turned on him. He just wants to quit the whole stinking business return home. Luckily, spunky reporter Clarissa Saunders, who has taken a liking to the young senator, convinces Smith to stick it out, this time with her help. The two devise a plan of their own to fight back, "... because that’s what Abe Lincoln would have done!"

It was brilliant casting to pair Stewart with Jean Arthur. They were a delightful romantic couple in the hit Capra's film, You Can't Take It With You (1938) one year earlier. Their one-screen chemistry helps the film succeed.

This brings the viewers to one of those great, iconic moments on film. Smith squares off against every senator by conducting a marathon filibuster. He will keep control of the chamber as long as he can talk, and does not yield to another Senator. His objective is to convince them, and the country, that our government cannot, and should not, be controlled by political graft and bribes.

The filibuster scene is emotional, uplifting and inspiring. Jefferson Smith, a lone voice against the machine, wins one for the people.

It should be noted that our government and the Washington press, AT THE TIME THIS FILM WAS RELEASED, did not like the film. I wonder why? Perhaps it was too applicable to the government of that day.

I was going to go into a long, political dissertation, but now decline to do so. Wrong time. Wrong place.

However, I will say this - I still have hope in our country and faith in everyday Americans. I DO think there are still Jefferson Smiths in Washington, and in some of our state governments. Some are Republicans. Some are Democrats. Some are Independents. We, as "the people", need to take a hard look at each candidate. Then intelligently vote. Vote out the rotten apples. Vote in the good ones. And if they don't do what they promised, vote them out next time.

Dhamaadka

Onto No. 35... Above