Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Rating:
Summary: My favorite of all time. I play it every election eve.
Review: It paints a very frank picture of the ugly nature of politics and begs for just one honest man to make a difference. James Stewart is flawless and absolutely irreplacable as that man - Jeff Smith. The stellar Capra stable of players from Jean Arthur to Edward Arnold to H. B. Warner are pitch perfect. But my special favorite may in fact be Claude Rains, who plays an honest man gone bad with such conflict and realism that he makes a potentially cartoon "villain" feel all the more palpably plausible. This is why "Mr. Smith" may be the ne plus ultra of idealistic films but it is not unrealistic. And I have yet to see any film sustain a half hour that matches this film's third act - the filibuster - in intensity and exaltation.

Rating:
Summary: A 6 star movie
Review: This might be the best movie ever produced. No wonder its mandatory to watch this movie in many schools. Like 'The Wizard of OZ, White Christmas, and the Miracle on 34th Street, this should be an annual holiday movie. Maybe Memorial Day?

Rating:
Summary: Watch this movie and pine for this kind of Government
Review: OK I admit it I'm a sentamentalist, and a political junkie. Some movies just get to me and I live for politics. Combine the two of them, add fine performances by James Stewart, Claude Rains, Et-al and cap it off with the Capra style and I'm hooked. The story of an innocent thrust into the Senate by a political machine is at times gripping and at other times (ok frequent times) amusing. The dinner table with the Governer and his children is classic. I can't watch this movie without being in tears, particularly at a particular scene where a young boy is reading the Gettysburg Address at the Lincoln Memorial while an elderly Black Gentleman, (Who looked old enough to be a former slave and may well have been.) takes off his hat in reverence. (I keep thinking what he would say to the idea that the civil war wasn't about slavery.) In the end I think the movie is (like the Star Wars series) less about the brave struggle of a youth fighting for his ideas than about the guilt and struggle of the man who has abandoned his. This may be quite unfair of me but I suspect many in congress have with the best intentions made the same deal that Sen Payne (Raines) makes in this film. I think it was the real reason this movie was so unpopular in Washington when it came out and why for some there today it would be unbearable to watch.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic, one of Jimmy Stewart's best!
Review: This is a fabulous movie. Why can't they make 'em like this any more? I supose I'm not the greatest critic. I adore sappy old movies especialy if Jimmy Stewart is the star. But I think this is one of the best. The extreem, almost tangible emotion of the last sceen really pulls you in. I would recomend this to anyone. THis movie is also really fantastic for a government class.

Rating:
Summary: Groundbreaking Yet Disturbing
Review: Frank Capra's vision of politics has had an incredible impact on the American political psyche. He portrays all politicians as corrupt and evil. He clearly sends the message that the only people you can trust are "political outsiders"--this idea has become SO ingrained in American political life that even consummate political insiders like Bob Dole try and portray themselves at outsiders to attract votes.

What makes this disturbing is the incredible oversimplification involved here. No credit is given to people who spend their lives in public service--they are all simply corrupt and evil. There is no recognition of the enormous amount of effort and intelligence a politician must haveto work effectively in government--they are all corrupt and evil. This simplistic and wrong-headed perspective on politics has brainwashed thousands into thinking the same things--and the truth is, most politicians are hard working, dedicated, and honest.

A great movie, but not for the reasons you may think--watch it and understand how easily the American psyche can be manipulated.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Movie, Properly Restored
Review: MR.SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON is one of the greatest classic of american cinema. Jimmy Stewart is wonderful, Capra's direction is so great. The sory may sound a bit naive, but the emotion of the film so great can overcome this very naiveness and turns into a powerful, truthful idealism. Hollywood then could do that, not today, and I really don't understand why.

I just would like to add one fact to praise this DVD, and encourage everybody who visits this page to buy it, even if they have seen the movie; in many cases, great polular classics are oftenly viewed on poor prints and video masters, because of the very popularity of the film, the prints and negatives tend to get damged. overused, often replaced with inferior film elements. Thus, a great classic for everybody becomes a great film that one's grandpa talked about, and would really look that old.

That is why a special notice should be given to this DVD, because The Library of Congress did a wonderful job rescuing and restoring the film. The trasnfer is from their restored print, which they worked out of the original camera negative. Some parts of the negative were also damged, but they succeeded in replacing them with film elements that are not apparently inferior. The result is, a sharper, detailed look that we have been unable to see for over 4 or 5 decades.

These film archive people are doing a wonderful and important job. Restoring a film is not an easy job, and certainly is not cheap. That why these DVDs are so important, so that you can understand the importance of what they are doing.

Rating:
Summary: Timeless Classic
Review: This movie still embodies what a true Senator should be. Romantic and naive? Yes, but still moves the American sprit. The courage of Mr. Smith is something that should be found in politicians today. If the special interest groups saw more "Mr. Smith's" in our government, what would they do?

Rating:
Summary: What it means to be an American
Review: They don't make them like this anymore and they never will again. How could they? The brilliant and insightful director Frank Capra is gone. Jimmy Stewart, the quitessential American actor( along with Gary Cooper), is also gone. Look at the incomparable supporting cast: Thomas Mitchell, Edward Arnold, Claude Rains and Harry Carey all in one movie. Incredible!

And what a movie this is. Stewart's performance is sublime and Capra wrings every ounce of emotion from him in the immortal Senate scene. Jean Arthur ably supports, though this is thoroughly Jimmy Stewart's picture. The script never flags, there are no filler scenes, no superfluous dialogue, no irritating sub-plots... it's the perfect movie and one which should bring tears to the eyes of anyone who is proud to be an American.

Of course Capra was hokey at times, that was his stock in trade. But somehow, when Capra does it, it's still magical, it's still timeless and this is still one of the great American movies. If you've never seen it, you're in for a memorable treat. For those of us who have seen it many times, there's still more magic to wring from another viewing.

Rating:
Summary: Still the best portrayal of what it means to be an American
Review: I can still remember the first time I watched the crushing scene of Jimmy Stewart's filibuster in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." I was six years old; I was up way past my bedtime, and my parents were both weeping. I looked at the screen; I looked at my parents. I was utterly confused, but I knew that whatever this man was saying had to be important. I can still remember gasping when he collapsed. I didn't see the movie again until after high school, and when I watched it for the first time, aware of what was happening, I found myself crying. When my parents were watching it, Vietnam was in full force; when I watched it, Reagan was denying the lies of Iran-Contra. I still believe that America can be the place Jefferson Smith believed it to be; in many ways, it is this movie which continues to feed that belief. Not because the movie itself creates that belief, but that every single person I have ever watched it with can't hold back when they get to the end of the filibuster. Jefferson Smith's loss is our loss, and his hope is our hope, more than sixty years after the film was made.

Rating:
Summary: A National Treasure
Review: James Stewart and Frank Capra. One needn't know much more going in to be assured that this will be an enjoyable film. Together they take on the Washington elite with this dramatic comedy about a naïve Washington outsider who gets appointed to the Senate and stands alone against corruption and graft. Jefferson Smith (James Stewart) is appointed from an unnamed state after one of its Senators dies. He is appointed because the political fat cats need someone who will not seem like a crony, but who will not stand in the way of a graft scheme for a pork barrel dam that will make bigwig Jim Taylor (Edward Arnold) millions. When the wide eyed Smith gets to Washington, he discovers the corrupt bill because the dam will stand in the way of his own proposed bill for a children's camp. When he tries to stop the project, Taylor's political machine frames him to make it seem like he is the one taking graft. This leads to the dramatic confrontation in the Senate, where Smith filibusters in an attempt to get the truth out.

This film is wonderful in so many ways. The story is a classic struggle between good and evil. In typical Capra style, the protagonist and antagonists are exaggerated so there is no confusion as to who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. If there is one clear message in Capra's films it is that those with strong moral fiber never give up hope. He likes to create utterly hopeless situations for characters to test their integrity, and rewards unswerving adherence to basic values and principles by triumph against the odds.

I was dismayed to see a comment, obviously from a young viewer of this film, that said that the characters weren't realistic because no one used profanity. This is a sad testimonial to our culture, when it is inconceivable to young people that there was once a time when profanity was the exception and not the rule.

Stewart is brilliant as the idealistic and awe struck kid from the backwoods who is overwhelmed by the glory of Washington, with its monuments and history. The story brings us a confrontation between political expediency and idealistic principles with the message that the truly great men are the ones that don't compromise their principles to hold on to power. Stewart also brings a whole treasure chest of bumbling comedic sight gags that make him all the more lovable in the part.

Jean Arthur is fabulous as the tough and savvy assistant who is jaded by Washington politics, but gets a fresh injection of fervor as she listens to Smith's noble homespun philosophies. Claude Rains is also masterful as the adulterated Senator, who sold his soul to corruption for a chance at the presidency. He plays the simultaneous sense of guilt and ambition with a torment that is clearly ripping his heart out, and the power of both emotions portrayed in his performance makes his character both repugnant and pitiable.

This film is a national treasure. It is on my top 50 list of all time. The story of corruption in politics, and the greatness of the men who resist it, is timeless and would not be lost on the politicians in Washington today. A 10/10.