Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Director: Frank Capra
Starring: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains
Synopsis:
An everyman is nominated to the Senate, where he finds himself overwhelmed by the corruption and cynicism in Washington.
Impressions:
One of Frank Capra's most iconic films and perhaps the star-making role for Jimmy Stewart, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is one of the must-see films of the American film canon. You can certainly tell that it was originally intended as a sequel to Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, but even without the casting change, it became its own animal. To the modern bitterly cynical viewer, the sentimentalism may well make you gag a bit, but funnily enough, it was rather controversial in its day for being so cynical about politicians and the press. There's an adage about flak or a quote from Hamlet that strikes me as an appropriate rejoinder. While the movie shines a light on crooked politicians and journalists, it nevertheless leans toward idealism in the end. Jimmy Stewart delivers a fine performance as Jefferson Smith, going from awkward country mouse to fiery orator. Claude Rains is also great as the senior senator Joe Paine. Jean Arthur was good as the Smith's cynical but steadily defrosting secretary Ms. Saunders and I also liked Harry Carey as the President of the Senate. Some of Smith's early foibles are cringe comedy, which I have a particular distaste for, but all in all, this is a good movie and well worth seeing.
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