Starring: Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Claude Rains
Directed by: Frank Capra
Plot Summary: After the untimely passing of U.S. Senator Sam Foley, the search is on to find his replacement, leading to the selection of a younger candidate, Jefferson Smith, who the government believes will be easy to manipulate through his naivety. Smith is taken under the wing of Senator Joseph Paine and his new secretary Clarissa Saunders, who attempt to bring some credibility back to his name after the newspapers label him a buffoon. Smith proposes a bill to authorize a loan to buy land for a national boys' camp, but the land is already part of a graft scheme that is supported by Paine. While Paine does try to stand by Smith, he is reminded of what would happen to his power and influence in politics if he were to back out. Paine stands aside as the political machine accuses Smith of trying to gain profit through his bill. In order to prove his innocence, Smith must launch a filibuster and convince the U.S. Senate and his constituents to set things right.
When it comes to the year 1939, there are three movies that most people think about. The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind are two of the more recognizable choices with general audiences, but many movie buffs will also think about Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and regard it as one of the greatest movies of all time. This is one of the more intriguing films I put in my wishlist because I knew plenty of references from American Government classes I had in high school and college, and I had seen an episode of The Simpsons that pays homage to the film. Add the fact that it's made by the director of It's a Wonderful Life and stars one of my favorite actors, James Stewart, and you have some pretty high expectations for this film.
James Stewart stars as Senator Jefferson Smith. Stewart continues to display why he is one of my favorite actors of all time, as he is able to give Smith a visible sense of hope and optimism while he's in Washington D.C. His humble nature really paints him as one of the ultimate "good guys" to have in politics, and his speech at the end of the film was powerful enough to cement Stewart as one of Hollywood's biggest powerhouse actors. The film has a very slow build to its climax, but once Smith is able to have the floor for discussion, Stewart is able to show why he's got some of the greatest acting chops of all time by showing as much emotion as possible. One of my favorite themes about Smith is that he is an honest man (which many politicians hate him for) and can tell when others are lying (he's almost like an X-Men).One of Jefferson's biggest support systems throughout the film is Clarissa Saunders, played by Jean Arthur. Arthur's performance is one of the few that hasn't aged the greatest, and I think a lot of that has to do with her voice. I'm not sure if her voice was considered "seductive" at the time, but nowadays it is definitely ranging more on annoying than anything else. She is credited as being very crafty in the world of politics, which does allow her to stick out as someone superior to Smith in certain areas, so she is able to hold her own against the men in Washington D.C.
Claude Rains plays Senator Joseph Paine, a character who tries to help Jefferson out of respect for Smith's late father (a friend of Senator Paine), but eventually partakes in selling Smith under the bus with the rest of the politicians. The rest of the political figures in the film have a despicable, "holier than thou" arrogance towards them, but Paine is a bit more complex. We can see early on that he (begrudgingly) is trying to look out for Smith and has him keep to himself for a while in order to protect him. It is only later through the deeply-rooted corruption and power within the political machine that Paine must concede and partake in sabotaging Smith. Rains does a good job in making sure Paine can be empathetic when he needs to be due to his guilt, but also loathsome when his loyalties are put on display before Smith and the audience.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
There is something very fascinating about Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, but it takes some time to get to it. Still, there are great acting performances all around and a great story told on-screen, making it a film I recommend everyone should at least see once.
Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and movie images are copyrighted by Columbia Pictures
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