No. 34 - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

The Greatest Of All Capra Hits!

Rated: Not Rated, but would be rated G (General audiences)

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

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

Movie Introduction: When the idealistic young Jefferson Smith (Stewart) surprisingly wins his appointment to the United States Senate, he seeks out the mentorship of his father’s old friend Senator Joe Paine (Rains). However, Paine isn't as noble as his reputation. He is involved in a scheme with rich businessmen to build a dam in their Tennessee district. When Pain learns that the innocent Smith is working to build a boys' campsite exactly where the lucrative project will go, he is forced by business interests, led by the hard-fisted Jim Taylor (Arnold), to discredit and smear the young Senator. Determined to stand up against Paine and his corrupt peers, Smith, with the help of spunky secretary Clarissa Saunders (Arthur), takes his case to the Senate floor and holds a filibuster to get his point heard. 

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. They were idyllic and wonderful. The unlikely hero takes his licks and wins in the end. It’s easy to view these classics through the reality lens, 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 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 want it all. 

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

The genius of the film is that Mr. Smith is acting like we, the people, expect an elected official to act. 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 and honest principals. We love it when he goes around Washington punching each reporter in the face who spread lies about him. Finally a person who holds someone 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. Smith has no idea that Paine is as corrupt as the next politician. 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 go off and create introduce a bill for his boy's camp - it's busy-work to keep him out of matters that might be questioned. What Paine does not know is that Smith’s new bill will buy land right in the middle of the secret new dam-building scheme under the control of 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.  They implement a plan to drum up lies and defame the young man in the press and get him thrown out of Washington.

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 man, 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!"

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.

Onto No. 35... Above