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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 9780767847162 Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Special Edition, NTSC ISBN: 0767847164 Label: Sony Pictures Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Sony Pictures Release Date: February 22, 2000 Running Time: 129 minutes Sales Rank: 8116 Studio: Sony Pictures Theatrical Release Date: October 19, 1939
Amazon.com essential video: Political heavyweights decide that Jefferson Smith (James Stewart), an obscure scoutmaster in a small town, would be the perfect dupe to fill a vacant U.S. Senate chair. Surely this naive bumpkin can be easily controlled by the senior senator (Claude Rains) from his state, a respectable and corrupted career politician. Director Frank Capra fills the movie with Smith's wide-eyed wonder at the glories of Washington, all of which ring false for his cynical secretary (Jean Arthur), who doesn't believe for a minute this rube could be for real. But he is. Capra was repeating the formula of a previous film, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, but this one is even sharper; Stewart and Arthur are brilliant, and the former cowboy star Harry Carey lends a warm presence to the role of the vice president. Bright, funny, and beautifully paced, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is Capra's ode to the power of innocence--an idea so potent that present-day audiences may find themselves wishing for a new Mr. Smith in Congress. The 1939 Congress was none too thrilled about the film's depiction of their august body, denouncing it as a caricature; but even today, Capra's jibes about vested interests and political machines look as accurate as ever. --Robert Horton
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Classic Movie. Timeless Message About Honor & Integrity in A Corrupt Society.
Frank Capra's classic "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" was originally intended as a sequel to "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town." Unfortunately, Gary Cooper was unavailable. Capra then opted to make a movie about Frederic Chopin, but the studio protested, saying it would be too expensive. The rest is history. The messages in this excellent motion picture about honor and integrity in a corrupt society and asking for God's guidance in a troubled time ring truer now than at any other moment in history. James Stewart gives another career-defining performance as a young Boy Ranger leader unwittingly thrust into ... Read More
Rating: - We need another Mr. Smith
***spoilers***
I can see why the congress at the time this movie was made tended to sneer at the portrayal of them in this movie. Nearly everyone is corrupt, magalomaniacal, and more interested in personal glory than what's best for the country. They cow-tow to the special interests, the press, who in this movie is the same person.
It's a little surprising to see factors back then still having relevance, such as a more and more monolithic press that is less and less capable of good, objective journalism. I found the scam with the needless dam amusing, as it feels really tame ... Read More
Rating: - This is one movie I could watch over and over and over
I only saw this movie for the very first time this week and I have to say that it is already my most favorite Jimmie Stewart movie. I, too, think that his performance was absolutely stellar. I could see that he had great talent in him early on and he should have won the Oscar. Unfortunately, his youth probably what worked against him. In any event, so much better than in The Philadelphia Story, since I saw the two movies back to back.
Rating: - This Movie Bleeds, Red, White and Blue
This movie sends a very strong message to the American people, as not all politicians are corrupted or on the take. It shows the true way how a democracy system should work here in the US. The political statements shown in this movie were attack when the film was released, as people thought of it as anti-American and pro-Communist for its portrayal of corruption in the American government. In my opinion this film shows the faults and positives of our political system. A film like this really can give the viewer of what the true democracy system feels like and shows it only takes the courage of one man ... Read More
Rating: - Mr. Smith goes to Washington
Fasinating insight into political shenanigans involving self serving citizens who buy governmental favors from weak politicians. Money can corrupt elected official who may have been of sound character. Claude Rains portrays a senior senator who has become compromised by a rich campaign donor. Jimmy Stewart is appointed to fill out the term of a recently decease U.S. Senator and becomes caught up in a land deal that threatens a wilderness area within his state. The story focuses on Jimmy Stewart tenacious belief in right and wrong and putting the public's interest first. The tactics that money and power ... Read More
