Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

My Review

“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” is a political drama about a idealistic young man appointed to a U. S. Senate seat and almost immediately taking on the corrupt political establishment. Director Frank Capra put together this outstanding drama with marvelous production values, great writing, and superior performances. Sidney Buchman wrote the wonderful screenplay.

James Stewart is perfect in the title role which made him a big star. This was to be one of his classic portrayals of an everyday American with an honest and idealist character. The supporting cast includes Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, Edward Arnold, Guy Kibbee, Eugene Pallette, Beulah Bondi, H. B. Warner, Harry Carey, Ruth Donnelly, William Demarest, Jack Carson, Dick Elliott, Charles Lane, and Thomas Mitchell, who also starred in two other 1939 blockbusters: “Gone With the Wind” and “Stagecoach.”

The watchable “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” was a big box office hit for producer Frank Capra and Columbia Pictures. It was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, winning one for Best Original Story (Lewis R. Foster). Non-winners include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Stewart), Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Rains and Carey), Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Musical Scoring (Dimitri Tiomkin), and Best Sound Recording.