James Stewart
Harry Carey
Claude Rains
Mr. Smith Goes to
Washington is a movie that teaches you the power of being resilient.
Frank Capra and James
Stewart, who also worked together in the 1946 movie It’s a Wonderful Life,
pulled off a perfect combination of acting and directing that will make you,
the viewer, want to be like Mr. Smith.
In a world where
politics is a dirty game of “if you can’t beat them, join them,” Mr. Smith
(James Stewart) was faced with the task of being the odd one out, as he wanted
to stand for what he believed in.
Frank Capra and his
crew had their work cut out for them to ensure authenticity. An elaborate set
was created, consisting of the Senate committee rooms and cloakrooms. The thing
that really stands out is the reproduction of the Senate Chamber on the Columbia
lot.
The movie plot is
about a naive and idealistic gentleman, Jefferson Smith (James Stewart). Smith
is the leader of the Boy Rangers and, due to a gap in the Senate, he was
appointed by the governor of his state.
In the Senate, he met
a friend of his father whom he looked up to — Senator Joseph Paine.
In Washington, Smith discovers the many tricks and shortcomings of politics. His goal to build a national boys' camp leads to a conflict with the state political boss, Jim Taylor, and his childhood hero, Senator Paine.
After the powers that
be tried to recruit Smith, he turned them down. In response, Jim Taylor
concocted a scandal that ruined Smith’s name.
The whole movie is
then based on how he tries to defend his name.
The movie stands high
on drama, with a few comic relief moments here and there. We’re used to movies that depict the
good guy winning at the end, but this movie exposes a bit of reality — to triumph
in any battle, you must be ready to go the extra mile and do what has not been
done before.
The movie showcases wonderful acting by the cast, but the ending of the movie is annoying and unrealistic. It was like they ran out of ideas and was like, let us just end it.
In 1977, Frank Capra
Jr. remade the film under another name, Billy Jack Goes to Washington, starring
Tom Laughlin. In 1992, Eddie Murphy starred in a movie loosely based on Mr.
Smith Goes to Washington, called The Distinguished Gentleman.
The film also
influenced many other movies, including Legally Blonde 2: Red, White &
Blonde and Evan Almighty.
This classic is very readily available nowadays, and I ask you to go see it.
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