Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
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A naive newcomer to the U.S. Senate must navigate a web of corruption and political machines to defend his integrity.
The story
In the late 1930s, the governor of an unnamed western state appoints Jefferson Smith, a naive head of the Boy Rangers, to replace a deceased U.S. Senator. Smith is chosen specifically because his lack of political experience is expected to make him easy to manipulate by corrupt interests. Upon arriving in Washington, Smith is taken under the wing of Senator Joseph Paine, who is secretly involved in a crooked graft scheme. When Smith proposes a bill for a national boys' camp, he inadvertently becomes a target of the political machine, leading to a public betrayal and a fight for his reputation.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Jefferson Smith, a naive westerner, is appointed to the U.S. Senate. He is mentored by Senator Joseph Paine, who is secretly in league with corrupt political boss Jim Taylor. Smith proposes a bill to fund a national boys' camp, but the land intended for the camp is part of a graft scheme involving a dam. When Paine realizes Smith's honesty makes him a liability, he betrays Smith by accusing him of fraud. Smith flees but is convinced by his secretary, Clarissa Saunders, to launch a filibuster to defend his innocence. Despite facing a barrage of attacks from the press and the political machine, Smith speaks for hours on the Senate floor. As his stamina fades, Paine is overcome with remorse. After attempting suicide, Paine returns to the chamber to confess the entire scheme, proclaiming Smith's innocence and demanding his own expulsion instead.
- First release year
- 1939
- Runtime (minutes)
- 130
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Frank Capra
- Writers
- Sidney Buchman · screenplay; Lewis R. Foster · story
- Cast and characters
- Jean Arthur; James Stewart · Jefferson Smith; Claude Rains · Senator Joseph Paine; Edward Arnold · James Taylor; Guy Kibbee; Thomas Mitchell; Beulah Bondi
- Genres
- political comedy-drama
- Themes
- government corruption; individual integrity; free speech; democracy
- Tone and mood
- political; idealistic; pessimistic
- Premise and plot tags
- whistleblower; political drama; filibuster
- Source material / true-story basis
- Lewis R. Foster's unpublished story "The Gentleman from Montana"
- Reception
- The film was very successful at both the domestic and international box offices, making James Stewart a major star. It was considered one of the greatest films of all time and was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry.
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Original Story · win
- Production trivia
- The Boy Scouts of America refused to allow their name to be used, leading to the use of 'Boy Rangers'.; The film was originally intended to be a sequel to Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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