Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 1939

type: Movie

language: American English

duration: 129 min

genre: political

director: Frank Capra

Score: 8 / 10

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a 1939 American lighthearted political satire film directed by Frank Capra, starring Jean Arthur and James Stewart, and featuring Claude Rains and Edward Arnold. The film is about a naive, newly appointed United States senator who fights against government corruption, and was written by Sidney Buchman, based on Lewis R. Foster's unpublished story "The Gentleman from Montana". It was loosely based on the life of Montana US Senator Burton Wheeler, who underwent a similar experience when he was investigating the Warren Harding administration.

Plot

In the late 1930s, the governor of an unnamed western state, Hubert "Happy" Hopper, appoints Jefferson Smith to replace deceased U.S. Senator Sam Foley. Smith is head of the Boy Rangers, and his appointment is supported by the governor's children. Corrupt political boss Jim Taylor sought the appointment of his handpicked stooge, while popular committees wanted another candidate. Smith, however, was chosen because his naivety about politics was expected to make him easy to manipulate.

Awards

Cast

More details

author	Lewis R. Foster Sidney Buchman
award	Academy Award for Best Story National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
contentLocation	Washington, D.C.
director	Frank Capra
editor	Al Clark Gene Havlick
events	idealism
genre	comedy-drama political satire
keywords	boys camp brand bumble bumpkin crush expel federal government fidget filibuster frame graft last chance machine political boss political machine president of the senate radio station reform shout suicide by gunshot take advantage u.s. senator vice president of the united states want wash yokel
musicBy	Dimitri Tiomkin
nomination	Academy Award for Best Actor Academy Award for Best Director Academy Award for Best Film Editing Academy Award for Best Picture Academy Award for Best Production Design Academy Award for Best Score, Adaptation or Treatment Academy Award for Best Sound Academy Award for Best Story Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
producer	Frank Capra
publisher	Columbia Pictures
recordedAt	Washington, D.C.