140 Character Movie Review – #140RVW
Classic Capra-corn launched Jimmy Stewart into the stratosphere. Anchored by great acting, wonderful picture though cornball & far too long.
Spoiler-free Movie Review of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington:
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is such a classic, a hokey throwback as comforting as a slice of warm apple pie, that it’s incredible to realize that it was wildly controversial at the time of its release, 75 years ago. Remember, this was 1939; when Mr. Smith Goes to Washington premiered on October 17th of that year, it was against a backdrop of global tension. World War II had just begun a month earlier with Germany’s invasion of Poland and America was not receptive to a film that was perceived as critical of the United States government. Many members of Congress & the Senate protested what they saw as un-American and unflattering portrayal of the government and many prominent individuals called for the ban or withdrawal of the film.
Fortunately, once they’d seen the picture, most sensible people came to their senses and saw the film for the patriotic piece that it is. Even the humorless censors in Will Hays’ office of the Motion Picture Production Code got a grip after reading the screenplay and heartily endorsed it.
Because the fact is, while the film certainly does paint Washington as a town suffering the presence of corrupt individuals in a sea of cynicism: 1) the truth is defense against defamation, and more importantly, 2) Frank Capra made a career goal out of finding the good in all people and celebrating the power of an individual to help others find the best in themselves. That’s the Capra style (some clever wag dubbed it Capra-corn) and Mr. Smith is one of the most compelling examples. Far from showing the worst about the American government, the satire was viewed as the fair criticism of select individuals that it is and not a condemnation of the system. Through protagonist Jefferson Smith (Stewart) Capra delivers some of his most heartfelt and loving praise of democracy.
It really is an inspirational film. It’s about as subtle as a brick to the head, though. As the saying goes, they don’t make em like this anymore. That’s good and bad. Modern filmgoers will never truly be able to accept the earnest wholesomeness of this period of films and Capra in particular. The world has changed too much. That we may therefore miss out on a simpler and more sincere message movie like this one is unfortunate. However, no one should miss the obvious grandstanding of these pictures or the heavy-handed dialogue delivered by former silent film stars projecting their performances to the back row.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington may be too long and obvious, but it’s heart and quality are unassailable. Stewart is brilliant and creates the fiercely individual screen presence he will grace us with for his entire career. Claude Rains turns in one in a long line of subtle and elegant performances and the whole picture can get your blood stirring if you let it. Highly recommended…
Poster:
Trailer:
http://youtu.be/n8Mon_wODYc
Bechdel Test:
Fail
The Representation Test Score: C (4 pts)
Hey, it was 1939, what do you expect…
(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)
| Main Cast | James Stewart Jefferson Smith, Jean Arthur Saunders, Claude Rains Senator Joseph Paine, Edward Arnold Jim Taylor |
| Rating | Not Rated |
| Release Date | Thu 19 Oct 1939 UTC |
| Director | Frank Capra |
| Genres | Drama |
| Plot | A naive man is appointed to fill a vacancy in the US Senate. His plans promptly collide with political corruption, but he doesn’t back down. |
| Poster |  |
| Runtime | 129 |
| Tagline | Capra at his greatest! |
| Writers | Sidney Buchman (screen play), Lewis R. Foster (story) |
| Year | 1939 |
