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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
 
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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

James Stewart (Actor), Jean Arthur (Actor), Frank Capra (Director) | Format: DVD
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)

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Amazon.com essential video

Political heavyweights decide that Jefferson Smith (James Stewart), an obscure scoutmaster in a small town, would be the perfect dupe to fill a vacant U.S. Senate chair. Surely this naive bumpkin can be easily controlled by the senior senator (Claude Rains) from his state, a respectable and corrupted career politician. Director Frank Capra fills the movie with Smith's wide-eyed wonder at the glories of Washington, all of which ring false for his cynical secretary (Jean Arthur), who doesn't believe for a minute this rube could be for real. But he is. Capra was repeating the formula of a previous film, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, but this one is even sharper; Stewart and Arthur are brilliant, and the former cowboy star Harry Carey lends a warm presence to the role of the vice president. Bright, funny, and beautifully paced, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is Capra's ode to the power of innocence--an idea so potent that present-day audiences may find themselves wishing for a new Mr. Smith in Congress. The 1939 Congress was none too thrilled about the film's depiction of their august body, denouncing it as a caricature; but even today, Capra's jibes about vested interests and political machines look as accurate as ever. --Robert Horton

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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
A Point of Order, Mr. Speaker... Dec 15 2003
Format:DVD
My first inclination was to complain that this DVD is like way overpriced and has not come down in price in some time. Yes, it is a truly great movie, and the DVD has some extra goodies, but there is no reason why it still should be way over $20 in price. That being said, there are few films that might be worth it and this is one of them. It still captures the essence of what being an American is--or what it should be. The lone man voicing his ideas against the machine, reminding us of what sanity is, of what priorities should be. At no time in American history is such a voice needed more than now: we want to send nearly $100 Billion to our enemy while people here will starve today. If that isn't the "Taylor machine" I don't know what is. This film speaks to the real war on terror--the grip that power and greed have on this country at any given time. In movies, especially Frank Capra movies, it all comes out ok in the end, even though many of his films have a suicidal crisis in them at some point. Meet John Doe, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, It's a Wonderful Life, and Mr. Smith all have a suicide that nearly happens. Why would that be,in the films of Frank Capra, considered the "feel good" director of all time? Because at some point life can become not worth living when all of its better values have been perverted, when it seems hopeless and that there is no way out of the madness,when one cannot bear all the tension and contradiction.(Gee, sorry for such a downer review). It might have something to do with the fact that the country was in the "Great Depression", economically and psychologically in the group sense, and that things really were pretty bleak. In Capra films, the response to despair is hope (that the badness will relent) and kindness (the kindness of others towards the unfortunate). And maybe that is the answer for our time as well. Where will we find it? Anyway, all this malarkey aside, Mr. Smith is a great movie, full of laughs, drama, and telling satire, a landmark performance by Jimmy Stewart, and well supported by a great cast all around--Claude Rains, Thomas Mitchell, Jean Arthur, Harry Carey, Edward Arnold. One of the most enjoyable films you will ever see and worth the high price you will pay for the DVD. And now, my filibuster ends.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
An All-American Film July 4 2004
Format:VHS Tape
This movie is perfect for July 4th..in fact, I watched this movie for the first time on this day! If you want to see how a bill is passed, what the Senate consist of in the government, how people in politics are after, great monuments like the Capitol and Lincoln, and a great storyline, this is the movie for you.
Jimmy Stewart played Jeff Smith, a Boy Scout ranger who loves America, was picked as a Senator. His honesty and rookie nature made him a ruse for the experienced Senators who are out to get him and throw him out of office with their lies. Meanwhile, he did find a friend who went with him all the way...his secretary, Clarissa (who falls in love with him). You will have to find out the rest of the movie what happens when people found out that Smith was telling the truth all along, and the bad guys.
This is a great movie!! Go watch it!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
The movie will not yield. May 10 2004
Format:VHS Tape
Frank Capra captures the heart of american patriotism without ever becoming preachy. Mr. Smith is equal parts civics lesson, romance, tense drama and at its heart: the perfect fish out of water comedy.

Jimmy Stewart is fantastic as Jefferson Smith an honorory senator who accidentally stumbles on corruption. Stellar performances were turned in by Jean Arthur, Claude Raines, Edward Arnold and Thomas Mitchell, but it is Stewart who dominates this film.

The phrase Capraesque gets bandied about with too much regularity these days when describing recent films. I would strongly reccomend Mr. Sith goes to Washington as Capra at his most Capraesque.

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Most recent customer reviews
Great movie; bad release!
I recently decided to view this version on one TV and the earlier release on the other. I really didn't think that there would be much a difference, but the Columbia classics... Read more
Published on Jan 7 2010 by James Dickinson
THE LAST "CONSERVATIVE" MOVIE?
In 1939, Frank Capra made "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", starring Jimmy Stewart. I have sources that tell me a film was made 10 years later that depicted the Republican... Read more
Published on Jun 6 2004 by Steven R. Travers
Classic in every sense of the word
I would have to agree with everyone else here, that there is no better performance in film history than Jimmy Stewart and Jeff Smith. Read more
Published on Feb 2 2004 by Nick
Great classic that has stood the test of time
Amazingly, I only just rented this movie and saw it for the first time this week, and I was pleased to see how well this legendary Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart classic had held... Read more
Published on Oct 26 2003 by magellan
A must see
I was shown this movie by my 12th grade government teacher, Mr. Jones. Now that I am a teacher, I find this to be a great resource for students. Read more
Published on Sep 17 2003 by "stuckinwi"
A Great Movie Classic With An forever Important Message!
This film is what film making is or should be about. The exitement and drama are not only high but of a very real nature. Read more
Published on Sep 12 2003 by Cheryl T. & Roger A. Meyer
WOW- what more is there to say?
What an amazing, heart-felt drama. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is all about an innocent small-town man elected to the Senate by other senators who want to take advantage of his... Read more
Published on Sep 6 2003 by Becca
This should be shown in the classroom!
I first saw this in my People and Politics classroom, and if you teach that subject or a similar one, or are interested in that, you cannot go wrong with this movie. Read more
Published on Aug 7 2003 by Lauren Ormston
Bleh
It's an unfunny comedy that set the archetype for most of Adam Sandler's movies -- generally earnest man from leftfield unexpectedly gets position of influence in _____ (golf,... Read more
Published on Aug 4 2003 by fat_runner
Maybe I'm just a cynical Washingtonian
I've lived in Washington, DC for about 8 years now. You can't avoid the political headlines here if you wanted to. You kind of pick these things up.

So I decided to rent "Mr. Read more

Published on July 22 2003 by Dennis!
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