Watch Mr. Smith Goes to Washington For Free

Great Film overall

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Frank Capra + James Stewart = Pure Gold !!! (Jimmy my boy, you always have been my favorite..)Brilliant performance, dialogues, scenes and pacing.. But the story.. Damn, what a story !! What a great story !!!One man's battle against corporate corrupted politics for the truth justice and liberty.One of the quintessential whistleblower films in American history. One of the most engaging political comedy drama thrillers of all time. That last 1/3 is a blast.Just became one of my all time favorites.10/10

Well, this is like any other political film oozing patriotism, where the small guy gets the big guy. The underdog wins. All American. Better yet, it is Frank Capra, with James Stewart. Can we get any more cliché? Oh, wait. The main character is a Jefferson Smith. Bribery, corruption, conspiracy, lies and deceit. It is all here. Shady deals, ulterior motives. In other words, politics. In case it was not already obvious, I am not very political. But guess what? In all the above ways, yes, this is like all those other films. But it the most important ways, it is not. What makes it different? In one word, Stewart. Sure, the clever writing, the directing, the supporting cast are all assets to the film. But he makes this film. His character's name is in the title, after all. Through his heartfelt performance as Jefferson Smith, the audience is inspired; even the most cynical of us might find ourselves beginning to really like this country, appreciate what we have today that our ancestors did not, and maybe even believe that we can make a difference by getting involved in politics. His naiveté is practically excruciating at times. His first glance at the White House can be compared to a little kid in a candy store. His first evening exploring all the monuments along and around the National Mall is shown in montage form with patriotic backgrounds music. Cheesy, yes. But somehow it was not as bad as it sounds. As he, an everyday man, tries to acclimate himself in the world of politics, each blunder brings new laughs. His awkwardness in palpable and his character lovable. Eventually, of course, he must learn the truth- that it does not really exist in the government. We all cheer for this everyday Smith as he tries to pave the way for all the little guys. As far as high school or even grade school education goes, this should be on a list of required viewings. Along with School House Rock's classic "How a Bill Becomes a Law", of course. I would have loved to learn about government, the Senate, bills, and filibusters this way. **** Spoilers **** Sadly, it was the ending that brought the greatest disappointment. It was extremely sudden and cheap. After all that determination and rallying from Smith; after how far Paine was willing to go to condemn the man he supposedly felt was "like a son" to him, after all his stubbornness to do the right thing, he gives up and confesses everything on the Senate floor? Highly unlikely. Even worse, it cheapens all that Smith has done.

A senator suddenly dies and a replacement needs to be named. The other senator for the state, Joseph Paine (Claude Rains), along with Jim Taylor (Edward Arnold), his corrupt businessman backer, decide to name a truly surprising candidate, one Jefferson Smith (James Stewart). He's meant to be nothing more than a seat warmer so that Paine and Taylor can push through a new piece of legislation concerning a dam, meant to make them filthy rich. Unfortunately Mr. Smith is something they've rarely seen and are utterly incapable of understanding: a good and honest man. And a boy scout to boot.The film is corny and filled with pathos. Phrases like "the American dream", "truth and honesty", "reliability", and so many like those, get thrown around all the time. Politicians are nothing more than hungry jackal fat cats, aiming to filch the hard-earned pennies of the good American people. True way of life is to be found outside, on the prairies where grass leans on the wind. On the mountains reflected against the noon sun. I could feel my spleen turning red, white and blue as I watched this film.And yet, despite all that, the film is magnificent. Perhaps it's because 'It's a Wonderful Life', another film from director Frank Capra, also stars Stewart, but for some reason or other this film reminds me of Christmas. Because Christmas is also corny and filled with pathos. It is. But it's also the best time of the year. When it's okay to be a bit sentimental. Or a lot sentimental. When it's okay to remind ourselves of the values we all hold dear, but which we usually don't talk about because it's seen as embarrassing.Hopefully people still watch this film. Because even though it's old, and corny, and sentimental, and even a bit silly, it's values, themes and lessons are as relevant today as they were back then. Perhaps even more so.

Mr Smith Goes to Washington is about country boy Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart) who is appointed (not elected) as a senator for Missouri when the incumbent dies in office.Smith has been appointed because he is regarded as the perfect patsy, he knows little and is likely to do what he is told. Senator Joseph Paine (Claude Rains) the senior senator from Missouri, Governor Hubert Hopper who has appointed him and a shady man called Jim Taylor plan to build a dam in the State and think with Smith on board this will sail through especially as Taylor is a fixer with plenty of politicians in his pocket.As Jefferson knows nothing about the machinations of politicians he arrives in Washington as a greenhorn. He is provided with a cynical secretary Clarissa Saunders (Jean Arthur) to school him on the politics of the capital. Smith admires Paine as an honourable politician who was revered by Jefferson's own father.After some embarrassing mishaps Jefferson plans to build a boy scout camp at the exact same place as where the dam is supposed to go and before long he is mired down in allegations of corruption and pressured to resign.With Clarissa on his side Smith embarks on a long filibuster to save his political life.It is nice to know we have always had political corruption and this film tells us that crooked politicians and political fixers were there eighty years and more ago which still gives the movie political relevancy. I just really did not buy it as a political satire. I think Smith was just too weak and naive although I liked all the cynics surrounding him.The filibuster scene although nicely performed by Stewart becomes overblown and the whole film borders on being rather schmaltzy which was a constant criticism of director Frank Capra.