Monday, February 20, 2012

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) ***

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Who runs Washington? How does one become a congressperson, a senator, or the president? These questions were asked in 1939—and are still being asked today. Americans would like to think that idealists like Jefferson Smith (James Stewart) go to Washington to serve the best interests of those they represent.  Yet, in reality, few idealists ever get to Washington, and if they do get there they are quickly disillusioned by the political process.  Most rational Americans today know that the political process has been corrupted, but I’m not quite so sure that people were so aware of what happened in Washington back in 1939—the year this film, like so many other classics, hit the silver screen.

mr-smith_M_jpg_627x325_crop_upscale_q85Nominated for eleven Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Director [Frank Capra], Best Actor [James Stewart], Best Supporting Actor [Harry Carey and Claude Rains], Best Score, Best Sound Recording, Best Film Editing, Best Interior Direction, Best Screenplay, and Best Original Story [winner Lewis R. Foster]), the film was almost put on the shelf after the outbreak of WWII in Europe.  It would seem that some thought the film presented the shining beacon of democracy as a corrupt cesspool operated by political thugs.  And, really, those people were partly right, but there’s more to the story than that.  Sure, director Frank Capra shows the dirt under the political rug, but he also brightly polishes the true meaning of patriotism and republicanism. 

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is the simple story of a common man thrown into a complicated situation.  Jefferson Smith is called upon to represent his state (never identified) as a junior senator when his predecessor, Sam Foley, dies.  Needing to fill the position with someone who will be easy to control, mr_smith_taylorGovernor "Happy" Hopper (Guy Kibbee) chooses Mr. Smith because he is regarded as a hero and loved for his work with the Boy Rangers (think Boy Scouts)—plus, he has no political experience whatsoever.  As such, he represents, in the words of the governor, “the perfect man, never in politics in his life, wouldn't know what it was all about in two years, let alone two months. And the important thing it means votes. A hero of 50,000 boys, and a hundred thousand parents.” 

Why is it so important that the governor find a “yes” man?  Because he and every political office holder in the state are beholden to political boss Jim Taylor (Eddie Arnold). Taylor has bought up land surrounding a canyon along Willet Creek and wants his political stooges to push through a bill that will provide government funding for a dam—which would mr_smith_bad-guys1-500x375allow him to sell the land he’s bought up for a huge profit. Quite simply, it’s the blue ribbon of political pork. Taylor controls everyone, even Senator Joe Paine (Claude Rains), a man some think might be the next president. Indeed, Senator Paine is admired by many, especially by Mr. Smith, whose father was Paine’s best friend. Ah, the dangers of hero-worship.

Capra is quite crafty in how he juxtaposes the backroom dealings of a corrupt political machine with Mr. Smith’s honest reverence for freedom and democracy.  While Taylor, Hopper and Paine are always working the system in closed rooms (they choose who’s allowed in), Mr. Smith revels in the openness of the monuments of Washington (where everyone is welcome).  Even the Senate chamber (expertly mr-smith-goes-to-washington1recreated by Lionel Banks) is used to show the many faces of the political process. While Smith sits at his desk, once occupied by Daniel Webster, he can see common, everyday people looking on in the gallery. Yet, in this same chamber, you can see senators working the system and attempting to stymie the wheels of truth and justice.

There is an educational bent to the film as well. Mr. Smith’s secretary, Clarissa Saunders (the top-billed Jean Arthur), is supposed to make sure he shows up for roll call and that he votes how the machine wants.  In the beginning, she thinks he’s a big dope and refers to him as Daniel Boone and Don Quixote.  You see, she is the cynical Washington insider who knows how things work, and when some country bumpkin starts spouting off about the virtues of democracy smith_wash01she thinks he’s beyond naïve. She’s also not pleased that he wants to write a bill to start a national boy’s camp.  And, this is where the educational bent comes in.  Trying to dissuade him from his idea she explains the very long and tedious process of what it takes to get a bill passed.  Just her explanation alone is a civic lesson in itself—and perhaps an eye-opener for many audience members.  You must remember, they didn’t have School House Rock and “I’m Just a Bill” in 1939!

Of course, the fact that he wants to build this camp along Willet Creek also creates another problem for Saunders—as she knows about Taylor and Paine’s porked-up plan.  What to do?  Like many secretaries of the 1930s, Saunders is smarter than the boss and so she holds his hand as he first presents the bill and then gives himrsmithfilibuster2m a crash course in political trench warfare after Paine and the machine discredit and crucify him.  And, this brings us to the famous 23-hour filibuster, where Mr. Smith refuses to yield the floor by reading from the Constitution and various other documents in the hopes that someone, specifically Paine, will clear his good name. Jimmy Stewart always played his righteous characters with just enough instability that they didn’t seem sanctimonious and/or preachy.  You see the complete destruction of his character in these scenes.  At the beginning of the filibuster he seems hopeful and self-assured—surely he will be able to convince the 011809mrsmith-300x211chamber that he is innocent.  But slowly, his strong voice and straight as a rod back start to falter.  His posture droops, his voice cracks, his clothes wrinkle, his hair musses.  What did democracy look like in 1787? Perhaps like Jefferson Smith when he began his filibuster—confident and composed. What does democracy look like in 1939? Like Mr. Smith at the end of his filibuster—defeated and disheveled.  Ah, have heart, there’s more to the story than that, but you need to watch it for yourself to find out. 

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a political morality tale about living up to the principles of republicanism—government of the people, by the people, for the people.  Who knew a monument could play a supporting role in a film? Everyone, even Lincoln himself, plays their part well. Eddie Arnold is the epitome of the vile political boss whomsgwa_stl_5_h will stop at nothing (not even running children off the road) to get what he wants. Claude Rains takes the part of cynical politician to a whole new level—you either want to slap or hug him.  Jean Arthur is her usual wise-cracking self, playing a Washington-weary woman just waiting for the right man to come along so she can show her heart of gold.  And, James Stewart does naïve as only he can—desperation and despondency never looked so believable. 

Final assessment: we could use more Jefferson Smiths in America today. Oh, and the film is quite good, too.

22 comments:

  1. Great post Kim! You hit on every important point as to why this film remains timeless.

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  2. Great review of a great film. I'd actually watched this movie years ago in a high school Government class.

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    1. Thanks, Alex. What a great idea your teacher had--more should show this as it is educational and there is nothing that is controversial.

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  3. Kim, a very nicely written post on what is for me the best of all Capra's populist films, a movie that's a very entertaining blend of easily recognized stereotypes and shrewd analysis, cynicism and idealism. I especially liked your discussion of the interaction between Stewart the actor and Jefferson Smith the character. And this is my favorite performance by the wonderful Jean Arthur in a film by Capra, a director for whom she did some of her best work.

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    1. I think this is his best populist film, too. And, Arthur always shined under Capra's direction, but she was usually great in everything anyway.

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  4. Kim, this is such a great All American film - every politician should have to sit locked in a room and made to watch it once a month. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Jefferson Smith was on the ballot? Really good post, Kim, and very timely.

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    1. I suspect Mr. Smith wouldn't have had a Super PAC or even a PAC--he'd have a hard time getting on a ballot anywhere! Thanks for reading.

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  5. I took a lot of heat for my critique of "Mr. Smith goes to Washington". Somehow I have a feeling this film holds a special revered status in the States. To me it seemed forced and vulgar in its reverence for political values and the resolution with a Deux Ex Machina did not have the effect on me that good and proper leadership practice win in the end, but that the final collapse of a political system requires the personal breakdown of one of the very instruments of the corruption to survive. I found that rather depressive.'
    I also found so many similaritis to "Mr. Deeds goes to Town" that I can only see this as a remake and then I like the original much better.
    I am sorry about that.
    But you are so right about the acting. All the roles are perfectly cast.

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    1. I think you have to be an American to fully appreciate a film about American politics. To other nationalities what goes on in our system is baffling. It's a Capra film, as was Mr. Deeds, so they are bound to seem very similar.

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  6. this just played on TCM and i FINALLY sat down and watched it. i was ready to give up on this movie about 20 minutes after about the 100th "aw shucks" "WOW!! that's the Capitol!!" kind of expression, and i can see where the "Capracorn" pejorative came from. The movie (and my opinion of it) turned on the Smith/Saunders talk on drafting the bill where she first starts to warm to him, and especially during the drunk scene (Jean Arthur was PHENOMENAL in that scene and when she quit right afterwards). the movie really held my attention after that. a little too schmaltzy for my taste early on but it was a thoroughly enjoyable movie for me. Jimmy Stewart got robbed that year

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    1. I'm glad you stuck with it. I think you're right, the film turns on that conversation about how a bill is drafted between Stewart and Arthur. I'm a big fan of Jean Arthur--she was a great comedic actress who is pretty much forgotten today (except by classic movie fans).

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