[e-mail] Review of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

"Honest" Politician Saves the Day

[9/10 · 16 December 2004]

"Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" is chiefly about the right and duty of every American to stand tenaciously for their beliefs, for the truth, and for their defense. Jimmy Stewart plays a naive, yet gentle-hearted and popular icon named Jefferson Smith who realizes that the political office can be effective and reverent if it operates solely for the people, rather than "grash" or entrenched special interests. Selected by Virginia political bigshot Jim Taylor (who influences every affair in state, from the political landscape to the savage press, and in turn Gov. Hubert Hopper) to succeed a perished senator, Mr. Smith goes to Washington oblivious as to the sordid and ruthless operation of Congress, and merely remarks how he is stupefied by the glory of the Capitol Building, enthralled by a visit to the Lincoln Monument, greatly reveres his colleague, Senator Joseph Paine, and wants to perform only the best for the citizens of his state. An exceedingly nervous and modest fellow (perhaps not entirely apt for brutal Senate speech and debate), when he meets Senator Paine's gorgeous daughter, he fondles with his hat and occasionally drops it to the ground, which gives the viewer the distinct idea that if he hasn't the backbone to regularly converse with an attractive woman, then how can he possibly survive the trials and hardships of the United States Senate. His secretary, Clarissa Saunders, initially doesn't believe in his "superficial modesty", yet is later captivated by his poetic innocence and honesty and assists him in creating propositions and offering advice, while secretly falling head over heels for him. During his first day in Congress, Smith trembles relentlessly in presenting his case for the construction of a National Boy's Camp, and is scoffed and humiliated by 96 members of the Senate. It turns out that his noble aspirations may be in peril, when it is revealed that a dam will be constructed in the appropriated place of his idea. Thus ensues a heartwarming, hilarious, and incendiary confrontation between the innocuous, noble Mr. Smith and the rest of the corrupted U.S. Senate, including the notorious and sordid Jim Taylor, in a captivating look at how democracy and goodness prevails when honest, tenacious men stand their ground, stand up for their beliefs, and act impervious to any derision of their enterprise. It may be at times overly condescending, sentimental and somewhat politically pretentious and fantastic, but "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" contains a noble statement about democracy and teaches us that it is "the lost causes that are worth fighting for". In Jefferson Smith, we see a hero, standing courageously, against all odds, for the honor and good will of representation. A fine and noble film indeed that is definitely a political classic. ***1/2 out of ****