Two slimy fat-cat legislators recruit Jefferson Smith, an innocent and staunchly principled Montana scout leader, as the state's new Senator, hoping to exploit his naviete and community pride to bring home pork-barrel funds. Once he ascends to Capitol Hill, however, Mr. Smith finds nothing but deep-rooted corruption in Washington, D.C., and, absolutely refusing to submit to cynicism, he tirelessly takes the message of the American people right to their out-of-touch representatives. Based on Lewis R. Foster's novel THE GENTLEMAN FROM MONTANA. Academy Award Nominations: 11, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (James Stewart), Best Supporting Actor (Harry Carey). Academy Awards: Best Original Story (Lewis R. Foster).
Frank Capra's much-loved political parable staring James Stewart and Jean Arthur, is a classic of American cinema.
When a Wisconsin senator dies, patriotic boy scout leader Jefferson Smith is appointed his successor. Smith's appointment comes at the suggestion of crooked political strategist Jim Taylor who needs a "yes man" in the office -- and the innocent starry-eyed Smith's considered too naive to suspect foul play. But Smith's savvy secretary Saunders knows the whys and wherefores, the ins and outs of the Beltway. She gives Jeff the info he needs to go head-to-head with corrupt senator Joseph Paine, champion forgotten causes and fight for good old American values.
MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON was an original selection to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1989.
The Hopper boys are played by Billy Watson, Delmar Watson, Johnny Russell, Harry Watson, Gary Watson and Baby Dumpling.
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Dolby Digital 1.0 - English
Subtitles - English, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese - Optional
Distributor Notes: Jean Arthur, James Stewart and Claude Rains star in Frank Capra's MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, theaward-winning 1939 classic about an idealistic, small town senator who heads to Washington and suddenly finds himself single-handedly battling ruthless politicans out to destroy him. When Frank Capradecided to film the novel "The Gentleman From Montana", he ran into an obstacle Director Rouben Mamoulian owned the rights to the story. Unwilling to sell, Mamoulian eventually traded the material toColumbia on the condition that he be allowed to direct Golden Boy. As Capra began working on the film, now called MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, it was suggested that Gary Copper, the star of Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, take the lead. Capra selected Jimmy Stewart instead and the film solidified Stewart's movie career, garnering him his first Academy Award(r) nomination. Receiving a total of eleven 1939 Oscar(r) nominations (including Best Picture and Best Director), and winning one (Best Motion Picture Story), MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON is considered one of Capra's, Stewart's and Columbia's finest films. It also marked the end of an era. It was Capra's final film for the studio.
Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Art Director
Lionel Banks: Production Designer
Director of Photography
Joseph Walker: American Director Of Photography
Featured
Alan Bridge: American Charactor Actor
Featured
Ann Doran: American Actress
Featured
Astrid Allwyn: American Actress
Featured
Charles Lane: Film & television character actor 1930s-2000s
Featured
Edmund Cobb: American Actor
Featured
Fredrick Burton:
Featured
Grant Mitchell: American Actor
Featured
Jack Carson: American actor
Featured
Lloyd Whitlock: Actor/West Of The Divide
Featured
Maurice Costello: American Actor
Featured
Pierre Watkin: American Character Actor
Featured
Porter Hall: American Actor/30s-50s
Featured
Russell Simpson: American Character Actor
Featured
Ruth Donnelly: American Actress
Featured
Stanley Andrews: American Actor
Featured
Vera Lewis:
Featured
William Demarest: American Character Actor
Story
Lewis R. Foster: Director/Screenwriter
Costume Designer
Robert Kalloch:
Review 1:
"...An enjoyable fable..."
Source: Total Film
p.106 05/01/2000
Review 2:
"One of Hollywood's most perceptive political satires..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.64 04/01/2001