Romance, drama, laughter and heartbreak… created out of the very heart and soil of America!|Oct. 19, 1939|USA|129 Min.|Passed
Genre: Comedy;Drama
Description: **Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) – Movie Overview in English 720p 480p**
**Plot Summary:**
The governor of a western state, Hubert “Happy” Hopper, faces the task of selecting a replacement for the recently deceased U.S. Senator Sam Foley. Under pressure from corrupt political boss Jim Taylor, Hopper is urged to appoint Taylor’s chosen candidate, Horace Miller. Meanwhile, local reform groups advocate for Henry Hill, a reform-minded candidate. The governor’s children, however, suggest Jefferson Smith, the leader of the Boy Rangers, as their preferred choice. Torn between the options, Hopper decides by flipping a coin, which lands on its edge beside a newspaper article highlighting Smith’s achievements. Seeing this as a sign, Hopper selects Smith, believing his wholesome image will win public favor while his inexperience makes him easy to control.
Upon arriving in Washington, the newly appointed Junior Senator Jefferson Smith is mentored by Senator Joseph Paine, a respected yet secretly corrupt politician who was a friend of Smith’s late father. Smith develops an immediate attraction to Paine’s daughter, Susan, though his awkwardness and naivety make him a target for the ruthless Washington press. Misleading headlines and unflattering photographs quickly damage Smith’s reputation, painting him as an unsophisticated outsider.
To distract Smith, Senator Paine advises him to propose a bill. With the help of Clarissa Saunders, his experienced secretary and former aide to Senator Foley, Smith drafts a bill to establish a national boys’ camp in his home state, funded by a federal loan to be repaid by contributions from children nationwide. The proposal gains immediate public support. However, the chosen campsite is already part of a corrupt dam-building scheme orchestrated by Taylor’s political machine and supported by Senator Paine.
**Key Themes:**
The film explores themes of political corruption, idealism, and the struggle of an inexperienced but sincere individual against a manipulative system. Jefferson Smith’s journey highlights the challenges of maintaining integrity in the face of entrenched political deceit.
Cast director: Frank Capra
Cast actor: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, Edward Arnold, Guy Kibbee, Thomas Mitchell, Eugene Pallette, Beulah Bondi, H.B. Warner, Harry Carey
Original name: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington