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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Play trailer 1:45 Poster for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 1939 2h 5m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 98 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
When the idealistic young Jefferson Smith (James Stewart) winds up appointed to the United States Senate, he gains the mentorship of Senator Joseph Paine (Claude Rains). However, Paine isn't as noble as his reputation would indicate, and he becomes involved in a scheme to discredit Smith, who wants to build a boys' campsite where a more lucrative project could go. Determined to stand up against Paine and his corrupt peers, Smith takes his case to the Senate floor.
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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

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Critics Consensus

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington -- and returns with an uplifting ode to idealism that distills the strengths of its director and leading man.

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Critics Reviews

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Mildred Martin Philadelphia Inquirer 11/09/2022
This contender for Academy honors has warmth as well as wit, beguiling charm as well as pointed satire, and it rekindles a few patriotic ideals that have long slept un der the smothering blanket of political scandals and governmental misdeeds. Go to Full Review
Elaine Klepper Orlando Sentinel 11/09/2022
Get set, folks, for a "rave" notice, for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington deserves no less than a bushel of raves. Go to Full Review
Frank S. Nugent New York Times 11/09/2022
Mr. Smith is one of the best shows of the year. More fun, even, than the Senate itself. Go to Full Review
Sarah Cortinaz InSession Film 04/23/2024
A
Through Capra’s eyes, we imagine the hopes that our forefathers had one day dreamt for us. Using our voices to stand up for those that need our help. Go to Full Review
Sean Burns WBUR’s Arts & Culture 02/04/2024
Capra’s most astute use of Jean Arthur’s sly, sophisticated charms to temper a movie that would otherwise be a bit much. Go to Full Review
Jay Carmody Washington Star 11/09/2022
The Capra genius for creating unforgettable incident manifests itself in a dozen sequences in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Grant H 4d One of the best from Hollywood’s golden year with every lead at the top of their craft! James Stewart was born to play this role that is the essence of American idealism, courage and optimism. In spite of its glowing principles, it also provides an insight into the chicanery of politics and how the US of 2025 came to be. See more Jeff B Sep 29 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Review In Mr. Smith Goes to Washington a man is appointed to the senate after the previous senator dies. He does whatever it takes to fight and win against lies about him in the senate from politicians. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington creates a well told political story about what's right. Jeff Smith, the protagonist of the movie, fights Jim Taylor and Joe Paine for wanting a dam put where he wants a children's camp. The story that's created out of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is fascinating and respectful because it honors America by mentioning the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. It pays tribute to important figures in our country's history such as showing statues of: Samuel Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock's signature and the famous Lincoln memorial. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington creates captivating characters in politics not just with its writing but with its acting particularly from: James Stewart as Jeff Smith. James Stewart makes Jeff Smith captivating and unique by making him both fearful and fearless at the same time. One example being when he 's looks fearful and overwhelmed when he's in the capitol building. He's overwhelmed by the senate. Smith is also brave because he's willing to fight lies against him from senators or politicians until he even wears himself out at the end. He has or appears to have two mentors in the film one being his hero and father's friend Joe Paine who seems to want him to give up for the most part, and his secretary Clarissa Saunders who doesn't want him to give up for the most part. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington does well not just as a film but with capturing life in the world of politics with being about fighting for what you believe in. See more Mason M Jul 8 I really didn't know what to expect when I watched it, but Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is truly one of the greater films of the golden age. I always love a good movie with my main man Jimmy Stewart, and he really does give one of his best performances here. And Frank Capra's directing and image composition was stellar and contained a lot more personality and life than most other directors of this era. But where this film really shines through is its writing and plot. Jeff Smith and Saunders were both amazingly written and enjoyable to watch characters, it has one of the more effective political commentaries I've seen, the dialogue was well thought out yet still felt real, and the final act was one of the best 30-40 minute spans of a movie I've seen in a while. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a riveting film with great characters that fully earns its place as a classic and one of the best films of its time. See more Jonathan C Jul 8 This is my favorite movie of all time!!! It hits the feels with the great characters, the compelling story, the political drama, and the patriotism it inspires! LOVE this story! See more Christian K @ckacar Jul 8 Man, does this movie worship Abe Lincoln and his monument. The sightseeing and media punching montages were pretty funny. Movies used to be so simple, the corrupt politician bad guys openly declare they are corrupt politician bad guys within the first few minutes of this movie. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 7 Failed in 2 hours and 5 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Read all reviews
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - I Will Not Yield! Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - I Will Not Yield! 2:13 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - Lost Causes Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - Lost Causes 2:07 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - Don't You Think I Better Hold This For You? Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - Don't You Think I Better Hold This For You? 2:10 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - The Truth, For a Change Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - The Truth, For a Change 2:14 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - Liberty is Too Precious a Thing Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - Liberty is Too Precious a Thing 2:11 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - A Fine Young Patriot Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - A Fine Young Patriot 1:59 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - What Are You Going to Believe In? Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - What Are You Going to Believe In? 2:13 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - No Place in a Man's World Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Official Clip - No Place in a Man's World 2:12 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis When the idealistic young Jefferson Smith (James Stewart) winds up appointed to the United States Senate, he gains the mentorship of Senator Joseph Paine (Claude Rains). However, Paine isn't as noble as his reputation would indicate, and he becomes involved in a scheme to discredit Smith, who wants to build a boys' campsite where a more lucrative project could go. Determined to stand up against Paine and his corrupt peers, Smith takes his case to the Senate floor.
Director
Frank Capra
Producer
Frank Capra
Screenwriter
Lewis R. Foster, Sidney Buchman
Distributor
Columbia Pictures, Columbia TriStar Home Video, Columbia Tristar
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 19, 1939, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Runtime
2h 5m
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