Post by Mike Sullivan on Nov 26, 2005 0:04:39 GMT
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Director: Frank Capra
1939 USA
A retelling of David and Goliath, set in 1930’s Washington. A Following the death of his predecessor, Jefferson Smith is appointed as Junior Senator. Although naïve and blind to the corruption around him, he wises up to the ways of this dirty town and with help of friends takes on a political machine to expose them as the frauds that they are.
Although envisioned as a re-teaming of the successful Gary Cooper-Frank Capra team in which Cooper would reprise his role as Longfellow Deeds from Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was forced to recast the lead role to James Stewart, an up and coming MGM actor who had just made a big name for himself in Capra’s previous film, You Can’t Take It with You (1938). Cast alongside him was Jean Arthur playing Clarissa Saunders, the prototypical Capraesque woman who is loveable yet not naïve and with a cynical streak about her. Joining Stewart and Arthur were Claude Rains and Thomas Mitchell. Stewart easily personifies Senator Smith, getting the boy next door, “aw, shucks” role down perfectly with his fumbling of words whenever he sees a beautiful woman and his glee as he whistles down a Capitol building hall way, ready to present a bill. And of course, he allows his character to mature, showing that “he’s honest, not stupid”, a key factor later in the film, in one of the film’s most celebrated scenes.
In that scene, Smith holds the floor in a last ditch effort to prove his innocence in a crime he was framed for due to his potential to expose the whole works and a dam-building scam. Here is where Stewart really shines, giving us not only a profound statement on American democracy but showing us what a man should strive to be, showing integrity and defining the American way. Just look at his face as he tries to plead to the senators and keep his ground; or when it looks like he’s beat, and he looks devastated only to summon all his strength to try and push on.
Not usually praised for his technical prowess, Capra’s excellence comes from his way with actors, as he is able to bring the absolute best from each one of them. There is also evident Capra’s capabilities with montage, something not seen so well executed since Eisenstein. This of course would come into prominence in Capra’s pro-Allies propaganda series, Why We Fight (1942), during World War II.
In the end, the film was awarded with a Best Original Screenplay Oscar. But it become overshadowed by the legacy of such film contemporaries as The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind of the same year. Yet, somehow, this film has survived; much like Smith does during his final assault in the Senate. A testament to film's lasting value.
CREDITS
Director
Frank Capra
Producer
Frank Capra
Screenplay
Sidney Buchman
Director of Photography
Joseph Walker
Film Editing
Al Clark
Gene Havlick
Original Score
Dimitri Tiomkin
Art Direction
Lionel Banks
Costume Design
Robert Kalloch
CAST
James Stewart
Jefferson Smith
Jean Arthur
Clarissa Saunders
Claude Rains
Senator Joseph Harrison Paine
Edward Arnold
Jim Taylor
Guy Kibbee
Governor Hubert 'Happy' Hopper
Thomas Mitchell
Diz Moore
Eugene Pallette
Chick McGann
Beulah Bondi
Ma Smith
H.B. Warner
Senator Agnew
Harry Carey
TheVice President
Astrid Allwyn
Susan Paine
Ruth Donnelly
Emma Hopper
Grant Mitchell
Senator MacPherson
Porter Hall
Senator Monroe
Pierre Watkin
Senator Barnes
Director: Frank Capra
1939 USA
A retelling of David and Goliath, set in 1930’s Washington. A Following the death of his predecessor, Jefferson Smith is appointed as Junior Senator. Although naïve and blind to the corruption around him, he wises up to the ways of this dirty town and with help of friends takes on a political machine to expose them as the frauds that they are.
Although envisioned as a re-teaming of the successful Gary Cooper-Frank Capra team in which Cooper would reprise his role as Longfellow Deeds from Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was forced to recast the lead role to James Stewart, an up and coming MGM actor who had just made a big name for himself in Capra’s previous film, You Can’t Take It with You (1938). Cast alongside him was Jean Arthur playing Clarissa Saunders, the prototypical Capraesque woman who is loveable yet not naïve and with a cynical streak about her. Joining Stewart and Arthur were Claude Rains and Thomas Mitchell. Stewart easily personifies Senator Smith, getting the boy next door, “aw, shucks” role down perfectly with his fumbling of words whenever he sees a beautiful woman and his glee as he whistles down a Capitol building hall way, ready to present a bill. And of course, he allows his character to mature, showing that “he’s honest, not stupid”, a key factor later in the film, in one of the film’s most celebrated scenes.
In that scene, Smith holds the floor in a last ditch effort to prove his innocence in a crime he was framed for due to his potential to expose the whole works and a dam-building scam. Here is where Stewart really shines, giving us not only a profound statement on American democracy but showing us what a man should strive to be, showing integrity and defining the American way. Just look at his face as he tries to plead to the senators and keep his ground; or when it looks like he’s beat, and he looks devastated only to summon all his strength to try and push on.
Not usually praised for his technical prowess, Capra’s excellence comes from his way with actors, as he is able to bring the absolute best from each one of them. There is also evident Capra’s capabilities with montage, something not seen so well executed since Eisenstein. This of course would come into prominence in Capra’s pro-Allies propaganda series, Why We Fight (1942), during World War II.
In the end, the film was awarded with a Best Original Screenplay Oscar. But it become overshadowed by the legacy of such film contemporaries as The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind of the same year. Yet, somehow, this film has survived; much like Smith does during his final assault in the Senate. A testament to film's lasting value.
CREDITS
Director
Frank Capra
Producer
Frank Capra
Screenplay
Sidney Buchman
Director of Photography
Joseph Walker
Film Editing
Al Clark
Gene Havlick
Original Score
Dimitri Tiomkin
Art Direction
Lionel Banks
Costume Design
Robert Kalloch
CAST
James Stewart
Jefferson Smith
Jean Arthur
Clarissa Saunders
Claude Rains
Senator Joseph Harrison Paine
Edward Arnold
Jim Taylor
Guy Kibbee
Governor Hubert 'Happy' Hopper
Thomas Mitchell
Diz Moore
Eugene Pallette
Chick McGann
Beulah Bondi
Ma Smith
H.B. Warner
Senator Agnew
Harry Carey
TheVice President
Astrid Allwyn
Susan Paine
Ruth Donnelly
Emma Hopper
Grant Mitchell
Senator MacPherson
Porter Hall
Senator Monroe
Pierre Watkin
Senator Barnes