Anthony's Film Review - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

The definitive classic film about American politics, featuring powerful performances...

The year 1939 was an amazing year for American movies. So many great ones came out that year, including Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. Another outstanding 1939 film was Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, starring James Stewart as an ordinary American man who has the opportunity to make a difference as a United States senator representing his state. But it isn't just a classic James Stewart picture. It's also a unique commentary on the hopeful idealism and ugly realism of American politics, one that champions the former and criticizes the latter while ultimately accepting and embracing it all. This film is truly timeless, because I saw it for the first time in 2018, almost eight decades after its original release, and the unforgettable performances plus the political commentary rang very true even for me.

Let me first talk about the portrayal of American politics here. Anyone who has studied U.S. history understands the principles defining America. Instead of being ruled by one king, who could possibly be oppressive, the nation was founded on the idea that the people ought to be free to live their lives as they see fit. Hence, the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness mentioned in the preamble of the Declaration of Independence. Along those lines, the government would be of the people, by the people, for the people. The United States Constitution lays out a government where, instead of one person having all the power, the different powers of governing are divided among several people, including the legislators drafting new bills, the President signing them into law, and the Supreme Court Justices ruling over their constitutionality in difficult disputes. With amendments to the Constitution, other rights and freedoms are laid out, such as freedom of the press that enables the people themselves, not the government, to be the ones informing people of what is happening.

Unexpectedly and undesirably, human self-interest also plays a role in American politics. The small segment of Americans who become very rich by whatever means can ultimately control the political system. Rich business people can shower certain politicians with lavish rewards, so that the politicians will act on behalf of the wealthy influencers rather than the American voters at large. Also, the rich individuals who own media companies could control the information that is broadcast to the public. It is amazing that such forms of political corruption are age-old practices. Seeing all of this portrayed in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington made me think of the similarities between this early 20th-century film and my own observations of bias in 24-hour news sources, bitter partisanship, and money influencing elections in the 21st century. So yeah, this film is still incredibly relevant even after so many years.

Now, let's talk about the story, shall we? James Stewart plays the title character of Jefferson Smith, a humble but kind-hearted man in an unidentified state who is chosen to replace a deceased U.S. senator. He may not have been someone who looked at the job and volunteered for it, but he accepts the opportunity, especially as he is beloved among camp boys celebrating a heroic deed he performed previously. As he arrives in Washington, D.C., another characteristic comes out: idealistic. Instead of going straight to his Senate office, he takes the time to explore D.C. landmarks, especially the Lincoln Memorial, to get himself inspired for his new job. Obviously, Mr. Smith represents the hopeful ideal side of American politics.

In contrast, two prominent characters present the ugly real side of American politics. Claude Rains plays Senator Joseph Paine, who may come from and represent the same state as Senator Jefferson Smith and even has some respect for him at first, but he is ultimately Smith's adversary. That's because business tycoon Jim Taylor, played by Edward Arnold, has influence and control over Paine. At one point, Senator Paine justifies this by considering it a form of compromise rather than corruption. In other words, he may have to do a few favors for Taylor, but at least he will still have the chance to do other work on behalf of his constituents (supposedly). Still, Taylor is a man who also has the power to destroy political careers, not just control them.

Going back to Jefferson Smith, he exhibits a fourth characteristic after arriving at his Senate office: naive. He is not just ignorant about political corruption early on. Even the basic job description of U.S. senator is so new to him. There is a notable scene where Jean Arthur, who plays his secretary Ms. Saunders, explains to him the process by which a bill is created in the Senate and goes through review by multiple sub-committees of senators. While this slowly sinks in, Smith also has to get used to the fact that writing a bill take several days, not just one day. At least he is determined to do his job well. Of course, the learning process continues once he attends a session in the Senate chamber itself.

This conflict laid out by the opposing philosophies of the major characters soon reaches a breaking point. Senator Smith introduces a bill to launch a national boys camp surrounding a specific creek, which is the same creek where Senator Paine, on behalf of Mr. Taylor, seeks to have a dam built. There is no chance for reconciliation now. It's now a political fight to the finish. Each senator is doing all he can to win. Smith refuses to give up on his bill, while Paine and Taylor have a scheme to severely ruin Smith's reputation. The first half of the film may be entertaining, but it still doesn't match the intensity of the emotions surrounding this Senate bill fight.

All of the performances in this film are great. But I want to just focus on a few of the main ones. First off, Jean Arthur as Saunders. She does a great job portraying someone who has seen enough of the ugliness in Washington and is ready to call it quits, yet is ready to give Mr. Smith a chance. It then evolves into admiration and support for this man. Then there is Claude Rains as a fiery Senator Paine. Thanks to his uninhibited and powerfully dramatic delivery, the character comes across as a true adversary for the protagonist. It's the kind of performance that deserves at least a nomination for a major acting award.

But there is no forgetting James Stewart's performance. From beginning to end, he plays a character with a variety of characteristics. That includes the final trait that is revealed: relentlessness. The climax of the film is the classic filibuster scene. For those unaware, the filibuster is the U.S. Senate practice of talking non-stop about anything, even if it is off-topic, in order to delay the next procedural step for a bill that the senator strongly objects to. Critics of the filibuster say it's annoying and a waste of time, whereas proponents say that it's a useful way for the minority party in the Senate to have a voice. Here, Senator Smith does what he can to halt passage of Senator Paine's bill for the creek dam in order to save his own bill for the boys camp. The scene is so powerful that it ranks among the greatest scenes in American film in my opinion.

Upon its original release, plenty of American politicians criticized Mr. Smith Goes to Washington for its unflattering portrayal of the U.S. Senate. Members of the press corps had similar grievances regarding how reporters were portrayed in the film. I do not know in detail how politics occurred back in the 1930s, but as someone living many decades later, I see nothing wrong with pointing out unpleasant truths about things. Like I said before, I saw similarities between this film and what I saw in politics and news media with my own eyes. That just goes to show how the movie worked back then and would still work well beyond that. And when you have unforgettable performances by the stars, there is no way to ignore the film's value. All in all, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a powerful and outstanding film, not to mention one that is truthful and timeless.

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, visit the Internet Movie Database.