Rent Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
4.0 of 5 from 171 ratings
2h 5min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- James Stewart, Jean Arthur and Claude Rains star in this award-winning 1939 classic about an idealistic, small-town politician who heads to Washington and suddenly finds himself single-handedly battling ruthless politicians out to destroy him.
- Actors:
- James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, Edward Arnold, Guy Kibbee, Thomas Mitchell, Eugene Pallette, Beulah Bondi, H.B. Warner, Harry Carey, Astrid Allwyn, Ruth Donnelly, Grant Mitchell, Porter Hall, H.V. Kaltenborn, Charles Lane, Pierre Watkin, Dick Elliott, William Demarest, Billy Watson
- Directors:
- Frank Capra
- Producers:
- Frank Capra
- Writers:
- Sidney Buchman, Lewis R. Foster
- Others:
- Al Clark, Dimitri Tiomkin, John Livadary, Lionel Banks, Gene Havlick
- Studio:
- Columbia Tristar
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama
- Collections:
- 10 Films to Watch if You Like Rebecca, 21 Reasons to Love, 21 Reasons to Love..Modern Westerns, Acting Up: British Actors at the Oscars, Acting Up: Top 10 Performances At Cannes, Award Winners, Films to Watch if You Like It's a Wonderful Life, Films to Watch If You Like..., Oscar Nominations Competition 2024, The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Frank Capra, Top 10 Best Picture Follow-Ups, Top 10 Films By Year, Top 10 Films of 1939, Top 100 AFI Movies, Top Films
- Awards:
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 05/11/2018
- Run Time:
- 129 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0, French Dolby Digital 1.0, German Dolby Digital 1.0, Italian Dolby Digital 1.0, Portuguese Dolby Digital 1.0, Spanish Dolby Digital 1.0
- Subtitles:
- Chinese, English, English Hard of Hearing, Greek, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Commentary by Frank Capra Jr
- Frank Capra's American Dream: Feature-Length Documentary Hosted by Ron Howard
- Theatrical Trailer
- Rare International Trailer
- Five Featurettes
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- Not released
- Run Time:
- 129 minutes
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Reviews (5) of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Big Politics (spoiler). - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington review by Steve
Somewhere in these two hours is the moment when Frank Capra's films stop being comedies at all, and the humour gets swallowed up in the moral darkness. It opens with a traditional comic premise. James Stewart plays a fish out of water who is, out of his depth... a scout leader promoted to be a US Senator. He discovers that the whole barrel is rotten, and he must fight for the soul of his nation.
With the world at war between fascism and the free world, the Italian born Capra sounds a grim warning to home audiences. He shows us politics is owned by graft. An industry magnate (Edward Arnold) runs a corrupt Senator (Claude Rains) who has abandoned his ideals. And they take the quixotic newcomer down when he opposes the crooked misuse of public money.
In support, Jean Arthur is excellent as the tough spad insider who cynically attaches herself to Stewart. She changes sides. But as so often with Capra, it's the threat which represents the real world, and the resolution is just the illusion of hope we all need to carry on. In an unlikely turn of fortune, the conscience of the dishonest Senator finds its voice.
This was a big breakout role for Stewart and establishes his persona as the conscience of the American silent majority, which is a presumed integrity. It's a beautiful looking film, with the then-novelty of deep focus photography. But mainly it is a warning to all that democracy and freedom are precarious and have to be fought for, or they will be lost.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
A Classic. - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington review by KG
A Most Excellent film. The USA has changed in various ways since then, but clearly not in all ! Jimmy Stewart at his memorable early best. Jean Arthur also fine ( and no surprise that she was able later to reach her magnificent best in Shane ).
We did actually find the final 10 minutes to be quite confusing however.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Beautiful. - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington review by CP Customer
Park your world wearyness and enjoy a sweet and uplifting story of ordinary decent human being meets the reality of babylon.
He starts with the best of naive and unprotected intentions, gets chewed up and spat out, and miserably disillusioned. Then Pick himself up and back for round 2.
I admire this film for being unafraid to represent raw uncynical goodness .
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.