Mr. Smith Goes To Washington

Simply put, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a story about an idealistic Senate replacement who takes on Washington’s political corruption and one man's effect on American politics.  Directed by Frank Capra in 1939, Capra's honest look at corruption and political power brokers in Washington—seen through the eyes of a naive young man (James Stewart) appointed to fill a Senate vacancy—remains one of the most important contributions of the American cinema.  When originally released, some Congressional members were outraged at the depiction of dealings in "their" hallowed halls and attempted to have the film shelved.  Public reception to the film was lukewarm and box-office receipts were weak (it barely recouped its production costs), but the critics loved the film, nominating it for 11 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor,  Best Supporting Actor and Best Director.  It won for Best Original Story.

In 1989, the Library of Congress added the movie to the United States National Film Registry, for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."  Tomorrow FIJ will present the full-length, two hour classic “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."  Here is the film’s original 1939 tailer.