X
- 1939
- Approved
- Columbia Pictures
- 2 h 9 m
- 1939
- Approved
- Columbia Pictures
- 2 h 9 m
Summary A naive man (Jimmie Stewart) is appointed to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate. His plans promptly collide with political corruption, but he doesn't back down.
Directed By: Frank Capra
Written By: Sidney Buchman, Lewis R. Foster, Myles Connolly
- 1939
- Approved
- Columbia Pictures
- 2 h 9 m
- 1939
- Approved
- Columbia Pictures
- 2 h 9 m
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
73
8.2
Where to Watch
Summary A naive man (Jimmie Stewart) is appointed to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate. His plans promptly collide with political corruption, but he doesn't back down.
Directed By: Frank Capra
Written By: Sidney Buchman, Lewis R. Foster, Myles Connolly
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 9 Critic Reviews
73
78% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
22% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 9 Critic Reviews
73
78% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
22% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
While MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON is the most moral of films, it is so artfully filled with real emotion that it never becomes heavy-handed.
[Capra] has paced it beautifully and held it in perfect balance, weaving his romance lightly through the political phases of his comedy, flicking a sardonic eye over the Washington scene, racing out to the hinterland to watch public opinion being made and returning miraculously in time to tie all the story threads together into a serious and meaningful dramatic pattern.
Demonstrating that the greatest political evil is indifference, this appeal to a world on the verge of war has lost none of its relevance.
The acting of the brilliant cast is sometimes superb. But Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is bigger than any of these things. Its real hero is not calfy Jeff Smith, but the things he believes, as embodied in the hero of U. S. democracy's first crisis, Abraham Lincoln.
This is classic Capracorn, with the greatest girl cynic of the 30s, Jean Arthur.
No one else can balance the ups and downs of wistful sentiment and corny humor the way Capra can - but if anyone else should learn to, kill him.
Clumsy and irritating.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 44 User Ratings
8.2
86% Positive
38 Ratings
38 Ratings
14% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 44 User Ratings
8.2
86% Positive
38 Ratings
38 Ratings
14% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.
Production Company
Columbia Pictures
Release Date Oct 19, 1939
Duration 2 h 9 m
Rating Approved
Tagline OUR OPERATOR SAYS.."IT'S GOING TO BE A PLEASURE TO RUN "MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON" 5 DAYS STARTING SUNDAY, NOV.7) (print ad - Lubbock Morning Avalanche - Cactus Theatre - Lubbock Texas - November 2, 1938 - all caps)
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Win & 11 Nominations
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
National Film Preservation Board, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
