Mr.Smith Goes To Washington (1939)

Editor's Note Two slimy fat-cat legislators recruit Jefferson Smith, an innocent and staunchly principled Montana scout leader, as the state's new Senator, hoping to exploit his naviete and community pride to bring home pork-barrel funds. Once he ascends to Capitol Hill, however, Mr. Smith finds nothing but deep-rooted corruption in Washington, D.C., and, absolutely refusing to submit to cynicism, he tirelessly takes the message of the American people right to their out-of-touch representatives. Based on Lewis R. Foster's novel THE GENTLEMAN FROM MONTANA. Academy Award Nominations: 11, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (James Stewart), Best Supporting Actor (Harry Carey). Academy Awards: Best Original Story (Lewis R. Foster).

	Claude Rains
	Thomas Mitchell
	Jean Arthur
	Beulah Bondi
	H.B. Warner
	James Stewart
	Edward Arnold
	Guy Kibbee
	Harry Carey Sr.
	Sidney Buchman - Screenwriter
	Joseph Walker - Director of Photography
	Gene Havlick - Editor
	Robert Kalloch - Costume Designer
	Al Clark - Editor
	Lionel Banks - Art Director
	Jack Carson - Featured
	Astrid Allwyn - Featured
	Maurice Costello - Featured
	Ruth Donnelly - Featured
	Russell Simpson - Featured
	Alan Bridge - Featured
	Grant Mitchell - Featured
	Stanley Andrews - Featured
	Ann Doran - Featured
	Fredrick Burton - Featured
	Lewis R. Foster - Story
	Vera Lewis - Featured
	Edmund Cobb - Featured
	Charles Lane - Featured
	Lloyd Whitlock - Featured
	Porter Hall - Featured
	Dimitri Tiomkin - Composer
	Pierre Watkin - Featured
	Frank Capra - Producer
	William Demarest - Featured
	Frank Capra - Director

Frank Capra's much-loved political parable staring James Stewart and Jean Arthur, is a classic of American cinema.| When a Wisconsin senator dies, patriotic boy scout leader Jefferson Smith is appointed his successor. Smith's appointment comes at the suggestion of crooked political strategist Jim Taylor who needs a "yes man" in the office -- and the innocent starry-eyed Smith's considered too naive to suspect foul play. But Smith's savvy secretary Saunders knows the whys and wherefores, the ins and outs of the Beltway. She gives Jeff the info he needs to go head-to-head with corrupt senator Joseph Paine, champion forgotten causes and fight for good old American values. Total Film
"...An enjoyable fable..." 05/01/2000 p.106

Sight and Sound
"One of Hollywood's most perceptive political satires..." 04/01/2001 p.64