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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).
Plot Summary
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.
| Features | Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
|  | Studio: Columbia/tri-Star |
| Release Date: 12/9/2008 |
| Running Time: 130 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1939 | | Catalog ID: 27978 | | UPC: 00043396279780 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Available Subtitles: English, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese | | Video: B&W |
| Cast & Crew | Claude Rains | | Thomas Mitchell | | Jean Arthur | | Beulah Bondi | | H.B. Warner | | James Stewart | | Edward Arnold | | Guy Kibbee | | Sr. Harry Carey | | 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 |
| Awards |
Academy Awards (1939) |  | Lewis R. Foster, Winner, Best Original Screenplay |
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| | Professional Reviews | Total Film
"...An enjoyable fable..." 05/01/2000 p.106Sight and Sound
"One of Hollywood's most perceptive political satires..." 04/01/2001 p.64 |
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