Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Runtime: 2 hrs 10 mins
Synopsis: 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... 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). [More]
Genre: Dramas
Starring: Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Claude Rains, Edward Arnold, Thomas Mitchell
Screenwriter: Sidney Buchman
Story: Lewis R. Foster
Producer: Frank Capra
Composer: Dimitri Tiomkin
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Reviews
Pick it apart, dissect it and even roll your eyes at the ridiculous ending. Still, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" will get to you, even if you're in your most cynical mood.
Quintessential Capra - popular wish-fulfilment served up with such fast-talking comic panache that you don't have time to question its cornball idealism.
Every citizen should be made to watch in exchange for the right to vote.
Resisting Capra's manipulation -- manipulation in service of what? -- may well place one in violation of the Patriot Act today. But surely I'm not the only one who resents it.
Jean Arthur está genial como a secretária Saunders, que explica como funciona o Senado americano – que, infelizmente, nos faz lembrar do cenário político brasileiro.
Mr. Smith is one of the best shows of the year. More fun, even, than the Senate itself.
Every citizen should be made to watch in exchange for the right to vote.
Capra's classic of democracy, decency and faith still matters, 60 years later.
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