Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Director: Frank Capra Cast: James Stewart , Jean Arthur , Claude Rains , Edward Arnold , Guy Kibbee
DVD
(Repackaged / Subtitled / B&W / Full Frame)
- Release Date: 12/09/2008
- UPC: 0043396279780
- Original Release: 1939
- Rating: NR
- Source: Sony Pictures
- Region Code: 1
- Presentation: [B&W]
- Sound: [Dolby Digital Stereo]
- Language: English
- Runtime: 7800
- Sales rank: 4,434
Play Movie
Subtitles
English
Japanese
Portuguese
Korean
Subtitles Off
Scene Selections
Special Features
Commentary By Frank Capra Jr.: On
Commentary By Frank Capra Jr.: Off
Frank Capra Jr. Remembers... "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington"
Vintage Advertising Gallery
Original Theatrical Trailer
Frank Capra's classic comedy-drama established James Stewart as a lead actor in one of his finest (and most archetypal) roles. The film opens as a succession of reporters shout into telephones announcing the death of Senator Samuel Foley. Senator Joseph Paine (Claude Rains), the state's senior senator, puts in a call to Governor Hubert "Happy" Hopper (Guy Kibbee) reporting the news. Hopper then calls powerful media magnate Jim Taylor (Edward Arnold), who controls the state -- along with the lawmakers. Taylor orders Hopper to appoint an interim senator to fill out Foley's term; Taylor has proposed a pork barrel bill to finance an unneeded dam at Willet Creek, so he warns Hopper he wants a senator who "can't ask any questions or talk out of turn." After having a number of his appointees rejected, at the suggestion of his children Hopper nominates local hero Jefferson Smith (James Stewart), leader of the state's Boy Rangers group. Smith is an innocent, wide-eyed idealist who quotes Jefferson and Lincoln and idolizes Paine, who had known his crusading editor father. In Washington, after a humiliating introduction to the press corps, Smith threatens to resign, but Paine encourages him to stay and work on a bill for a national boy's camp. With the help of his cynical secretary Clarissa Sanders (Jean Arthur), Smith prepares to introduce his boy's camp bill to the Senate. But when he proposes to build the camp on the Willets Creek site, Taylor and Paine force him to drop the measure. Smith discovers Taylor and Paine want the Willets Creek site for graft and he attempts to expose them, but Paine deflects Smith's charges by accusing Smith of stealing money from the boy rangers. Defeated, Smith is ready to depart Washington, but Saunders, whose patriotic zeal has been renewed by Smith, exhorts him to stay and fight. Smith returns to the Senate chamber and, while Taylor musters the media forces in his state to destroy him, Smith engages in a climactic filibuster to speak his piece: "I've got a few things I want to say to this body. I tried to say them once before and I got stopped colder than a mackerel. Well, I'd like to get them said this time, sir. And as a matter of fact, I'm not gonna leave this body until I do get them said."
Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought
-
- Akeelah and the Bee [WS]
- by Aaron ZigmanKeke PalmerLaurence FishburneAngela BassettCurtis ArmstrongJ.R. VillarrealDoug Atchison
-
- National Velvet
- by Elizabeth TaylorMickey RooneyDonald CrispAnne RevereAngela LansburyClarence Brown
-
- My Dog Skip
- by Frankie MunizKevin BaconDiane LaneLuke WilsonBradley CoryellJay Russell
-
- The Bells of St. Mary's
- by Bing CrosbyIngrid BergmanHenry TraversWilliam GarganRuth DonnellyLeo McCarey
-
- Old Yeller/Savage Sam [2 Discs…
- by Robert Stevenson
-
- Friendly Persuasion
- by Gary CooperDorothy McGuireAnthony PerkinsMarjorie MainRichard EyerWilliam Wyler
-
- Ever After: A Cinderella Story…
- by Drew BarrymoreAnjelica HustonDougray ScottPatrick GodfreyMegan DoddsAndy TennantAndrew Tennant
-
- Facing the Giants
- by Alex KendrickShannen FieldsSteve WilliamsBailey CaveJason McLeodAlex KendrickStephen Kendrick
-
- Simon Birch
- by Ashley JuddOliver PlattIan Michael SmithJim CarreyJoseph MazzelloMark Steven Johnson
-
- Brian's Song
- by Billy Dee WilliamsJames CaanJack WardenShelley FabaresJudy PaceBuzz Kulik
-
- Roman Holiday
- by Audrey HepburnGregory PeckEddie AlbertTullio CarminatiHartley PowerWilliam Wyler
-
- The Young Victoria
- by Emily BluntRupert FriendPaul BettanyMiranda RichardsonJim BroadbentJean-Marc Vall?e
-
- Miracle [WS] [2 Discs]
- by Kurt RussellPatricia ClarksonNoah EmmerichSean McCannEddie CahillGavin O'Connor
-
- Anne of Green Gables
- by Megan FollowsColleen DewhurstRichard FarnsworthPatricia HamiltonSchuyler Grant
-
- Awakenings [P&S]
- by Robert De NiroRobin WilliamsJulie KavnerRuth NelsonJohn HeardPenny MarshallNick Murphy
Recently Viewed
-
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- Director: James Stewart