Film Review: Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939) B

Date Viewed: 10/26/06
Venue: DVD

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington was one of those movies I always heard about but never got around to seeing. Well, until now, that is. And while I enjoyed Frank Capra’s film, it just doesn’t quite stand up to the test of time.

Jimmy Stewart is Jefferson Smith, a naïve Boy Scout leader appointed to Congress by a political machine looking for a yes man. Upon discovering the motivations behind his appointment, Smith fights to clear his name and clean up the system.

In relation to more modern films, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington moves at a snail’s pace. Scenes are long and drawn out, and stagey with lots and lots of dialog. It’s also somewhat amazing how many glaring jump cuts are in the picture. But hey, that’s movies from the 1930s for you!

Two things really stood out for me, however. Firstly, Jimmy Stewart’s famous marathon-length filibuster in the third act completely makes the film (as well being one of Stewart’s career-defining moments). His passion, his dogged perseverance is impossible not to root for. Secondly, Claude Rains’ portrayal of a tragically corrupted senator is well played and nicely layered. The combination of the two make an honest plea against political corruption.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this film. It’s not unusual for older films to lose some of their effectiveness over time as styles and tastes evolve, but with an oft-described “classic” such as this I wanted something a little better. That’s not to say there’s nothing worthwhile here, it’s worth watching for Stewart’s final twenty minutes and its strong stand against crooked politcs, but it still falls victim to the sands of time.