Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

[eurasianchica]

I LOVE the soundtrack here.

[tdubb3]

Obama 08!  Wait, what?

[dcbandnerd]

Such a brilliant movie. Sometimes when you're down, all you need is a good pep talk.

I have to wonder, though: how was Smith going to get back to the train station? Union Station is on the other side of the Capitol and the Mall from the Lincoln Memorial. Maybe the trollies were running late that night.

[eurasianchica]

I LOVE this movie. I can't believe it was made back in 1939! I always thought it was from the 50s or 60s or something.

Does anyone know what song is playing in the background- it sounds like "bury me not" but there is something else, like around 2:20?

[divebomber101]

What a great actor! His persona is an inspiration to generations old and new.

[jalusbrian]

For those who didnt understand the movie: its a political fairy tale:its about politics, corruption and one mans journey from innocence to experience.

Smith arrivse in Washington with high ideals about what goes on in the Capital...only to discover the city is aBabylon of corruption

[itsareligionofpeace]

The greatest American movie ever.

Our popular culture stinks now - but once we have Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart.

[believinginluv]

This is such an amazing scene from an incredible movie...its message is just as relevant today as when it was made. If only Congress was full of Jefferson Smiths in real life.

[BetteDavisMimic]

@believinginluv a hearty AMEN to THAT !!!!

[feuille2niggle]

As unbelievable as it can be, I got a version of the movie sold on a videotape where this (so great) scene is simply cut!!!

[BetteDavisMimic]

Rep Anthony Weiner D-NY......."a man who could tear into the Taylor's and root em out into the open"......God Bless You brother!!!!

[lalalalalatechno]

"where can we get a drink" lol it was power her speech than that happend.

[RushLimborg]

"They aren't all Taylors and Paines in Washington--that kind just throws big shadows, that's all."

Amen. It isn't just Ron Paul, or any ONE person against the corruption. There's Jim DeMint, Michelle Bachman, Paul Ryan, Eric Cantor, Sarah Palin, Chris Christie, and so on.

[BetteDavisMimic]

@RushLimborg .......you've just named EVERY CORRUPT ANTI AMERICAN CORPORATIONIST.....those people you think care about America???? Michelle Bachman and Sara and Glen and Rush and ALL those talking heads you let fill yours with POISON!.....you know NOTHING about being an AMERICAN if you think this GREAT film represents THEM in ANY WAY, SHAPE, or FORM

[eysblog1fan]

@BetteDavisMimic Please don't turn a fun movie into a political debate :) (Personally I think DeMint is the very picture of an American, you can think differentially.....please don't troll me!!)

[BetteDavisMimic]

@eysblog1fan this isn't a "fun" movie....it's a work of art...an american classic.....a testament to the spirit of what it means to BE an American!....the whole movie is a "message".......and don't worry...i won't "troll" you......LOL

[eysblog1fan]

@BetteDavisMimic It sure is!! :D (lol! xD)

[Amfortaz]

This is one of my favorite movies. Thanks. One of Jimmie Stuart's best scenes.

[dweebster33]

Capra was an absolute genius. It's hard to pick a favorite scene from this film because there are so many great ones. This is one of my favorites, too. The way he filmed it in shadows with the close ups. It makes you feel as if you are part of a private conversation between Stewart and Arthur. The whole movie is filled with moments like these.

[solachristos2]

is this in the end of the movie?

[thekirstyn07]

the first time I watched this, I noticed how all of the black people were always like serving someone or playing an instrument. It was...interesting (btw, i'm not racist, and I just happened to notice this because i'm black and I think that kind of stuff stands out to me more)

but I agree wtih petertheaverage, you really can't apply our morals and standards to this movie, it was a different age and people thought differently. by the standards of that time this movie was politically correct

[robinchav]

Remember, this movie was released in the late 30s, when Blacks were treated as second-class citizens, before the civil rights movement.

[inkenyo]

I'm so deeply in love with this movie I can't stand it sometimes. I get the greatest feeling of pride in my heart when Jimmy talks about America and what it means to him... I just... it really sucks that in today's world it's almost a crime (at least it seems to be where I live) to be patriotic. Movies like this should be REQUIRED in school. Instead of teaching kids to hate their country why not teach them to love it?!

[jalusbrian]

@inkenyo youve completely misunderstood the movie,.,,its not about patriotism at all...Its about politics corruption and one mans journey from innocence to experience.

Patriotic is a weasel word that the Taylors can use to manipulate the people....youd understand this if you actually undestood the movie!

Your idea or being patriotic would be to support US wars of aggression because not to is to be unpatriotic...right?

[ObamaRules4Ever]

A racist movie. James Stewart was a racist.

[Jurassic0Al]

This movie is racist how...?

[ObamaRules4Ever]

Just look at the bus boys. A racist, dated, studio-bound crapfest for racist white audiences.

[senoramariposa]

The film was true to the time in which it was made. Would you be happy if it showed blacks as respected, honored Americans? Wouldn't that be a lie?

[quest380]

How does "race" even come to play in this movie lol!

[PetertheAverage]

What you're doing now is called "presentism." You're applying the norms and values of today to the past. Not only is it historical inaccurate to do that, it is just plain wrong.

[ObamaRules4Ever]

The fact that Stewart was the product of a bygone era doesn't make his racism and anti-semitism any less unacceptable.

[PetertheAverage]

Of course it does not, by today's standards.  Do you see the inherent flaw in applying the predominant, socially-acceptable values of today to the past? That was my point.

[RdtheLiterature]

God why did I even reply to your other comment....

[jinkevin14]

" Take a look at this country through her eyes if you really want to see something. And you won't just see scenery; you'll see the whole parade of what Man's carved out for himself, after centuries of fighting. Fighting for something better than just jungle law, fighting so's he can stand on his own two feet, free and decent, like he was created, no matter what his race, color, or creed."- Mr.Smith

[Cooperpal]

I just heard that this film was shown when France was given thirty days to abolish all "Allied" movies when the Nazis took over France. It raised the spirits of the free French on the verge of the Vichy government. It is an American Masterpiece and certainly Frank Capras. Abe Lincoln was an actual character, even in this scene.

Anyone who thinks this film was "racist" is badly misinformed about history and culture and art.

[datalorez]

Everything is racist... if you think like a retard.

[RdtheLiterature]

ya well clinton was an adulteress. that can be considered a form of sexism. now did that make him a bad president? doe stewart being a racist make him a bad actor? anyways, the movie is a great movie about the American government and the points it makes are valid today and will always be valid. that would be the wise thing to take away from the clip. don't point your fingers at ppl., if you're not racist what's the point and telling us abt ppl. who are dead? you know the south used to b too?

[PensieveScholar]

RdtheLiterature - Clinton was an adulterer, not an adulteress, as he was male. Just saying. :)

[RdtheLiterature]

LOL! my bad...sorry about that.

[PensieveScholar]

Oh, and whoa - I don't think you should be accusing Stewart of being racist. He didn't direct or cast the film (and was therefore unlikely to have had any influence on choosing the roles for the Black actors), and there is no evidence that he was a racist otherwise, either.

Besides, as robinchav pointed out, the film was made in the '30s, when views on race were quite different than they are now; seeing Black people performing all the menial jobs was common.

[RdtheLiterature]

i don't know if he was or wasn't and don't really care to know. I was replying to someone else who was screaming about jimmy stewart being a racist.

I was trying to tell him that whether stewart was or was not a racist the point has nothing to do with the move Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in any way. the movie is still a great movie.

you should check the page with all the comments. it will layout the comments in order. meaning it shows the comment i replied too

[PensieveScholar]

Yeah, I saw the other comment, but your comment made me think that you thought Stewart was a racist, too - thanks for clarifying. :)

[justmejules711]

"So shines a good deed in a weary world"

--quote taken from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory~~

[DorothyParkerWannabe]

Quote taken originally from Shakespeare (Merchant of Venice. They changed "weary" from "naughty," I believe, for Willy Wonka. I love that there were so many classic quotes in WWatCF.)

[Arlo003]

A great movie. And the only politician in real life who reminds me of Mr. Smith is Ron Paul. I'm sure I'm not the first to say it.

[Matt4136]

Unfortunately, the Taylors and Paines always seem to win in the end...

[felixfaster]

that's just because we haven't gotten to the end yet

[h2oholic]

This is not the time for apathy. Our nemesis Rudy understands how big the coming weeks are. Are we really going to roll over and die now that the going is getting tough? Did you really think this would be easy? Are we going to allow ourselves to be influenced by the media now and stop giving? Donate today to Ron Paul