How to Propose a Bill according to Jean Arthur

[LifeIsTheGreatest]

This is the truest part of the movie. Representative democracy which the world has had since the 400s BC is bad. It is not so much the quality of the politicians (although this does make a difference - and possibly a huge difference), it is the concentration of power. Such a small number of people closeted up in an environment like Congress or a Parliament is incapable... they are incapable of knowing the needs of millions of people. The answer is simple: 300 days per year with the community.

[nureallycool]

I learned so much more from this movie than I do in college

[babymoondancer]

i love her voice! Sort of like the '30s version of Joey Lauren Adams.

[sclogse1]

Jean Arthur in Easy Living..the closeups of her smiling beguiled face....especially if your use a bigger TV or front projector and can really just stare...she knocks you out. Instead. of playing the "one who has to let you down easy" she's firing on all cylinders...with that open beautiful, beguiled look. She'll knock you out.

[APMaggy08]

Actually, Jean Arthur had to turn down the part as Mary Hatch because she was doing a play on broadway at the time. I'm absolutely sure tha she would have taken the part is she could have! Even if I love "It's a wonderful life" as it is, I really wish she would have played Mary. James and Jean have amazing chemistry together!!

[H3nry7h3h3n]

This is much more accurate then the schoolhouse rock crap that most schools show.

[TKainZero]

What a great movie

Just watched it, just amazing.

[ClassicMovieClub]

I feel so sorry for her character cause she would make such a politician but of course she didn't get a chance - thats why shes so fustrated. I love Jean Arthur so adorable

[r5t6y12]

Along with some of the SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK stuff from the early 80's the argument that Saunders makes here would teach even the basics of government in the US Capital.

[r5t6y12]

Yeah, they'll have to come back in and do a voiceover for the "96 men" part.

Actually no, it would be better to leave it in there so that the "young'uns" amongst us can understand (I'm 46 now) what Alaska and Hawaii are all about.

[kingwoodian]

If only times were like that now. She is classic. I can't remember though, it was implied at the end of this movie that Saunders and Jefferson were into each other right?

[BanshiX]

She is so beautiful! This scene helped me a lot with understanding bills. Haha.

[PremiumTug]

I love they talk about the goods thing about america, unlike today where all hollywood is to the left and anti-american. What happen to the good old days?

[RubyTuesday717]

FDR died and the Production Code ended, that's what happened!

[frayededge]

@PremiumTug You know that this movie was seen as communist and anti-American when it came out, right?

[likesogalactic]

@PremiumTug

Aaron Sorkin still writes to American sentimentalism, and he's to the left. I disagree with how you characterize "all Hollywood" as "anti-american." It's more accurate to say Hollywood is more audience-drive than content-driven these days. Hollyood sells stupid crap because audiences buy stupid crap. The great movies are out there; you just need to look for them.

[MsSevenofSix]

@PremiumTug Well . . . She's talking rather cynically about how it's almost pointless to propose a bill. He's the idealist. When this film came out, Washington DC actually thought it was leftist and anti-American because it criticized how DC works. Year later, Sidney Buchman, the screenwriter who wrote it, was blacklisted and destroyed during the McCarthy era. He left the country. Ironic, since this film he wrote is actually the most patriotic American film ever made.

[Rsutherl1]

@PremiumTug The guy who wrote the film's screenplay was a leftist, and a member of the Communist Party.

[MrSpike378]

@PremiumTug

Ugh, the movie is deliberately apolitical, why make a discussion about this film with politics? If you're disillusioned with films now just say so, I'm certainly to the left but love this movie as much as anyone. Let's just all appreciate it, yeah?

[GrandMasterFreshMpls]

@PremiumTug I vote Democrat but I agree with you. The moral fiber of America has been frayed.

[svuhelter7]

why did she say 96 men?

[RubyTuesday717]

Because Hawaii and Alaska weren't states back in 1939--with 2 senators/delegates from 48 states, that's 96 men.

[svuhelter7]

oh! thank you very much!!

[ClassicMovieClub]

WOnderful woman. She's incredibly graceful in this film. WHen Jimmy is delvring all his big speaches shes standing right by him and delviering somethin like that. Just wonderful

[rumpole33]

i really like her voice.

[larrynod]

This scene, well, this MOVIE, should be shown in every American government class in high school and college. Brilliant.

[chickenhunter2005]

lol i just watched this in my high school government class

[RdtheLiterature]

If I taught an American Government class, when Igot to the senate part the first thing I would do is play this to my class. and then I would start describing each part that she spoke about and as I would teach it everyday before class I would play this up until each part that we were at until we get to the end and I would play the whole thing over again. : )

[darlingdelovely]

i still can't believe she was 39 in this film.

[229095]

I didn't realize she was 39 here! I'm 37, and it seems most women my age look so haggard.

[leafyutube]

Love this movie and Jean Arthur has always been one of my favorites.

[nexttimewelove51]

Put two of your greatest movie stars together and WOW! Chemistry they had. You don't see chemistry in today's movies. Jimmy and Jean are my favorite.

[RubyTuesday717]

They really are great together. James Stewart said in the late 1990s that Jean Arthur was the best actress he ever worked with--a major compliment considering the number of excellent leading ladies he worked with.

[APMaggy08]

@imblu77 Actually, Jean Arthur had to turn down the part as Mary because she was doing a stage play at the time. I'm sure she would have taken the part if she could have! It would have been awesome, because they have amazing chemistry together!

[cfc67]

@nexttimewelove51They didn't get along off camera.

[BSTO88]

chill out.

[leafyutube]

KidsTrax, given you're 23 years old, I can see you speak with tons of experience.

[KidsTrax]

Government funded camping sounds like a great idea and is in no way a tax payer sink hole....

It was a great movie just the idea for his bill I thought was silly.

[djmb42]

I love Jean and Jimmy! This is a GREAT movie!

[danaeashley22]

Jean is awesome here -- there are many women who struggle with subtle comedy -- but she pulls it off effortlessly! "Your big day arrives -- and then Congress adjourns." Terrific!

This is one of my favorite movies ever.

[Snowyowl900]

I own this movie and I always get so excited, when this scene plays.

[itsayskeds]

I love this film to pieces. Jean Arthur is brilliant, and Jimmy Stewart is phenomenal. Put them both together and--woah! A wonderful duo!

[justmejules711]

the child like faith of his character is the gift of faith that anything in life is possible!!! great clip thank you!!!

[jajaeeyore93]

Oh, thank you--I love Jean Arthur. Does anyone know if leslie04film has started a new channel? She had lots of Jean Arthur films, but they took her account off so now they're all gone. :<

[RubyTuesday717]

I actually saw leslie04 on another website/network; she said that she had saved all her tribute videos and would probably go back to uploading full movies but would not take requests anymore, because keeping up with demand was becoming too much for her. If I discover her new username I'll let you know.

[jajaeeyore93]

Oh, thank you so much! I was so mad when they took her account off. Please let me know...

[majik2hanz]

I love this part of movie. Always thought it should be standard school material. Intersperse it with School house rock "I'm Just A Bill on Capitol Hill"

It also needs to be updated to include the current M.O. of 'admit a 1500 page bill at last minute. so no one can read it and ram it through, so someone (elected officials and those who PAID for their campaign) can get wealthy from its particulars and John Q Public gets screwed - less freedoms, more govt & taxes w nothing to show for it.

[SUNSHINEandSPIRIT]

Jean arthur,mmmmmm swoon,she was my favourite of that era,an original.ive searched the web for an appearance by the reclusive jean on the merv griffin show from 73 but had no luck,any ideas from any youtubers of where to find it would be great?

[musicho]

Love this scene!

Jean Arthur is a huge part of why this is a classic movie. Claude Rains was excellent too. Not to take anything away from Stewart's performance, but they are both underrated actors.

[cydonianman]

she's not the most attractive woman but at the same time she IS the most attracive woman. something about her just draws my attention. the more i watched her the more i was into her. after watchin this movie i googled her name. i had to know more about her. lol

[starshooter1093]

buy the biography on her called "the actress nobody knew" it's really great and gives freat insight into her life even though she was such a shy person. she's amazing. she questionned her beauty alot though. when she did "only angels have wings" she wouldn't talk to rita hayworth and was convinced the studio brought her in to make herself look bad. her lack of self confidence was immence but she could always pull off anything once you turned the cameras on.

[Moionfire]

LOL at when she says "not to loud, because some senators might want to sleep"... LOL...

[Peach103]

I love this part. It's so funny.

[unbrokendream]

Jean Arthur is far too underrated - she deserves so much more acclaim.

[travelchic19]

I totally agree! I love her!! Awesome, unique voice. :o)

[starshooter1093]

she became a model after high school, and then did broadway, and then did acting, and then became an acting teacher at a university. amazingly she was ridiculusly shy. she often backed out of shows.

[starshooter1093]

everyone talks about how great jimmy is but i think she needs equal credit. she's my favorite actress of this movie era. she's unique and georgous,and just plain amazing!

[RubyTuesday717]

Oh, I agree; despite Stewart's performance I think that Saunders is actually a much more interesting character than Mr. Smith, and her journey is more complex and poignant. And Jean Arthur is there all the way for Saunders. This and EASY LIVING I think are her best performances.

According to her biography by John Oller, this was her favorite film of her own.

[jsharp1701]

True, Saunders has the most growth. And remember, in hindsight we forget that Jean was a bigger star than Jimmy at the time. Even though it's reversed on the DVD boxes today, her name came first in the credits and on the posters and lobby cards! It was a "Jean Arthur movie" when it opened in 1939.

And it's my favorite of all time. I watch it around every election.

[RubyTuesday717]

If you ask me (and nobody did), I think Jean Arthur should've gotten a Best Actress nod, she was far better than most of the nominees save of course Vivien Leigh and Greta Garbo. As you say, it's so hard to do that subtle comedy, and she anchors this film with her worldly gravity as much as Jimmy Stewart makes it fly with his optimism. She's so fantastic.

[Peach103]

I love this movie. I think it is the best movie ever made.

[bluecollarteen]

my favorite actor, Jimmy Stewart. Jean Arthur was soooo beautiful and a great great actress too. I LOVE this movie

[Peach103]

I like this movie too.

[MizzouSucks]

Jean Arthur is one of the most underrated, beautiful and witty actresses of all time.

[scj16]

one of my favorite movies of all time!

[ufund]

Jean Arthur, brains and looks. If I had a teacher like HER explain the legislative process like this I would have been a damn senator.

[RubyTuesday717]

Today is October 17, and it's what would be Jean Arthur's 107th birthday. We love you and still miss you, Jean!

[Pedrolarrozapretti]

Jean Arthur... what a diva!

I was giggling all over the video, btw, 'cause both Jimmy and Jean are so witty! And her voice is so deliciously squeaky! You gotta love that girl...