Mr. Smith Goes to Washington's Recent Activity - Spout

Film:Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:56:23 GMT

Title: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Year: 1939
Director: Frank Capra
Plot: 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." ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 21
Number of Lists: 37
Number of blog posts: 11
Number of discussion threads: 11
SpoutRating: 4

Spout Post: Re:Which of these Hollywood films released in 1939 is your favorite?

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:28:35 GMT

Post By: Dr_Gor
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 9/13/2009 9:28:35 PM
Body: [quote user="Risselada"] Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. I just posted a blog about The Hunchback of Notre Dame. One of the things commented on the special features was how this movie was almost outshadowed by the so many other well known movies that also came out of Hollywood in this same year. I could hardly even list half of films that are still well known today, but I tried my best to pick what would probably be people's most favorites. Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Destry Rides AgainGone with the WindThe Hunchback of Notre DameMr. Smith Goes to WashingtonNinotchkaThe Roaring TwentiesStagecoachThe Wizard of OzThe WomenWuthering Heights [/quote] I think I would have to vote for The Wizard of OZ in this one only because I thought Dorothy was pretty hot and Judy Garland gave me a "tingly* feeling at a very young age... The Hunchback would be second followed by Stagecoach ... (John Wayne RULES!) ... < GOR >

Spout Post: Re:Which of these Hollywood films released in 1939 is your favorite?

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:59:35 GMT

Post By: pippin06
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 9/1/2009 7:59:35 AM
Body: [quote user="Risselada"] I had to say Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I just love it. Can't help it. I saw Stagecoach so long ago, I can't remember many specifics, but I know it was amazing! Sounds like it's time for a revisit. Is there anyone here who actually found Gone with the Wind a bit long and grating? I find Vivien Leigh to be pretty annoying a lot of the time. But people say she was perfect for the part. I've never read the book though, so maybe Scarlett O'Hara the characters is just annoying to me. [/quote] I've read the book, and Leigh was perfect for the part. And: she's supposed to be annoying, in her own way, but she's sympathetically annoying because she's really just a big child in a world that's bigger than she realizes and certainly bigger than her. So, yes, Scarlett is, by definition, annoying. Which is why her tempestuous romance with Rhett, who is deliberately annoying and knows it full well, is ironic. She wants the stoic and sensitive Ashley, but Rhett is more her equal in every way. And, at four hours, it is a very long movie. But, like another poster, Gone with the Wind is a staple from my childhood because it is my mother's favorite movie aside from Casablanca. So, some people will probably agree with you while others will say it's four hours of epic romantic goodness. I fall somewhere in the middle leaning toward the epic romantic goodness. I like Oz and Mr. Smith better :-D.

Spout Post: Re:Which of these Hollywood films released in 1939 is your favorite?

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:56:23 GMT

Post By: QFLW
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 8/6/2009 11:56:23 PM
Body: [quote user="Risselada"] I had to say Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I just love it. Can't help it. I saw Stagecoach so long ago, I can't remember many specifics, but I know it was amazing! Sounds like it's time for a revisit. Is there anyone here who actually found Gone with the Wind a bit long and grating? I find Vivien Leigh to be pretty annoying a lot of the time. But people say she was perfect for the part. I've never read the book though, so maybe Scarlett O'Hara the characters is just annoying to me. [/quote] Same here with Stagecoach - I just can't remember much about it. (sigh) There are too many like that, alas... There are a few of these films I haven't seen, and it was hard to choose, but in the end I went with Wizard of Oz. It's such a staple from my childhood -- a very good old friend. Ditto Gone With the Wind, actually. I remember being about 5 years old, watching it with my parents at a drive-in. Hanging over the front seat between my parents, crying during the burning of Atlanta, wondering what all those people with burned homes were going to do - I didn't understand a lot of the rest of it at the time...but I digress. The film is better than the book, which is written in a rather soap-opera-y style, and everyone's right -- Leigh was the perfect Scarlet. She's meant to be annoying. ;-) I've never liked any version of Wuthering Heights much, though I've seen a few - the story is bizarre rather than romantic, if you ask me; none of the characters are likeable. So why do I keep watching different versions of it? Mostly because of who gets cast in them.

Spout Post: Re:Which of these Hollywood films released in 1939 is your favorite?

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:40:04 GMT

Post By: Risselada
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 8/5/2009 11:40:04 AM
Body: I had to say Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I just love it. Can't help it. I saw Stagecoach so long ago, I can't remember many specifics, but I know it was amazing! Sounds like it's time for a revisit. Is there anyone here who actually found Gone with the Wind a bit long and grating? I find Vivien Leigh to be pretty annoying a lot of the time. But people say she was perfect for the part. I've never read the book though, so maybe Scarlett O'Hara the characters is just annoying to me.

Spout Post: Re:Which of these Hollywood films released in 1939 is your favorite?

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:29:56 GMT

Post By: leeroy711
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 8/4/2009 11:29:56 PM
Body: Good year!! Of the films on the list I've seen. I had to go with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington And I don't really have a good reason for that other than Jimmy Stewart is the man.

Spout Post: Which of these Hollywood films released in 1939 is your favorite?

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:09:36 GMT

Post By: Risselada
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 8/4/2009 6:09:36 PM
Body: Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. I just posted a blog about The Hunchback of Notre Dame. One of the things commented on the special features was how this movie was almost outshadowed by the so many other well known movies that also came out of Hollywood in this same year. I could hardly even list half of films that are still well known today, but I tried my best to pick what would probably be people's most favorites. Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Destry Rides AgainGone with the WindThe Hunchback of Notre DameMr. Smith Goes to WashingtonNinotchkaThe Roaring TwentiesStagecoachThe Wizard of OzThe WomenWuthering Heights

Spout Post: movie year countdown - round #2 - #36 - 1936-7 - Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Thu, 21 May 2009 18:06:53 GMT

Post By: Risselada
Post To: Risselada Blog
Post Date: 5/21/2009 2:06:53 PM
Body: This blog entry is part of my "movie year countdown round #2". Read more about that here. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Mr. Frank Capra scores a hat trick with me! This is the third film of his I have seen, and I give all three a perfect score of 10 out of 10. No man can craft a better sappy, emotionally manipulative story that absolutely works for me! There's no mystery to these stories. With this film, It's a Wonderful Life, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, the stories are clearly about a pure man of innocence and morals in a world that seems to be all against him but reveals itself to be full of many people just as good as him. Why do Capra's movies of this sort work over other formulaic films that attempt the same kinds of sappy stories? Well on one side it's clearly excellence in all of the major aspects of solid movie making of this type. Fantastic writing, filming and editing, and perfect casting and acting, especially for the leads. On the other side, it must be just a kind of mysterious magic that Capra possesses. Some people just have the intuition for certain things, and for Capra it was presenting you with this kind of sappy story without making you feel guilty for feeling emotional. Well, that's the way it works for me at least. Rating: 10/10

Spout Post: Inspirational Speech Montage. Clip of the Day

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:01:18 GMT

Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 12/11/2008 2:01:18 PM
Body: Thanks to Barack Obama, you’ve possibly had enough inspirational speeches for one year. But if not, go see Milk, and also watch this video, which splices together bits from 40 films including obvious choices like Independence Day, Patton, Braveheart, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Animal House, as well as surprise additions like Newsies, Swingers and Galaxy Quest. The montage had me at the 7 second mark due to an appearance from Fozzie and friends (from The Great Muppet Caper), but it goes on longer than 2 minutes. This is not just some compilation of cinema’s greatest inspirational speeches, though; it’s a well-edited stitching of words that come together as one long speech, the most perfect inspirational speech ever. Even Obama could learn a thing from this video from YouTube genius Matthew Belinkie (he also gave us “The Dark Bailout”), especially if the president-elect finds himself at the center of an alien invasion, a war with England or in a roomful of Muppets at the Happiness Hotel. Check out “40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes” after the jump. [via Cinematical] Originally posted on:SpoutBlog

Spout Post: Superheroes and Sex in the City: new DVDs (12/9)

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:47:20 GMT

Post By: SkyPilot
Post To: Coming Soon
Post Date: 12/8/2008 4:47:20 PM
Body: New DVDs on 12/9 -- Highlights The Dark Knight -- Watch trailer. We're giving away some Dark Knight DVDs, check it out. Hellboy II: The Golden Army -- Watch the trailer. I liked it a lot more than the first (and I liked that one!). When it comes to fun and surprises, I think the scene in the Troll Market surpasses the Mos Eisley cantina scene from Star Wars. I Am Legend (The Ultimate Collector's Edition, 3 Discs) -- Watch the trailer. The Resident Evil series 3-pack. Sex and the City (4 discs) Some Frank Capra classics are getting reissued by Sony pictures: It Happened One Night Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Mr. Smith Goes to Washington You Can't Take it With You

Spout Post: Presidential Election Movies To Get You Through Election Day

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:01:24 GMT

Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 11/4/2008 6:01:24 PM
Body: Are you walking around with your “I Voted!” sticker proudly adhered to your chest? If not, get out there and do some lever pulling, chad punching, and ballot dropping. Then take the rest ofthe day off and watch one of these movies that’ll get you through the rest of election day and away from the nail-biting edge of election return coverage. There are a few minor spoilers inside, but don’t view that as me messing with the ballot box. You’ll still love the movies more than CNN’s infographics. Citizen Kane Yes, it’s the grandaddy at the top of every “best of” list, but people don’t really think of it as an election film. However, there’s an election right in the heart of it. Charles Foster Kane runs for the governorship of New York, and has a good chance of winning until he’s at the heart of a scandal involving a woman and the incumbent governor, Boss Jim W. Gettys. His campaign speech in front of the enormous poster of himself is one of the most iconic images from the film, and also the turning point for his ultimate fall from grace in the film. The Candidate Robert Redford’s darkly comic film about a race for one of the California senate seats shows how volatile and tupsy-turvy politics can be. Peter Boyle is supposed to find someone to unseat a popular Republican Senator, but know that they are so far ahead it won’t matter who he gets. Eventually he goes after the extremely unlike candidate Bill McKay, played by Redford, and tells him it doesn’t matter what he does, he’s going to lose. So he’s free to do what he wants on the campaign trail. However, he finally decides he doesn’t want to go down by a landslide and fights back, eventually even winning the race. In the famous scene at the end, Redford finds Boyle and asks, “What do we do now?” America might very well be asking that question tomorrow. The Contender Joan Allen has had a couple of brushes with the White House. She played first lady Pat Nixon in Oliver Stone’s Nixon, for which she received an Academy Award nomination, and inThe Contender she plays a Democratic senator from Ohio who becomes the new Vice-Presidential nominee when the President (Jeff Bridges) has his own VP die while in office. It’s a well-acted exploration of sexual politics, and revolves around an event that may or may not have happened to Allen’s character in college. Gary Oldman vamps it up as a congressman who blocks Allen’s appointment, Jeff Bridges make a terrific president and Sam Elliot is a wonderfully hardassed Chief of Staff, but it’s really Joan Allen who amazes in this film. Bob Roberts Tim Robbins’ film about a folksy Pennsylvania senate candidate who learns how to manipulate the system was actually based on a Saturday Night Live sketch from 1986 featuring Robbins as the same character. It’s full of twangy music, borrows heavily from Bob Dylan, and turns sinister towards the end with a possibly faked assassination attempt that puts Roberts in office. The songs are the most memorable part of the film, although the soundtrack was never released because Tim Robbins didn’t want the songs to be played out of context. Like… as a John McCain rally song, which would have sent Robbins into fits of apoplexy. Election It might take place in the halls of high school, but it’s a snapshot not just of the formative years of teenager, but of the entire political process as well. Easily Reese Witherspoon’s best film, her evil and vindictive Tracy Flick isn’t someone you want to cross, or even run against. Although if your opponent is the sickly sweet Chris Klein (who even votes for Tracy), then you don’t really have to worry about competition. Matthew Broderick desperately tries to stop her rise to power, which provides some of the funniest moments in the film, including a recount scandal that rivals the Bush/Gore election. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington They don’t make films like this anymore, and Washington would certainly never give us an ending this neat and clean, but it’s one of Jimmy Stewart’s most endearing roles and it’s still inspirational some 50 years later. It has the best filibuster ever on film, although the confessional moment at the end would never happen in today’s political climate. Stewart’s Smith is still the kind of character you can get behind and root for today, and should probably be required viewing upon assuming any office in D.C. Primary Colors Based on the book that was inspired by Bill Clinton’s first presidential campaign in 1992, John Travolta actually does a decent job as a southern governor running for office in this Mike Nichols film. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since this movie came out, although it was a bit too late to ride on the coattails of the book two years earlier. When the novel came out by “Anonymous” (later revealed to be journalist Joe Klein) it was on everyone’s lips. Besides Travolta’s Clinton impersonation, the movie didn’t generate nearly as many waves. Still, it’s worth watcing on this Election Tuesday, if nothing other than to tweak your nostalgia circuit. Wag the Dog This movie is mostly terrific for Dustin Hoffman’s excellent Robert Evans impersonation throughout the movie. He plays a Hollywood producer brought in by De Niro’s political spin doctor character to create a fake war in order to distract from the President’s ongoing sex scandal. It proves to be ridiculously successful, and is loosely based on Larry Beinhart’s novel American Hero. Although in the book the president is George H.W. Bush, and the war Opeation Desert Storm. Still, it works a bit better as a dark comedy rather than being based on actual events, although Beinhart’s book is well worth reading. Nixon I wasn’t originally a fan of this Oliver Stone movie, but it’s been playing on cable a lot the past month, and I usually end up watching it whenever I flip channels. Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal of Nixon is incredibly intricate, showing both his paranoid side, and his detached loneliness. As Paul Sorvino’s Henry Kissinger in the film says, “Can you imagine what this man would be like had anyone ever loved him?” It’s also a slap the the face to W, which doesn’t even feel like an Oliver Stone movie. Nixon has teeth, W is a softball. Probably one of Hopkins’ meatiest roles as an actor, and the DVD version with 28 minutes of extra footage will get you through the entire night. Recount When HBO announced this film, I remember cringing and thinking “Won’t the controversy ever go away? It’s like pouring salt in an open wound!” Then I saw the movie, and I loved it. However, I can’t watch it all the way through because I get incredibly angry whenever I see it. Forget about what would have happened if Nixon was loved. What about what our country would be like now if Gore had been elected. How different would things be now? Would we be at war? Would the economy be in the toilet? We’ll never know, but this film really gives you a hard look at the process that put Bush in office, and how full of holes (and dangling chads) it really is. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog

Spout Tag:Classic

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:30:46 GMT

Classic
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Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:56:35 GMT

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Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:28:28 GMT

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Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:15:30 GMT

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Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:15:30 GMT

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Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:04:09 GMT

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