More like this. Watch options. Storyline Edit. Naive and idealistic Jefferson Smith, leader of the Boy Rangers, is appointed on a lark by the spineless governor of his state. He is reunited with the state's senior senator--presidential hopeful and childhood hero, Senator Joseph Paine. In Washington, however, Smith discovers many of the shortcomings of the political process as his earnest goal of a national boys' camp leads to a conflict with the state political boss, Jim Taylor.
Taylor first tries to corrupt Smith and then later attempts to destroy Smith through a scandal. Did you know Edit. Trivia Bitterly denounced by Washington insiders angry at its allegations of corruption, yet banned by fascist states in Europe who were afraid it showed that democracy works. Goofs Under the Standing Rules of the Senate governing debate, Senator Paine would not technically have been allowed to attack Senator Smith's character and accuse him of graft.
The rule states: "No Senator in debate shall, directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator.
Quotes Jefferson Smith : You see, boys forget what their country means by just reading The Land of the Free in history books. Shaw Played during the opening credits and often in the score. User reviews Review. Top review. Capra-corn but very watchable with some great performances As a bumbling, naive senator who is a lamb thrown to the wolves in Washington, D.
Jean Arthur is a natural for the role of the wise secretary who at first scorns his innocent ways but soon comes to realize he's the real thing. His reaction shots, grinning and sometimes stifling a grin, say more than words. He and Rains both deserved their supporting role nominations.
But, as usual in a Capra film, you have to be willing to forgive some obvious plot contrivances or overall schmaltz. The ending when it finally comes after some excessive length in running time is rather abrupt as though the director suddenly realized he'd gone overtime on the story.
And some of the sentimentality such as the scene where Arthur joins him at the Lincoln Memorial where she knew she'd find him , is hard to swallow until you remind yourself that--hey, this is Capra-corn. Nevertheless, despite some flaws, it's the kind of comedy-drama about Washington, D.
And the replica of the Senate is amazingly detailed, as are all the interiors which were shot on a soundstage at Columbia. It's also a nice lesson in how the Senate works, how bills have to go through committees, the rules of behavior, filibustering, etc.
Summing up: It's Stewart's show all the way. He's at his peak here. Doylenf Aug 1, Smith was too shocked by Paine's betrayal to defend himself and, mute, left the commission that accused him.
Claude Rains and James Stewart in the film. Smith, before returning home, went back to the Lincoln Memorial, and as he was shot down by what happened to him, Saunders approached him, touched by Smith's despair and urged him to resume his fight to have the finance bill postponed and prove his innocence in the Senate. In response, Paine asked senators to vote Smith's forfeiture and exclusion from the Senate.
Saunders suggests that Smith react and defend himself by speaking constantly in front of the assembly, causing parliamentary obstruction or filibustering , because a parliamentarian has the right, legally speaking, to speak without time limit. Encouraged by Saunders, present in the stands, Smith spoke for nearly 24 hours, standing up and unceasingly, to reaffirm the American ideals of freedom, reveal the real reasons for the dam project and denounce Paine's corruption.
Despite everything, none of the senators are convinced of his innocence. While Smith talks without stopping, Taylor uses his control over the media to prevent them from transmitting Smith's statements to the public. Newspapers and radio stations in Smith State, funded by Taylor, refuse to publish Smith's statement, denigrate him in their headlines and go so far as to mount popular demonstrations and petitions against him.
Only the Boy Rangers newspaper, outside Taylor's influence, proclaims that Smith is telling the truth. Taylor brutally intervenes his men to prevent children from distributing their newspapers, even throwing a truck at the car they were using for their distribution. Although all hopes seem to have been lost, senators are beginning to be shaken by Smith's stubbornness, pushed to the point of exhaustion. But Paine plays his last card: he brings in baskets full of letters and telegrams from Smith's state, from middle-class people manipulated by the media, wishing to be expelled from the Senate.
Almost devastated by these petitions, Smith found a leap of hope in the friendly smile of the Senate Speaker. Smith then made the promise not to go out until no one believed him; he begged Paine to remember the ideals of his beginnings, then immediately collapsed from exhaustion.
Feeling guilty, probably believing in Smith's death, Paine left the Senate Chamber, tried to commit suicide with a firearm but was prevented from doing so. While Smith - who is only unconscious - is evacuated, Paine returns to the Chamber and confesses the whole truth about his manipulations.
He asks to be expelled himself and affirms Smith's innocence, still unconscious but ultimately victorious. Jefferson Smith is incredibly naive but also idealistic, completely honest and in love with nature. He is also endowed with immense determination and incredible endurance. Heroes Wiki. Heroes Wiki Explore. Top Content. What Paine is initially unaware about is that what Smith proposes in his bill would place the dam project in jeopardy. Taylor and Paine have to decide how much hardball they will play to make Smith comply or in turn ruin him, while Smith will show if he has what it takes to play with the big boys on the senate floor.
Smith may have some unexpected help from someone who has let Washington get the better of her. Jeffrey Smith is a man who believes children are the future and deserve immediate funding for an outdoor camping experience.
When Jeff, the idealistic Washington outsider, is appointed to be the new United States Senate, his plans now stand the chance at being fully realized. He soon realizes, after getting blind-sided by high-ranking officials, that he will need to - literally - stand by himself in an inspired fight against corruption and greed. Through a series of fortunate, and unfortunate, events, an unsophisticated local hero, Jefferson Smith, is appointed a US Senator.
The people pulling the strings in his party and State figure that he will be compliant and malleable and basically stay out of the way of their plans, some of which aren't entirely ethical, or legal. However, a well-intentioned deed sets off a dramatic chain of events, a series of events that will see him at odds with his colleagues, with the shadowy, bullying power brokers and with the entire Senate.
Sign In. Edit Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
0コメント