We all love to cheer for the underdog, especially when he’s up against tough circumstances and particularly when he’s fighting against the bigger, more powerful people of the world (who usually aren’t the nicest). It’s a timeless formula for movies: have a likeable underdog pitted against tough circumstances and to have him overcome them. It’s a formula which most of us love and one that has made several wonderful feel-good films, such as Rocky. There was no one finer at making such pictures than Director Frank Capra (It’s A Wonderful Life) and there was no one finer than James Stewart at playing the wide-eyed "everyman" who challenged the system and this is why Mr. Smith Goes To Washington is a wonderful film which has become a timeless classic, a masterpiece of feel-good cinema. These two men epitomised warm "American pie" values and to put it bluntly made damn fine films which always had one walking out of the cinema with either a teary eye or a big smile

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington is not only one of the finest feel-good films you’ll ever see but it’s also a meaningful motion picture which exposes the hypocrisy and corruption which can plague governments (in this case the American government). These kinds of barbs at America’s government were at the time quite controversial and understandably (despite immense popularity with most audiences) the film did cause quite a stir with some, in particular the American government.

This fantastic fantasy-based yarn tells a story about Jefferson Smith (James Stewart) who becomes a new senator. The men in the government feel the need a gullible, ill-informed patriotic "yes man" to ensure a number of their dubious bills are passed. Being a young man who runs boy scout clubs and is a firmly patriotic fellow, young Jefferson Smith seems like the perfect "sap" for the position. Smith is of course unaware of the nature behind him being given the job of senator and gets in the way by striving to make a difference: by proposing a bill and having a say. Smith who has a youthful idealistic view on politics is shocked when he eventually finds out the real reason for him being in government and is appalled by the corruption that he finds is going on. Mr. Smith however will not lay down and decides to take a stand and face-up to the corruption and hypocrisy that pours out of his fellow senators.

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington still has the same impact today as it did way back in 1938. The film is still just appealing and charming as ever and the barbs at politicians are still just as relevant today. The picture paints a believable and convincing portrait of corruption in Washington, this is particularly well articulated through the characterisation of the Claude Rains character. Rains plays Senator Joseph Paine who was a good friend of Mr. Smith’s Father and like Smith’s father and Smith himself, Paine was once an idealistic man who had good morals and fought for "lost causes". Paine has since been "hardened" to the corrupt ways of his fellow senators and in particular Jim Taylor (Edward Arnold) whose large corrupt shadow has been cast not only on Paine but on all the senators. It is not until Smith comes along that the truly ghastly effects of this corruption on Paine come through. This is realistic and convincing stuff, as the Paine character has been developed as one who was once a good man like Smith but has since been corrupted, thus explaining that the government can turn well intentioned people into corrupt "yes men".

Aside from it’s highly relevant and meaningful story (from a script brilliantly written by Lewis R. Foster and Sidney Buchman),Mr. Smith Goes To Washington wouldn’t have been half the film it was if not for it’s wonderful performance from Jimmy Stewart, the solid support from Claude Rains (Casablanca,Passage To Marseille) and Frank Capra’s fine direction.

For Stewart and Capra this is one of their finest efforts which is on par in it’s widespread appeal with their other classic It’s A Wonderful Life. Jimmy’s performance is the first lead role of his career and it is also one of the finest performances in his magnificent career. With his wide-eyed earnestness and his likable qualities one could not imagine anyone else but Jimmy playing the role of Jefferson Smith. When Jimmy starts bleating out moralistic speeches in that soft, warm prattle (that he so finely used in Harvey) of his one cannot help but be won over by such charm and earnestness. Capra too is a master at sentimentality being able to pull at our heart strings without a heavy hand and without obvious manipulation, his magnificent direction of Mr. Smith Goes To Washington established him as a master of feel-good cinema which some affectionately labeled as "Capra corn".

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington is a timeless "David versus Goliath" fable which is a true American classic. With the touchingly idealistic Jefferson Smith character and the guts to expose corruption in American government, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington masterfully juxtaposes warm "American pie" values against government corruption which makes it one of the best classic films you will ever see.

5 STARS