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Movies / On DVD / Mr. Smith Goes To Washington
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington

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Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939)

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Reviews Counted:28

Fresh:27

Rotten:1

Average Rating:8.3/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 10 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Two slimy fat-cat legislators recruit Jefferson Smith, an innocent and staunchly principled Montana scout leader, as the state's new Senator, hoping to exploit his naviete and community pride to... Two slimy fat-cat legislators recruit Jefferson Smith, an innocent and staunchly principled Montana scout leader, as the state's new Senator, hoping to exploit his naviete and community pride to bring home pork-barrel funds. Once he ascends to Capitol Hill, however, Mr. Smith finds nothing but deep-rooted corruption in Washington, D.C., and, absolutely refusing to submit to cynicism, he tirelessly takes the message of the American people right to their out-of-touch representatives. Based on Lewis R. Foster's novel THE GENTLEMAN FROM MONTANA. Academy Award Nominations: 11, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (James Stewart), Best Supporting Actor (Harry Carey). Academy Awards: Best Original Story (Lewis R. Foster). [More]

Starring: Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Claude Rains, Edward Arnold

Starring: Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Claude Rains, Edward Arnold, Thomas Mitchell, Beulah Bondi, Guy Kibbee, H.B. Warner, Harry Carey, Astrid Allwyn, Ruth Donnelly, Grant Mitchell, Porter Hall, Pierre Watkin, Charles Lane, William Demarest, Jack Carson, Maurice Costello, Russell Simpson, Stanley Andrews, Alan Bridge, Edmund Cobb, Fredrick Burton, Vera Lewis, Ann Doran, Lloyd Whitlock

Director: Frank Capra

Director: Frank Capra
Screenwriter: Sidney Buchman
Story: Lewis R. Foster
Producer: Frank Capra
Composer: Dimitri Tiomkin

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Mr. Smith Goes To Washington

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato

Derek Adams

Quintessential Capra - popular wish-fulfilment served up with such fast-talking comic panache that you don't have time to question its cornball idealism.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 24 2006 03:29 AM

Time Out

tomato
9/10

Tim Brayton

It competes only with It Happened One Night for the title of Capra's most entertaining film ever.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 16 2009 12:49 AM

Antagony & Ecstasy

N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 26 2009 03:18 AM

Variety

tomato
A-

Emanuel Levy

Capra's Depression era film is a classic, timeless statement about American ideals, featuring a bravura turn from Jimmy Stewart as a young idealistic Senator, fighting corruption in Washington D.C.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 20 2009 12:58 PM

EmanuelLevy.Com

tomato
4/4

Phil Villarreal

Pick it apart, dissect it and even roll your eyes at the ridiculous ending. Still, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" will get to you, even if you're in your most cynical mood.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 25 2007 08:39 AM

Arizona Daily Star

tomato
5/5

Every citizen should be made to watch in exchange for the right to vote.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 06 2005 07:41 PM

Film Threat

tomato
3/5

Philip Martin

No review available.

comment Comment | Apr., 08 2005 09:00 AM

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

splat
2/5

Jake Euker

Resisting Capra's manipulation -- manipulation in service of what? -- may well place one in violation of the Patriot Act today. But surely I'm not the only one who resents it.

comment 1 Comment | Jun., 12 2004 02:23 PM

F5 (Wichita, KS)

tomato
B-

Dennis Schwartz

Pure cornball idealism.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 28 2004 10:40 PM

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

tomato
4/5

Ken Hanke

Simplistic and preachy, but effective due to the performances.

comment Comment | May., 23 2004 11:48 AM

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

tomato
4/5

Lance Goldenberg

No review available.

comment Comment | Mar., 03 2004 03:58 PM

Weekly Planet (Tampa, FL)

tomato
5/5

Jon Niccum

No review available.

comment Comment | Nov., 07 2003 07:50 AM

Lawrence Journal-World

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5/5

Carol Cling

No review available.

comment Comment | Aug., 22 2003 01:33 PM

Las Vegas Review-Journal

tomato
5/5

Pablo Villaca

Jean Arthur está genial como a secretária Saunders, que explica como funciona o Senado americano – que, infelizmente, nos faz lembrar do cenário político brasileiro.

comment Comment | Jul., 25 2003 10:12 PM

Cinema em Cena

tomato
5/5

Frank S. Nugent

Mr. Smith is one of the best shows of the year. More fun, even, than the Senate itself.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 20 2003 05:11 PM

New York Times

tomato

Joshua Tyler

Stewart was the real deal, he was no sunshine patriot.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 21 2002 09:15 PM

CinemaBlend.com

tomato
5/5

Brad Laidman

Every citizen should be made to watch in exchange for the right to vote.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 08 2002 08:24 AM

Film Threat

tomato
4/5

Rob Vaux

No review available.

comment Comment | Dec., 03 2002 02:31 PM

Flipside Movie Emporium

tomato
5/5

James Rocchi

Capra's classic of democracy, decency and faith still matters, 60 years later.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 07 2002 01:22 PM

Netflix

tomato
3/5

Rob Blackwelder

No review available.

comment Comment | Aug., 14 2002 04:51 AM

SPLICEDWire

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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June 22, 2007: AFI Announces Top 100 Movies of All Time ... Again
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