Film Analysis: Mr. Smith Goes To Washington

Mr. Smith goes to Washington

Main Actors: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, Thomas Mitchell, and Harry Carey, Edward Arnold, Guy Kibbee

The Director: Frank Capra

There are many ways that this movie relates to the political process. At the very start of the movie a senator dies. We therefore learn the process in which it takes to replace a senator. The next form of political process that was taught in the movie was when the young boy while escorting Mr. Smith to his seat explained the process of his first meeting in the senate and when he was allowed to speak his mind or present a new bill. The movie also explains how a bill becomes a law and the use of a filibuster and why it may be used.

The main Conflict in the movie is the corrupt

government and the just Mr. Smith. The Corruption in the government is evident from the very start of the movie when Governor Hopper (Guy Kibbee) is talking to his wife about Jim Taylor’s unprecedented power and influence. Jim Taylor used this power to force other politicians to bend to his rules. The main character, Mr. Smith (James Stewart), naïve and innocent, is caught off guard by this corruption but is determined to stay true to himself and fight for what he knows is right.

Political issues that were raised were the corruption of the government such as Jim Taylor who would black mail and use his power to benefit himself. Also it brought up the media and how it twists what one says into something completely different or even pits the country against the good guy, as James Stewart experienced during his first day at Washington and during his filibuster.

Photograph: My Favorite shot of the film was when Mr. Smith is holding the telegrams of all the people writing about their disappointment and anger towards Mr. Smith and his filibuster. The photograph shows Mr. Smith with his shoulders slouched, hair disheveled, and his head down as if he’s carrying the world on his back and everyone in the senate watches him. However his stance is still steadfast and you can tell he will fight for what is right no matter the cost or whether anyone is with him or not.

Mis-en-scene: The scene I think the director put most thought into was when Mr. Smith walks out of the airport and the first thing he sees is the capitol. It really exemplifies the importance of the capitol in the movie and portrays it as one of the most powerful buildings of Washington. I also thought that Mr. Smith looking at capitol in awe gave us the impression that Mr. Smith perhaps wasn’t ready for the senate.

Movement: I thought that the Director used movement best during the scenes struggle when the boy rangers beneficial press for Mr.

Smith competed with the corrupt press benefiting Jim Taylor. The scenes showed the hustle and bustle of the boy rangers and just how hard they worked to keep up with the machines working for Jim Taylor.

Editing: The best editing done in the movie in my opinion was the lighting that they put the capitol in when Mr. Smith first arrived at Washington. They made the capitol look very official and intimidating, which contrasted with Mr. Smith’s innocent nature therefore foreshadowing the conflict the two will have in the future

Sound: I think that the times Sound most influenced the movie was when during the senate meetings when Mr. Smith was speaking and you either heard the inspiring shouts of guidance from Saunders, or the discouraging grumbles or outbursts from the other senate members who disagreed with Mr. Smith, or even the angry shouts from the boys in the senate meeting who were under the impression that Mr. Smith was steeling from them with his summer camp. These noises directly affect Mr. Smith and his self-esteem and confidence, and Mr. Smith is such a relatable character that you can’t help but feel remorse or hope depending on the sounds heard in the senate

chamber.

Acting: My favorite acting moment was Mr.

Smith’s Filibuster. James Stewart portrayed the longing for justice and law within Mr. Smith without a flaw. You could see the longing in his eyes for someone to agree and stand along with him in his fight for justice. And his voice was calling desperately for anyone who would listen to his message and believe him. But best of all his defiance stance that told everyone that with him or not he was going to fight till his last breath for what he knew was right. It was truly inspiring

I watched the filibuster again without sound and I found the acting to have been enhanced which I did not believe to be possible. I had more of an appreciation for Mr. Smiths body movements. They way he started out strong and tall but bearing the weight of everyone against him including the man he once looked up to, Senator Joseph Paine, all began to take its toll and he began to slouch more and more. By the end of the filibuster he was literally throwing himself onto other’s desks for support and would look the men in the eyes in hopes of someway getting the message through to them that he was

innocent.

Again James Stewart was able to amaze me. His use of humor at the beginning portrayed Mr. Smiths Innocence and ability to see the best in every situation. As Mr. Smith begins to tire at the end of the filibuster his raspy voice is haunting and shows just how determined Mr. Smith is in his pursuit for justice. And his final please to the chamber of senates and to Joseph Paine are felt deep in your heart.

Film Review

If you are looking for a film that will make you think, laugh, and if you are the emotional type maybe even cry, Mr. Smith goes to Washington may be for you. The movie is a black and white film dealing with the corruption of the government that is taken on by none other than Mr. Smith himself.
Mr. Smith, A naïve, Innocent, and justice-seeking individual finds himself being elected as a senate member due to the fact that he is inexperienced and was thought to keep quiet and not get in the way of previous plans. However Mr. Smith finds out about the corruption filled government and is anything but quiet about it. Mr. Smith is then framed and he is forced to stand up for himself and fight the corruption and seek for justice.
This is a truly wonderful film. Mr. Smith beautifully played by James Stewart is very relatable and you soon learn to love the character and feel at a deeper level what he is feeling than most characters in movies. The director Frank Capra beautifully portrays the beauty of Washington D.C. with his masterful photography. And the political process of the senate is thoroughly explained throughout the movie.