Mr. Smith goes to Washington Jefferson smith embodies the true meaning of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all men. Even when all odds are against him, he stands up for himself to have his voice heard. Jim Taylor’s political machine nearly kills Mr. Smith’s character in the film, but righteousness prevails in the end. Frank Capra develops the theme of the common man making a difference in "Mr. Smith goes to Washington", through political actions, idealist morals of Jefferson Smith and through specific scene extras. Throughout history many have acclaimed the role of Jefferson Smith in politics. “Half a century after its 1939 release, then, Frank Capra’s film had become a cinematic allusion par excellence in both local and national …show more content…
politics” (Smoodin 3). Politician claim to hold the virtuous moral of Mr. Smith when running for elections to gain votes. They claim to never be swayed by big money and to stay true to the constitution Mr.
Smith is a grown man, but does not have the world view of an adult. He is considered an adolescent in the beginning of the movie. “…Smith…apparently, lived to the age of thirty or so without having taken any real notice of social pressures or sexual promptings” (Gallagher 12-13). Until his time at Washington, Mr. Smith had no idea of how the capitalism world around him worked. He was a man of nature and original morals, not a businessman or politician. He has always done what he is told. That was the exact reason he was chosen as the next senator. Unfortunately for Mr. Taylor, the corrupt political machine, Mr. Smith is a down right honest …show more content…
man. As soon as Jefferson arrives to Washington he is overwhelmed with all the history of this great country. He goes on what most senator’s view as a tourist attraction, a bus ride around the city to see the monuments. This shows that Smith holds the role of being a senator with a lot of value. He understands the sacred position he has obtained. Other senators make jokes about him caring so much. This shows how they do not hold their job sacred, they only worry about getting paid and re-elected. The press gives Mr. Smith his first experience of politics in Washington. When they interview him they ask him to do some bird calls. They then took goofy pictures and contort his messages. After Mr. Smith learns of this, he is angered and goes on a rampage to find the men who did this. This is the first sign of misrepresentation, which is what this film tries to elaborate on, the misrepresentation in the Congress. Mr. Smith looks up to Mr. Paine and believed he was an honest man. “In the freewheeling, fire-breathing script by Sidney Buchman, Smith is an overgrown boy searching for a father figure…” (Corlis). Mr. Smith says he should read the bills if he is to be voting on them. Mr. Paine, trying to divert his attention, tells him to write the boys camp bill he spoke of before. This works, in distracting him, but the camp is to be built on the same land where Mr. Taylor wants to build his dam. This ends up becoming a major problem for Mr. Taylor. Susan Paine, Mr. Paine’s daughter, enters and Mr. Smith becomes distracted and is unable to walk by the sight of her beauty. This represents Mr. Smith’s teenage years. Mr. Smith arrived in Washington as an adolescent, now he has some experience and has begun on his own journey. Mr.
Smith is asked to be courted by Susan Paine for a day. This is also a distraction devised by Mr. Taylor and Mr. Paine, which in the end backfires again. Upon his return from a lovely day with Miss Susan, Mr. Smith is confronted by Saunders. Which she informs him of the truth behind the Deficiency Bill, to build a dam on Willet Creek. Smith goes to see Taylor and confront him about moving the dam. The scene is a large room with lots of pictures on the walls. Mr. Taylor is shown standing in front of a picture of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The irony of this scene is that these two powerful and well respected men were both known for their honesty. Mr. Taylor is also very powerful and respected, but not at all honest. This is one of the key elements added to the setting that creates a greater understanding of the film. Some men believe that the country is run by their representatives, but really it is all a curtain. Behind that curtain the largest wallet has control. Another use of setting to increase the understanding of the movie was when Mr. Smith took the bus ride. The camera pans through monuments and statues and then focuses in on the Capital Building all lit up. This scenery shows the honorable men of our history and the Capital Building represents the power of the United
States. The final scenes of Mr. Smith goes to Washington are all in the Senate. Mr. Smith takes hold of the floor after roll call. He is pleading for his honor and for the sake of all American’s. He uses the senate filibuster to talk continuously for ten hours. Hoping for one senator to admit to their corruption, which Mr. Paine ultimately does after he attempts suicide. This is when Mr. Smith becomes a true adult. He learned how the world works and put his voice into it. He stood up for himself, which represents every other American also and changed it for the better. Mr. Smith was an honest man that wanted to help the youth of America. Money and greed corrupt people and governments. Mr. Smith represents a common man making a difference. If Mr. Smith, a regular guy, can enter the senate and expose one of the largest political machines than any man could. This film inspires American’s then and now to be the best person they can and try to make a difference in the world around them. It is better to do something for the good of all people, not just for a select few because they have the money to invest. Frank Capra expressed the theme of a common man making a difference through the setting, actions of Jefferson Smith, and political dialogue. There is a lot to learn from this film, it describes how part of Congress functions and how a man can express his rights.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is an inspirational and comedic take on American politics. The film centers around Jeff Smith, a Boy’s Club leader similar to a Boy Scout troop leader, that is appointed to the U.S. Senate after one of his state’s representatives dies. Smith is chosen because a corrupt businessman and political boss, Jim Taylor, advises Governor Hopper to appoint someone who will listen to commands. Taylor and the state’s other senator, Joseph Paine, are trying to pass a bill through Congress that involves a provision for building a dam on a creek in Paine and Smith’s home state. Taylor has been buying land around the dam’s site for next to nothing, in hopes of turning it for an immense profit
Jefferson and Adams Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were both strong presidents who kept a stabile nation, but they differed in their methods of doing so. Adams was a federalist so he helped establish a stable government by focusing on forming a strong central government. Jefferson being a democrat-republican worked to establish stability in the US government by promoting state’s rights. They both worked for stability in different but successful ways.
In 2014 it is very common to see shows about political corruption such as Scandal and House of Cards. However, it was not the first. In 1939 a director named Frank Capra directed a film called Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. It was one of the first political-comedy dramas of its time. The film illustrated the political corruption specifically in congress which was never done before.
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were the last living individuals from the first American progressives who had confronted the British people and manufactured another political group in the previous provinces. Then again, while they both trusted stock in vote based system and life, freedom and the quest for joy, their conclusions on the best way to accomplish these standards separated after some time. Later, serving two presidential terms, Jefferson and Adams each communicated to outsiders their appreciation the other and their longing to recharge their friendship. Adams was the first to end the hush; he sent Jefferson a letter around the time of new year’s, in which he wished Jefferson numerous great new years to come. Jefferson reacted with
Along with his arguments of mental inferiority, Jefferson argues that blacks concede their inferiority through their submissiveness to the slave owners. This argument is met by Walkers’ appeal to the people for action. He states that, “unless we try to refute Mr. Jefferson’s arguments respecting us, we will only establish them” (Walker 18). It is an urgent call for action that urges not only blacks but other abolitionist, to stand up and fight against the stereotypes. He calls for black people to stop being submissive and to stand up for their rights. He also calls on blacks to not allow their oppression to hinder them from attaining as much knowledge as is reachable given their circumstances. He uses Jefferson’s demeaning statements to incite black people to rise up against the injustices being done to them. Through his derogatory statements towards black people, Jefferson, the champion of equality, is inadvertently giving Walker a means to inflame the fight in black people.
The post-revolutionary war period of the Unites States saw the establishment of the first party system and an enlarging gap in viewpoints between the wealthy and the common man. The contradictory views of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson were primarily responsible for the rise of political parties from 1783-1800.
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were two important men who affected our nations independence and the beginning years of our country. They helped form this nation into a free and sovereign country. Yet, they were different in many aspects they shared a few common features. Both Washington and Jefferson grew up in the southern state of Virginia and like most owned land to grow and harvest crops. In growing up they came from two different class levels of living. The Jefferson family was more famous and richer than Washington’s giving him a greater advantage and opportunity to succeed, especially in higher education. After Jefferson finished regular schooling he was able to attend the College of William and Mary were he studied law. He did so under the teaching of George Wthe who was considered perhaps the greatest teachers of law in Virginia at the time. Washington however was taught by his mom mainly in mathematics and received no higher education. Washington was still knowledgeable and began to put it to use in the army to become as a young British soldier. He interred the army at the young age of nineteen were he began to learn leadership and military strategy which would prove useful in the Revolutionary War to come. Jefferson on the other hand was involved in the laws, courts, and small politics. At the young age of twenty-five Jefferson was elected to the House of Burgesses in Virginia were he served for five years. Washington was known for his great motivational speeches that would rally troops together to prepare for war and lead on to victory. Jefferson was more of a writer not a speaker and by using his skill he wrote and brought forth fresh ideas of independence and freedom.
During the American Revolution, Washington and his men were experiencing a series of defeat. In order to bring about great pride and patriotism of an American, they sought to plan a sneak attack on the opposite force. On December 25, Washington and 5,400 troops began crossing the Delaware River to the Hessian stronghold. At this point in time, the Hessians were celebrating Christmas; this was a perfect time for an attack. When Washington and his men arrived, they started attacking the unsuspected Hessians; nearly 1,000 Hessians were captured. Even though the attack was not significant, it raised American spirit. In 1851, Emanuel Leutze created the image of Washington Crossing the Delaware; the painting was later destroyed, but restored by another artist. The mood of the painting can be described as intense and patriotic. Later, a poem called “Washington Crossing the Delaware” was written by David Shulman. The mood of the poem
Thomas Jefferson was an educated, articulate and accomplished man from a well-respected family. He had a great understanding of farming and of the relationship between man and his environment, working diligently to balance the two for the best interest of each. He “considered himself first and always a man of the land” (Jewett, 2005). His vision of the New World was of true, idealistic freedom with limited government involvement; an educated farmer, a moral man who would sustain himself off of the very land his freedom was based.
Mr. Smith is portrayed as an honest man with strong opinions. He is the ideal politician in an ideal society. The film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington depicts a "reassuring image" that happens to be "an image of the past" (Wheeler). However, in today's legislature, people like Mr. Smith are rare due to the fact that a politician's primary goal is re-election. The good of the people may come as another intention of a politician, but it is always secondary to "bringing home the pork." There should be more people like Mr. Smith because the legislature would be able to make decisions more effectively and efficiently, rather than how slowly they currently operate. This is an unfortunate truth, yet it is how our society has been shaped to operate. This becomes apparent after close examination of the United States legislature today and viewing of the film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
A Vision Achieved Jefferson envisioned a government that allowed its citizens to exercise inalienable rights. In exact words, he states, “ We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” To be more evident, how can we define these “inalienable rights” of “life”, “liberty”, and the “pursuit of happiness?” Have these inalienable rights, achieved Jefferson’s goal? I am convinced, Jefferson’s revolutionary vision of life, liberty, and happiness has at last been achieved in America.
During the opening credits, the camera moves downward, changes direction, and tracks backward over an apartment building rooftop. From an aerial shot, the camera moves downward to reveal Guy and Rosemary Woodhouse, a young couple whom are the main characters of the film. The characters are at the apartment building seeking to rent an apartment previously occupied by an elderly woman, Mrs. Gardenia. As they are viewing the apartment, the camera moves throughout the residence allowing the audience to see its many areas containing massive am... ... middle of paper ... ...
That particular event shows how oblivious he is to all that is going on, and the true reasons he is there. Smith’s co-senator, Joseph Paine, begins to take Smith under his wing and becomes genuinely attached to his honest personality. Once the senate is in full swing, Mr. Smith decides that we wants to make a bill to make the Boy Rangers a summer camp. After Senator Paine hears that the camp Mr. Smith proposed to make would be on the land that he and his biggest financial supporter, Jim Taylor, planned to build a dam on, Paine shuts the bill down. All the while, Paine is fighting the internal battle of doing what is right, versus what those expect of him. Mr. Smith, with the help of Ms. Saunders, comes to realize the schemes and corruptions going on behind the scenes. With his back against the wall, his integrity at stake, and with only his moral compass to guide him, Mr. Smith decides to fight the corrupted politician and his supporters the only way he knows how. Mr. Smith makes up a list of things to talk about and calmly takes his seat in the senate. As soon as the bill about the dam is brought up, Smith begins his
Smith Goes to Washington directed by Frank Capra was controversial when it was released, but also successful at the box office, and made James Stewart a major movie star. The film is about a naive man that is appointed to fill a vacancy in the US Senate. His plans promptly collide with numerous accounts of political corruption, but he does not back down. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington exemplifies the idea of civic virtue and encompasses the workings of United States government, social, political and economic issues at the time. There exists a corruption problem within the film. Capra uses this idea to make a point about government in film. The characters Senator Paine, Mr. Taylor and a group of people are buying land cheaply to re-sell to the state at a higher price, as a part of a bill. This is an example of insider trading. The main character is put into the situation in order to stop the corruption. And it is his responsibility towards society to do good, known as civic virtue. The group of people frame Senator Smith making the people believe that he came into the senate to be corrupt. Capra uses corruption to make a point about government in film because in government senators and congressmen do not always tell the
Jefferson, a black man condemned to die by the electric chair in the novel, A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines, is perhaps the strongest character in African-American literature. Jefferson is a courageous young black man that a jury of all white men convicts of a murder he has not committed ; yet he still does not let this defeat destroy his personal character. Ernest Gaines portrays Jefferson this way to illustrate the fundamental belief that mankind’s defeats do not necessarily lead to his destruction. The author uses such actions as Jefferson still enjoying outside comforts, showing compassion towards others, and trying to better himself before dying. These behaviors clearly show that although society may cast Jefferson out as a black murderer, he can still triumph somewhat knowing that he retains the qualities of a good human being.