Year of Release: 1939Country of Origin: USA
Director: Frank Capra
Cast: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains
Plot outline: A naive man is appointed to fill a vacancy in the US Senate. His plans promptly collide with political corruption, but he doesn't back down (IMDb).
Frank Capra is a believer in democracy as well as a stout-hearted humorist. His comedy is not merely a brilliant jest, but a stirring and even inspiring testament to liberty and freedom, to simplicity and honesty and to the innate dignity of just the average man. He paced the movie beautifully and held it in perfect balance, weaving his romance lightly through the political phases of his comedy, flicking a sardonic eye over the Washington scene, racing out to the hinterland to watch public opinion being made and returning miraculously in time to tie all the story threads together into a serious and meaningful dramatic pattern. The script is a cogent and workmanlike script, with lines worthy of its cast. As Jefferson Smith, James Stewart is superb. He has too many good scenes, but I like to remember the way his voice cracked when he got up to read his bill, the way he dropped his hat when he met the senior Senator's daughter, and the way he whistled at the Senators when they turned their backs on him in the filibuster (he just wanted them to turn around so he could be sure they still had faces). Jean Arthur, as the secretary - lucky girl being secretary to both Deeds and Smith - tosses a line and bats an eye with delightful drollery. Claude Rains, as the senior Senator, Edward Arnold, as the party steam-roller, Thomas Mitchell, as a roguish correspondent, are splendid all. (NYT)
My judgement: ***1/2 out of 4 stars
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