movie film review | chris tookey
 
     
     
 

Mr Smith Goes To Washington


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  Mr Smith Goes To Washington Review
Tookey's Rating
10 /10
 
Average Rating
9.80 /10
 
Starring
James Stewart , Harry Carey , Jean Arthur
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Directed by: Frank Capra
Written by: Sidney Buchman from Lewis R. Foster's novel The Gentleman from Montana

 
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Released: 1939
   
Genre:
   
Origin: US
   
Length: 125
 
 


 

A young senator (James Stewart, pictured) exposes political corruption in high places.

Reviewed by Chris Tookey


Frank Capra's tale of honesty, integrity and small-town values triumphing over corruption is a great emotional experience - and very nearly perfect. The only major fault is that the pace sags around the middle, when there's too much talk. James Stewart exudes simple idealism like no other actor; as a result, this is a genuinely inspiring movie. The whole film is beautifully acted, and Capra shows his directorial talent most obviously in the way he uses faces to tell his story. It was voted the second-best picture of 1939 (Goodbye, Mr Chips was first) in Film Daily's annual poll of US film critics, and was Oscar-nominated for art direction, editing, score and sound.

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