Frank Capra’s classic comedy-drama established James Stewart as a lead actor in one of his finest (and most archetypal) roles.
When the idealistic young Jefferson Smith (James Stewart) winds up appointed to the United States Senate, he gains the mentorship of Senator Joseph Paine (Claude Rains).
However, Paine isn't as noble as his reputation would indicate, and he becomes involved in a scheme to discredit Smith, who wants to build a boys' campsite where a more lucrative project could go.
Determined to stand up against Paine and his corrupt peers, Smith takes his case to the Senate floor.
Cast: Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Claude Rains, Edward Arnold, Guy Kibbee, Thomas Mitchell, Eugene Pallette, Beulah Bondi, H. B. Warner, Harry Carey, Astrid Allwyn, Ruth Donnelly, Grant Mitchell, Porter Hall, Pierre Watkin, Charles Lane, William Demarest, Dick Elliott
About this movie
Title: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Directed by: Frank Capra
Date of birth: May 18, 1897, Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy
Date of death: September 3, 1991, La Quinta, California, U.S.
Writing credits: Sidney Buchman, Myles Connolly, Lewis R. Foster (novel)
Music: Dimitri Tiomkin
Year: 1939
Country: United States
Language: English
Color: Black and White
Runtime: 130 min.