Mr. Smith Goes to Washington story
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a 1939 American lighthearted political satire film directed by Frank Capra, starring Jean Arthur and James Stewart, and featuring Claude Rains and Edward Arnold. The film is about a naive, newly appointed United States senator who fights against government corruption, and was written by Sidney Buchman, based on Lewis R. Foster's unpublished story "The Gentleman from Montana". It was loosely based on the life of Montana US Senator Burton K. Wheeler, who underwent a similar experience when he was investigating the Warren Harding administration.
14 total · 2 choice · 9 major · 3 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| corruption in society | choice | The story is about young Mr. Smith who, when by chance he is made senator, takes on a huge pork distribution network of the highest level. |
| professional politics | choice | Mr. Smith was made senator. He served alongside Senator Joseph Paine, who was a seasoned hand. Much if not most, of the story is set on the floor of the United States Senate. |
| greed for riches | major | The wealthy political boss Jim Taylor tried to use his influence to get a bill passed in the Senate that would see him profit immensely from the construction of a dam, despite it not being in the public good. |
| honesty | major | A point of the story is that, by an odd chance, a blue-eyed and exceptionally honest young man becomes senator and confronts several of his corrupt colleagues. |
| integrity | major | A point of the story is that, by an odd chance, a blue-eyed and exceptionally honest young man becomes senator and confronts several of his corrupt colleagues. |
| journalism | major | Capitol Hill reporters were covering the newly appointed Senator Smith's fight against corruption. |
| living up to expectations | major | Mr. Smith was leagues out of his waters when he heard he had been made senator. He resolved to do his best and to do nothing that would dishonor his office. |
| mass media in society | major | A component of the story is the, often lying and manipulative, ways in which mass media has the power to mold public opinion. |
| mentor and protégé | major | Senator Paine took the newly appointed junior senator from his state, Mr. Smith, under his wing to mentor him on the workings of Washington politics. However, everything blew up in Senator Paine's face when it became clear that Mr. Smith wold not tow the status quo when it came to corrupt political practices. |
| realist vs. idealist | major | The newly appointed senator Mr. Smith, a straightforward and principled man, took seriously the political ideals that he found written in the U.S. Constitution. Senator Paine, by contrast, took a more pragmatic approach to politics that emphasized compromising with corrupt cronies and advancing legislation in the public interest when the chance arose. |