Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
After the death of a United States Senator, idealistic Jefferson Smith is appointed as his replacement in Washington. Soon, the naive and earnest new senator has to battle political corruption.
Critics Sentiment
Paine confesses the entire graft scheme and proclaims Smith's innocence
Senator Paine betrays Smith with fraudulent evidence of land ownership
The dramatic drop from Smith's idealistic arrival in Washington (8.4) to Paine's devastating betrayal (4.2), representing the crushing of innocence by corruption.
The film follows a classic arc from idealistic hope through devastating betrayal to ultimate triumph. Critics consistently praised Stewart and Arthur's performances while acknowledging the film's sometimes heavy-handed sentimentality. The filibuster sequence earned universal acclaim as a masterpiece of political drama, with the ending providing satisfying vindication for Smith's unwavering principles.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 213
James Stewart
Jefferson Smith
Jean Arthur
Clarissa Saunders
Claude Rains
Joseph Paine
Edward Arnold
Jim Taylor
Guy Kibbee
Governor Hopper
Thomas Mitchell
Diz Moore
Eugene Pallette
Chick McGann
Beulah Bondi
Ma Smith
H.B. Warner
Senate Majority Leader
Harry Carey
President of the Senate
Astrid Allwyn
Susan Paine
Ruth Donnelly
Emma Hopper
Grant Mitchell
Senator MacPherson
Porter Hall
Senator Monroe
Pierre Watkin
Senator Barnes
Charles Lane
Nosey
William Demarest
Bill Griffith
Dick Elliott
Carl Cook
Billy Watson
Peter Hopper
Delmar Watson
Jimmie Hopper
Crew
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