MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)

Italian-born Frank Capra won Oscars for directing It Happened One Night (1934), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) and You Can’t Take It With You (1938), comedies that exalted the American little man at the expense of the powers that be. As long as those powers were represented by spoiled heiresses or corrupt businessmen, nobody seemed to mind. However, when he followed those films with this one, which pits small-town innocent  James Stewart against Edward Arnold’s ruthless political machine and corrupt senator Claude Rains, it created an uproar. Senators started demanding censorship, but whatever the politicos thought, critics and audiences loved its deft mix of politics and humor. It was a big hit, garnering 11 Oscar nominations and winning one for Lewis R. Foster’s original story. Today, the film the U.S. Senate hated is hailed as one of Capra’s best.

d. Frank Capra, 130m, DCP

DCP courtesy of Sony Pictures.