MovieChat Forums > Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) Discussion > This is the kind of movie...

This is the kind of movie...

posted 17 years ago by comicstu
7 replies | jump to latest

that cannot be overrated. For just about every classic film, there will always be that handful of dissenters who love making threads about how overrated the movie is, amplifying nitpicks and such. But no matter how much dirt you dig up on 'Mr. Smith', I just can't envision anyone knocking it, solely based on the sheer power of the film, the inspiration, the lasting impact. No matter how many flaws (personally, I don't think there are any), there's just no way you can possible make the claim that this is a poor or overrated film. It just can't be done. People can hate 'The Godfather', people can hate 'Pulp Fiction', people can even dislike 'Casablanca', but 'Mr. Smith'...I'd like to see someone try to bash it.

[–] novastar_6 16 years ago

Amen to that...you know there's just something about Frank Capra's movies of the 30's, and there's something about Jimmy Stewart that in that era especially, he always seemed to play the kind of guy we wanted to know, that we would go to no end to root for, and Jefferson Smith was no exception. Oh, I'm sure the movie would have been good if it had been any other director and any other lead star, it may have been good because that's how they did movies back then, but would it be great? Would it be remembered? Maybe by a few select fans who pass it onto their kids through time...but it wouldn't be nearly what it is and it wouldn't nearly be recognized as well as it is today. There's just something about the whole chemistry that makes it one of the greatest movies ever made and it almost seems like you'd have to be anti-human, you'd have to be like the crooked politicians, in order to not like the movie, in fact that's about the type of person I think you'd have to be in order to be able to hate it.

[–] stu_ungar1997 16 years ago

yeah, it it awesome.

Man, I don't drop character 'till I done the DVD commentary-Kirk Lazurus

[–] KatzaSchuk 16 years ago

It has taken me years to see this film. It has been recommended to me many times by many different people, but I couldn't get past the boring theatrical trailer which had me convinced that I would be utterly bored for 2+ hours. I put it on the bottom of my netflix queue two years ago, and it gradually worked it's way to the top. When I saw it in the mail yesterday I was disappointed and prepared myself for drudgery...you see, I just 'knew' this film was over-rated.

I have never been more shocked with a movie in my life. It was absolutely amazing, brilliant and masterful. I rated it 5/5 on netflix (which is not a score I give even to my favorite movies). And I, in turn, started recommending it to my family and friends right away. Very rarely does a movie touch me so much; and not only that, it was FUN too!

"She is tolerable I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me!" Mr. Darcy

[–] kelantheunlucky 16 years ago

It's more than just fun, KatzaSchuk - It's very relevant to this day. Regardless of anyone's political persuasion, it is true. I wish the people in Washington, including the Bushes AND Obamas, would be more like Jefferson Smith, and less beholden to their owners...er....contributor/political backers.

I watch this movie and feel partly sad, because it is what Democracy SHOULD be, but will never be again. :(

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] svalinanikola 8 years ago

Indeed, it's an awesome movie.

[–] IMDB_Vits 8 years ago

MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON: 8/10
THE GODFATHER: 7/10
PULP FICTION: 9/10
CASABLANCA: 6/10