Casting a Remake. - Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) Discussion

[–] movielover19358-2 19 years ago

i think a remake of this film should never happen because i feel this is one of the best films of all time and you had better actors years ago. actors nowadays could not do it justice. it would just be very wrong.

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[–] finazmusic 19 years ago

Remake cast:
Jefferson Smith: Pauly Shore

Of course I'm kidding.......I don't believe it should be remade.

I made a movie: http://www.andrewquinnmovie.com

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[–] Rogue765 19 years ago

I thought they already did a remake.

"The Distinguished Gentleman" starring Eddie Murphy. :)

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[–] Hyman_Flomax 19 years ago

One can never have too many remakes.

Versatile Member Of The Third Man Marketing Team™© and The Stool Molefioso™©

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] TruthIsOutThere 19 years ago

I have always thought that Will Ferrell would play a good Jeff, since I believe he should do some drama work and maybe he could be the next Tom Hanks.

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[–] overseer-3 19 years ago

There's no sense in remaking a classic. It only makes sense to remake a flop, to try and make it better.

Leave well enough alone.

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[–] gggggggfuzz 19 years ago

This film shouldn't be remade and I hope to God it won't. However, if a remake of this film was to happen, here's who I would choose:

For the role of Jefferson Smith: Jim Carrey. He's already proved he can be a great dramatic actor and at times, Smith is clumsy, so that's something Carrey does well.

For the role of Paine: Christopher Plummer. He's a great actor who gets a lot of work, and I'd say that he'd do well in this role. I've always seen him as a father figure in films, and Paine is a "father figure" at the start, but he can be a really good villain too (Inside Man), which Paine turns into.

For the role of Taylor: Michael Lerner. I actually had to go find a film he was in and look for his picture to get his name. That wasn't hard. He's one of those actors you see a lot but you can't place his name. Upon rewatching the film, when Taylor was frantically trying to take down Smith from his desk, I pictured Lerner there. So I basically think he'd fit the bill.

The hardest one was the role of Saunders, for whom I've decided on: Tea Leoni. Ironically, Carrey's older. But, I thought they had great chemistry in "Fun with Dick and Jane" and she seems bossy, yet charming enough for the role.

That's my two cents on that.

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[–] danmartin212 19 years ago

Don't mention the idea of a remake of this movie, you'll give some Hollywood idiot an idea.

"Come get some." Ash, Army of Darkness

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[–] hodie 16 years ago

Carrey is actually a very good suggestion. He has a sort of youthful, guileless face. And he's capable of good dramatic work.

But we're living in The Age of Snark. Would people "get" the remade film if it were played 100% straight?

Was you ever bit by a dead bee?

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[–] butteredpopcorn 18 years ago

Mel Gibson planned a remake. He cast himself in the role of Jefferson Smith. They decided to remake the ending. The film's ending had too much talking and no violence. In the new version Mel Gibson (Mr . Smith) exacts revenge by slaughtering the senators on the senate floor. The test audience hated it.

Ohh wait..that was an episode of the Simpsons..Cue the shifty eyed dog.

Homer the Movie Critic
" Ah ha..now here's your biggest problem of all"

Mel Gibson
" the filibuster scene ? That was Jimmy Stewarts favorite."

Homer
"And it was fine for the 1930s. The country was doing great back then. Everyone was into talking. But now, whatever year this is, the audience wants action. And seats with beverage holders. But mainly action."

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[–] marshalcb 18 years ago

There's only one Mr. Smith - Jimmy Stewart.

HOWEVER, if ol' Daddy Zuzu's Petals was here he'd want to cast someone who was as genuine, honest, and all-american as he was. There's only one obvious choice for this part: Chris Rock.

Just think of it... Chris Rock yellin' on the Senate Floowa!! He'd filibuster ther' ass! hell, you wouldn't have to kill anyone in the whole movie because by the time they heard Mr. Rock talking for 24 hours their heads would explode.

Seriously though, nothing being equal - the perfect Mr. Smith would be Jim Carrey. He's likable, hilarious, and someone the audience can really get behind when he's sincere. Need proof? See Liar, Liar.

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[–] LittleLotte815 18 years ago

Only Jim Carrey if he is very, very restrained, like he was in Eternal Sunshine (but in the Jefferson Smith character, of course). As bad as a remake would be, it would be much, much worse if Ace Ventura was giving that filibuster.

But there can never be a remake, because there'd be no one to play Saunders. Nobody can be better than Jean Arthur (and if you suggest Winona Ryder I may pluck my eys out. We need someone who can act).

I never did it either. I'm not a nymphomaniac, I'm a compulsive liar.

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[–] underboss_3 18 years ago

Mel Gibson like on that old episode of The Simpsons

Hug It Out, Bitch!

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[–] Kinematico 16 years ago

Remakes usually sux big time. Just see what happened to the remake of All The King's Men.

Why don't leave it at that, just watch the classic version which is really good. Why to create a remake that could result in a complete disaster? To draw the attention of the ipod generation? It would be useless. 90% of them couldn't care less about a movie with lots of talking and little or no action, explosions nor men in tights.

If it is not broken don't fix it

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[–] hdm93050 16 years ago

Didn't Eddie Murphy already do a remake of this film?

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[–] uspresident 16 years ago

RECAST OF MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON:
JEFF SMITH – Charlie Sheen/Luke Wilson
You want a Jeff Smith who is “fresh” and authentic, so he had to be relatively young (30-early 40s), yet old enough (age 30) to actually be a senator.
SAUNDERS – Demi Moore/Julia Roberts
You want a strong, experienced woman a little older than Jeff Smith.
SEN. PAINE – James Caan/Tom Selleck
You want a man who is old enough and witty enough to pull off the role as senior senator, and to be both an angel “great then thou” type and yet conniving as a “victim” of the game.
TAYLOR – Gene Hackman/John Goodman
You need a guy who can play the game and have a commanding, forceful personality.
DIZ – Bill Murray/Kevin Costner
You need a humorous guy who is cynical, comical, and is a player.
VP – Morgan Freeman/Alan Alda
You need a guy with a stoic decorum who is really silently admiring Jeff and sympathizes with him.

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[–] BarrisDarkly 16 years ago

Robert Downey, Jr as Jefferson Smith. Or Edward Norton.

And someone said Winona Ryder as Saunders, that would be good.

John Goodman as Taylor.

Steve Buscemi as the Majority Leader.

The rest idk...

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[–] macemace 15 years ago

Once again, this has been remade once as "Billy Jack goes to Washington" and the results were not good.

"Mediocre Marx Brothers is better than no Marx Brothers!"

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