Dana and Tom with 5x Club member, Sarah Duncan, and new guest, Brian Skutle (Film critic, podcaster, composer, host of Sonic Cinema, projector fixer) discuss Mr. Smith Goes to Washington for its 85th anniversary: directed by Frank Capra, written by Sidney Buchman and Myles Connelly, music by Dmitri Tiomkin, starring James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, and Edward Arnold.
Plot Summary: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a classic tale of idealism clashing with the gritty realities of political power. Jimmy Stewart stars as Jefferson Smith, a naive but well-intentioned small-town man thrust into the unforgiving world of Washington politics after being unexpectedly appointed to the U.S. Senate. Smith, with his earnest love for American principles, soon finds himself entangled in a web of corruption and power-play, where his sincere belief in doing the right thing is dismissed as foolish by hardened senators.
What follows is a story of resilience, where Stewart’s character battles not only for a cause but for his very soul. Director Frank Capra lets his protagonist shine during a famous filibuster scene, in which Stewart's quivering intensity speaks volumes about the weight of standing up to corruption. While Capra’s romanticized view of democracy is apparent, he tempers it with a frankness about the ugliness of the political machine—a balance that resonates even decades later. It’s a movie as much about Smith’s journey as it is about a society’s idealism and its power to confront, and perhaps even mend itself.
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Our Guests
01:38 Getting to Know - Brian Skutle
05:56 Cast and Recognition for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
09:39 Why This Movie?
12:21 Relationship(s) with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
15:04 What is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington About?
19:57 Is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Outdated?
22:56 Plot Summary for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
24:30 Did You Know?
26:51 First Break
28:29 What's Happening with Sarah and Brian
31:10 Ask Dana Anything
39:23 Best Performance(s)
53:16 Best/Favorite/Indelible Scene(s)
01:05:32 Second Break
01:06:14 In Memoriam
01:08:31 Best/Funniest Lines
01:11:09 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy
01:19:01 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance
01:24:16 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty
01:28:46 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness
01:34:11 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability
01:37:52 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total
01:38:58 Remaining Questions for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
01:44:18 Thank You to Our Guests
01:45:57 Credits
Guests:
Sarah Duncan - Sister of Tom, Daughter of Dana
Brian Skutle - Film critic, podcaster, composer, host of Sonic Cinema, projector fixer
- @gafilmcritics member, @ATLFilmCritics member
- @skutlelemur on Twitter, @bmskutle on IG, @brianskutlesc on Letterboxd
You can also get this episode in video on YouTube:
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For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/mr-smith-goes-to-washington-1939-ft-sarah-duncan-and-brian-skutle
For the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com//post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-list
Keywords:
podcast, movies, film analysis, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, classic films, movie reviews, film history, cinematic themes, character analysis, film performances
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