Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a 1939 American political comedydrama film, starring James Stewart and Jean Arthur, about one mans effect on American politics. It was directed by Frank Capra and written by Sidney Buchman, based on Lewis R. Fosters unpublished story. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was controversial when it was released, but also successful at the box office, and made Stewart a major movie star. The film features a bevy of wellknown supporting actors and actresses, among them Claude Rains, Edward Arnold, Guy Kibbee, Thomas Mitchell and Beulah Bondi.

To keep Smith busy, Paine suggests he propose a bill. With the help of his secretary, Clarissa Saunders Jean Arthur, who was the aide to Smiths predecessor and had been around Washington and politics for years, Smith comes up with a bill to authorize a federal government loan to buy some land in his home state for a national boys camp, to be paid back by youngsters across America. Donations pour in immediately. However, the proposed campsite is already part of a dambuilding graft scheme included in an appropriations bill framed by the Taylor political machine and supported by Senator Paine.Unwilling to crucify the worshipful Smith so that their graft plan will go through, Paine tells Taylor he wants out, but Taylor reminds him that Paine is in power primarily through Taylors influence. Through Paine, the machine in his state accuses Smith of trying to profit from his bill by producing fraudulent evidence that Smith already owns the land in question. Smith is too shocked by Paines betrayal to defend himself, and runs away. ........

Source: Wikipedia