Political documentary about jeff smiths 2004 campaign to replace the open seat vacated by dick gephardt. Jeff smith born december 9, 1973 is a former democratic member of the missouri senate, representing the 4th district from 2007 until 2009. Frank poppers engaging documentary follows the 2004 campaign of jeff smith, a young political science instructor at washington university who runs for the seat vacated by retiring congressman dick gephardt. With nick adams, artie harris, clay haynes, matt henley. The story of one man who believed he could make a difference, and in doing so, stood up to the entire united state government. Smith has always heard good things a bout him and his honesty. Smith get to washington anymore, what particular group did jeff smith most aggressively reach out to for support of his campaign. Deeds goes to town, one of frank capras earlier films recently remade in its original form with adam.
The title of the documentary is a riff on the 1939 jimmy stewart film mr. Smith goes to washington, which was about the disillusionment of a good heart. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. When the idealistic young jefferson smith james stewart winds up appointed to the united states senate, he gains the mentorship of senator joseph paine claude rains. With nick adams, joan barry, charles brennan, russ carnahan. His district covered the western portion of the city of st. This movie has been premiered in australian hd theatres in 2006 movies 2006. This film has been around for almost 60 years and remains the top washingtonrelated movie. Everyone in the film except for jefferson smith and his tiny cadre of believers is either in the pay of the political machine run by edward arnolds james. But a visit to the lincoln memorial reminds him of what he hopes to accomplish, and he returns to the senate to promote his dream, a national camp for boys. There will be several activities that we will be doing as a class in conjunction with this movie. Smith makes an expense to keep him out of the method of figuring the corrupt dam costs that they are trying to get through the home.
An idealistic teacher launches a grassroots campaign to win dick gephardts congressional seat. The governor guy kibbee introduces senate appointee jeff smith james stewart, in his first scene, who praises senator paine claude rains, surprised to learn the supposed stooge is the son of an old ally, in frank capras mr. Smith goes to washington was the directors final film for columbia pictures, the studio where hed made his name in the 1930s with an enviable array of comedies and topical dramas. Smith goes to washington, starring jimmy stewart in the title role.
At first, smith is such a hopeless rube that he is an embarrassment. It shows how corruption and falsehoods are bred so easily. Smith goes to washington, however, the decent common man is surrounded by the most venal, petty, and thuggish group of yahoos ever to pass as decent society in a capra movie. Mar 14, 2007 political documentary about jeff smith s 2004 campaign to replace the open seat vacated by dick gephardt. Smith goes to washington script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the frank capra movie with jimmy stewart. Smith goes to washington movie clip senator jefferson smith. Today, the famous filibuster scene in director frank capras political drama is part of the fabric of american life it seems that every senator with dreams of the white house tries out a filibuster or two but mr. Political junkies will relish the bareknuckled brouhaha of this truelife davidandgoliath story, yet theres an offputting calculation to the backroom missouri politics in can mr.
Political documentary about jeff smith s 2004 campaign to replace the open seat vacated by dick gephardt. Aug 24, 2006 in midjune 2006, it happened again with can mr. Smith believes its an excellent concept and wishes to pass an expense for a boys camp so he gets with his secretary clarissa saunders who has remained in washington for. Kids will not only get to see the lincoln memorial but learn a bit about how the senate operates and see a filibuster in action. This packet will help you complete these activities and get the most of the lessons to be learned from this movie. Smith goes to washington worksheet flashcards from emma m. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing can mr. Why is the governor and his group of supporters worried about who will take senator foleys place. Smith goes to washington was highly controversial during its initial.
His naivete and independent spirit get him into a lot of trouble, but they also give him the strength to overcome great challenges. It is told from inside the campaign of jeff smith, a 29year old parttime political science instructor at washington university. Smith goes to washington clearly stands out, on its own and compared to all the other capra classics. Smith goes to washington script transcript from the. The film follows smith as he challenges russ carnahan, a member of the carnahan political family and the. Starring jimmy stewart and jean arthur a naive man is appointed to fill a vacancy in the u. This documentary follows the 2004 missouri democratic primary to replace retiring 28year veteran and former house majority leader dick gephardt. Smith goes to washington presented by tcm stellar capracorn americana. The one thing you left out and i had forgotten about the movie mr. Smith goes to washington is a movie that can apply to any decade. A great story about how the american rule of law works and how one man can bring change the course of human events. Follow the 2004 missouri democratic primary to replace retiring former house majority leader dick gephardt from inside the campaign of jeff smith. Smith goes to washington, jefferson smith a man with no experience in government is selected by the governor of an unnamed state to replace a recently deceased u. However, paine isnt as noble as his reputation would indicate, and he becomes involved in a scheme to discredit smith, who wants to build a boys campsite where a more lucrative project could go.
Choose from 230 different sets of movie questions mr smith goes washington flashcards on quizlet. Smith goes to washington by frank capra frank capra. Seventyfive years ago this month, a big movie premiere took place at constitution hall in washington, d. That being said most politicians these days are groomed for political office, this happens more in the rnc then dnc but it happens just the same. Nearly 300 members of congress were there to see the first screening of frank capras new film, mr. Anyone who believes movies dont matter, should look more closely at mr. New video group a college adjunct and political unknown at age 29, jeff smith decides to run for the newlyopen congressional seat of. Smith goes to washington quizlet questions and answers. Smith goes to washington first premiered, the topics this impeccably mounted production explores corruption, lobbying, cynicism, disillusionment, and media manipulation remain ohsorelevant in our current. The film is about a newly appointed united states senator who fights against a corrupt political system, and was written by sidney buchman, based on lewis r. Every politician in office should be forced to watch this movie several times a year. Smith goes to washington is a 1939 american political comedydrama film directed by frank capra, starring jean arthur and james stewart, and featuring claude rains and edward arnold. This fact undercuts the whole premise of the movie that jeff smith was an honest politician trying to succeed in a corrupt political system.
The old adage the more things change, the more they remain the same still rings true, and though the american political landscape has certainly evolved in the 75 years since mr. Smith is an otherwise great role model, holding onto his strong convictions even when it seems like everyone is against him. It also marked a turning point in capras vision of the world, from nervous optimism to a darker, more pessimistic tone. Because they need a yes man so they can get their shady legislation passed. Smith goes to washington was nominated for eleven academy awards, winning for best original story. Smith was appointed to his senate seat so he didnt have to mount a campaign. In february 2007, the documentary aired on the awardwinning pbs series independent lens. Ballots with confusing directions that could potentially prompt people to vote for more than one candidate. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of mr.
Louis prior to his political career, smith cofounded confluence academies, a group of urban charter schools in st. Jimmy stewarts performance is outstanding i just love this film very inspirational. Follow the 2004 missouri democratic primary to replace retiring former house majority leader dick gephardt from inside the campaign of jeff smith, a 29yearold part time political science teacher. Naive jefferson smith jimmy stewart is sent to washington to serve the remaining term of a senator who has died. Smith goes to washington worksheet at campo verde high. Smith goes to washington film questions civics this purchase includes a 2page worksheet of 15 questions related to the film, mr. This movie should be shown to every teenager in every high school. Learn movie questions mr smith goes washington with free interactive flashcards. Considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, the film was selected by the library of congress as one of the 25 films for preservation in the united states national film registry in 1989, for being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. Paper ballots that require people to connect arrows between candidates. Fosters unpublished story the gentleman from montana.
Jun 24, 2015 anyone who believes movies dont matter, should look more closely at mr. Russ carnahan, the scion of a powerful political family, smith proves that. Over the next few days we will be watching the movie, mr. But, with its timeless american values and skeptical look at political corruption in our nations capital, just about everyone can relate to this movie.