Introduction
People have always been keen on politics and events around it, and cinema did not bypass political agendas since its inception. Films show political processes in different ways depending on their initial purposes. Some movies criticize and judge governmental actions, while others aim to nurture patriotic feelings and idealize a country’s image. In the current essay, a movie was chosen to provide an analysis of it in terms of demonstrated political processes. For the present paper, an American film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) was selected and will be analyzed.
A Brief Overview of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” and Its History
The film is an American political comedy-drama directed by Frank Capra, released in 1939. It is considered a classic of American cinema and was preserved in the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1989 (among 24 other movies). The film is based on an unpublished story “The Gentleman from Montana or The Gentleman from Wyoming” by Lewis R. Foster. At first, the film received major criticism and was even prohibited in some places in the world, as it did not involve prevailing social and political ideology. Moreover, in the United States, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” also was not warm-welcomed due to its creation of a negative image of US senators.
Concerning the plot, the movie tells a story of a young idealist and a dreamer, editor of a Boy Scout newspaper, Jefferson Smith. The story occurs in Washington when a senator dies, and a governor of the state chooses Jefferson as a replacement for the position. He aims to do his best in the Senate, idealizing his possible contribution. However, he is unaware of the fact that his candidacy implied being a pliable stooge. Having offered his initiatives, he faces a real state of affairs. His boss, a corrupt senator, accuses him of secretly owning government land. Quickly disappointed by the corruption in Washington, he almost quit his place but got convinced to stay by his secretary. The whole Senate is opposed to him, and Smith decides to organize a filibuster to stand his innocence and proves his commitment to his ideals (Capra, 1939). Finally, he wins the battle against corrupt senators and proves himself as a leader.
Political Processes in Light of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”
At that time, the film was vividly political and provoked a mixed reaction among real-life US senators. However, “Mr. Smith” resonated with many people, and it received eleven Academy Award nominations. In the current part of the paper, the focus will be on how the film director represented political processes, and how the public opinion on government was shown. Moreover, as the last thing, a personal opinion on the demonstrated political processes will be provided.
First of all, it should be highlighted that there is no coincidence that the events that took place in Washington D.C. Washington city is a symbol of American democracy and liberty, and it is perceived as the basis of the American government. Frank Capra shows the whole Senate as corrupt and deceitful, and, thus, questions and undermines the true nature of American democracy. Moreover, it is vital to mention that Capra turns to the issues of the state’s elite in an unstable and challenging time for the United States: the post-Great Depression period and the war in Europe.
Secondly, an important point to be mentioned and considered is the fact that Frank Capra does not refer to any of the political parties, Republicans or Democrats, or any particular senator. It can be interpreted as the director did not aim to expose someone specific, but instead, refer to ideas and values that are often betrayed to the personal interests of governors. Thus, the movie’s theme is more about morality, beliefs, and patriotism, than it is about accusations of political elites.
Thirdly, and most importantly, it is the way Capra shows the government in the eyes of the people. The main character, Jefferson Smith, can be seen as a representation of the American people as a whole, and corrupted senators symbolize the huge political machine, which is referred to as the state. However, to my way of thinking, the film demonstrates that American society does not hold the same opinion on the government. Some people see it as an unstoppable and cruel machine that kills idealistic ideas and values. In contrast, others believe in an American hero who can change the current state of affairs.
Concerning my personal opinion on the political processes shown in the movie, it can be said that the government’s actions are oversimplified and demonstrated too one-sided. Firstly, Capra shows the government as a whole, ignoring the fact that it is a complex institution. Secondly, senators presented mostly in a negative light that raises certain questions in terms of its possible bias. Consequently, the film can be regarded as populistic and does not reflect the real political situation. The current paper analyzed the movie in terms of the political processes’ representation and provided a brief critique.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” is an essential political movie in cinema history. However, in terms of the representation of political processes, it is an idealistic and biased film, rather than the demonstration of the real state of affairs. The current essay aimed to analyze how politics and the public’s opinion are shown in the movie, and a personal view was expressed.
Reference
Capra, F. (1939). Mr. Smith Goes to Washington [Video file].