MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON1939
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Movie Rating
MOVIE RATING
Average Rating: 4.0 (out of 5) (83 votes cast)
Source of Film
SOURCE OF FILM
Based on a story by veteran screenwriter Lewis R. Foster (1898-1974), the film was originally envisioned as a sequel to Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) with Gary Cooper again in the starring role. When he was found to be unavailable, the studio borrowed James Stewart from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a second choice. Jean Arthur, who co-starred in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, was also signed and this time received top billing.
Lewis R. Foster was awarded the Academy Award for Writing (Original Story).
Producer Detail
PRODUCER/DIRECTOR DETAIL
- Frank Capra
- Mack Sennett Comedies
- (1924-1925)
- Harry Langdon
- (1926-1927)
- Columbia Pictures
- (1928-1939)
- independent
- (1940-1964)
Film Run-time and Synopsis
RUNTIME & SYNOPSIS
2 hours, 9 minutes
James Stewart stars as an Eagle Scout from middle America who almost gets gobbled up in Washington.
Film Comments
FILM COMMENTS
Film Awards
FILM AWARDS
MPAA Rating
MPAA RATING
No rating
Box Office Ranking
BOX OFFICE RANKING
- 1939 Domestic Box Office Rank: #3[1]
Theatrical Revenues
GROSS
- (Adjusted Gross in $millions)
- Domestic Theatrical Release: $307m[1]
The film premiered in Washington, D.C. on October 17, 1939 and was immediately attacked by U.S. government politicians as either anti-American or pro-Communist.
The movie was banned in Germany, Italy, Spain and the Soviet Union, although it was released in Japan in 1941.