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MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON1939

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
© MCMXXXIX by Columbia Pictures Corporation

Movie Rating

MOVIE RATING

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Average Rating: 4.0 (out of 5)   (87 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

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

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.

Film Awards

FILM AWARDS

MPAA Rating

MPAA RATING

No rating

Box Office Ranking

BOX OFFICE RANKING

  • 1939 Domestic Box Office Rank: #3[1]U.S. flag

Theatrical Revenues

GROSS

  • (Adjusted Gross in $millions)
  • Domestic Theatrical Release:  $307m[1]U.S. flag

Original Film Distributor

DISTRIBUTOR

Location Filming

LOCATION

Sources

SOURCES

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

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.

Film Awards

FILM AWARDS

MPAA Rating

MPAA RATING

No rating

Box Office Ranking

BOX OFFICE RANKING

  • 1939 Domestic Box Office Rank: #3[1]U.S. flag

Theatrical Revenues

GROSS

  • (Adjusted Gross in $millions)
  • Domestic Theatrical Release:  $307m[1]U.S. flag

Original Film Distributor

DISTRIBUTOR

Location Filming

LOCATION

Sources

SOURCES