Fun Fact: When this movie first came out it was criticized by D.C insiders for showing the Senate as this immoral corrupt place, while the film was banned in places like Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union because the movie shows why Democracy works
More fun facts :east Germany was known as GDR (German Democratic Republic) Fun Fact : North Korea is known as DPRK )Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea) Fun Fact : Bolsheviks in St Petersburg 1918 established their Social Democracy which became the Soviet Union
Actually if the US was a pure democracy things would not have work out in this movie. We have a democratic republic which allows what happens in this movie to be successful.
Yes, it has!! Before, it was more hidden and behind closed doors and the voters, for the most part, Now, the conservative Supreme Court says such corruption is not really "corruption" and against the Constitution. Thus, the corruption and "powerbrokers" are allowed to undermine Democracy and the ideals of the Constitution. and the add insult to injury, a 37% of the population are willing to allow corruption and the harmful dismantling of the values expressed in this movie for the sake of a red hat, false prophet, and revenge against anyone without strict right-wing extreme conservative principles. They have forgotten what the little boy reads at the Lincoln Memorial and what this movie stands for.
There were so many political machines running after the Civil War when industrialization picked up and the money poured in. The late 1800s set up the outline politics is still run on today. This movie still rings 100% true today.
During WWII, James Stewart enlisted in the US Army Air Corps (It didn't become its own branch, USAF until 1947). He flew B-24 bombers over Germany and was the first major Hollywood actor to join the Army. He enlisted in February 1941 BEFORE we got into the war in December, 1941. He flew over 25 missions and was promoted to Colonel in 1945, becoming one of the very few Americans to go from Private to Colonel in just 4 years. He continued to serve in the Air Force reserve and act after the war. He flew the B-52 bomber and retired as a Brigadier General. He was later promoted to Major General. He was the highest ranking actor ever in the US Military. This movie was made before he enlisted, before we entered WWII. It's A Wonderful Life was produced in 1946, after the war. Also, the more you react to these classic films of the 1930s and 1940s, the more you'll appreciate them. James Stewart is an American treasure. You can't go wrong with any movie he's in. I would recommend "The Philadelphia Story", which starts James Stewart, Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant.
YES! ... The Philadelphia Story! I've been hoping somebody would react to both that and His Girl Friday (another movie that shows problems with government and the press) for so long!
If you haven't seen him in Harvey, you must! Jimmy plays a quiet, kind, calm and unusual man that has an invisible 8 foot tall rabbit named Harvey as his best friend. Harvey is a Puka. Harvey loves doing mischievous and nice things depending on the person. Watching Harvey was something I did with all 4 of my kids as soon as I thought they could appreciate it. They loved it too.
There's one scene between Kate and Jimmie where they dance with their faces inches apart for several minutes. IIt has CRAZY levels of sexual tension. I LOVE all 3 of the stars in anything.
I love that you are visiting the classics. When I saw that you'd posted this, I stopped what I was doing to watch your reaction. This movie is 85 years old and as perfect today as it was when it was made. With CGI and all the effects that can be generated today, can we just appreciate the genius of Frank Capra. What directors today have forgotten how to do, Mr Capra did so easily. He just knew how to tell a story.
Thomas Mitchell (Uncle Billy/Diz Moore) Beulah Bondi (Ma Bailey/Ma Smith), H.B. Warner (Mr. Gower the druggist/Senate Majority Leader) Charles Lane (Real Estate Salesman/Nosey) Dick Elliott (man on porch "why dontcha kiss her instead of talking her to death?!" / Carl Cook) Are these the 5 you meant? Actually, in looking at the two cast lists, turns out there are a whole bunch of people who had bit parts in both films. Never realized that before.
1939 is considered the greatest year for movie history. It saw the releases of Gone With the Wind, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Stage Coach, Wuthering Heights, Goodbye Mr. Chips, Of Mice and Men, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Ninotchka… and so many others. Film industry people consider 1939 as “The Year “ ✋🏻🇺🇸
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is one of my favourite films, and I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Smith's idealism and honesty are incredibly moving and inspirational - I was close to tears when I first watched this back in 1990 or 1991.
Fun fact: the US Capitol dome had been completed 73 years before this movie was shot. During the Civil War, President Lincoln insisted that work continue on it, to show that the union was alive and kicking. The dome was finished the year after Lincoln's assassination. Jeff Smith keeps looking to Mr. Lincoln for hope and guidance.
@@billolsen4360 yeah cause lincoln totally didn't institute the first income tax along with the first draft and definitely didn't suspended habus corpus and have political enemies thrown in jail he also didn't send US Marshalls to arrest a Supreme Court Judge who said that he was overstepping his authority even though lincoln himself said that he didn't know if he had the right to do what he was doing he totally didn't act like a facisist dictator and ignore his statue at his memorial where he's sitting on a throne like a dictator that has giant Fasces on the front do you want some more facts or are you just going to use more ad hominems
@@samellowery The end never justifies the means. But we believe in something more important than justice, which is forgiveness. And Lincoln, unlike the corrupt men in the film, had a fundamental and overriding vision for all Americans and, ultimately, for all human beings. Of course, Lenin did too - but, after all, wasn't he seduced by the dark side? (Or, at least, successfully co-opted?) 😕
One movie critic said the founders of Hollywood were guys who had a love affair with America. Frank Capra was one of them and one of the many great American success stories. He and his family came from Sicily. They lived in a ghetto and they were poor. He took on odd jobs, later made it to college . As for James Stewart, he was one of Capra's favorite actors. He was mine, too. In fact, my uncle was in the Army Air Corps and was billeted with Jimmy Stewart for one night during the war. This movie is about that love affair both men had with America. Glad you enjoyed it!
About Smith going around punching people..... Try to imagine a cowboy from the 1800s who sometimes handled enemies with his fists who gets insulted and lied about by pencil pushers. He might just try to knock some sense into people. Now imagine a small town, guy next door type from the 1930s who doesn't tend to get into flights, but also doesn't tend to be insulted and lied about. The same thing happens to him, and he explodes, letting the despicable people have it . I also think that him having a bad temper made him seem more down to earth back then.
What is a man who calls himself a man to do? He can't let fear of being sued handcuff him all the time, and he won't. ("Beware the fury of a patient man.") One day, I _will_ do something out of righteous anger that will put me in jail for at least one night. And I will fulfill for myself what Thoreau advised: "Under a system which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison." Well, America already (and notoriously) counts among its prison inmates many who are there for reasons that are unjust or ill-considered by judge and/or jury. I may join my fellow Americans there with trepidation - but also a certain sense of satisfaction. 👊
The president of the senate, the old man on his side, was silent movie era actor Harry Caray senior. He played the good guy for many years in Hollywood’s early westerns. He was a mentor to another young up and coming actor of this time John Wayne.
One of my all-time favorite movies. So glad you’re reacting to it. Mr. Cappra invited members of Congress to watch this movie when it premiered. They walked out halfway through.
In the interest of truth, it seems from what I read that 45 senators showed up at the premiere. Although Capra claims some walked out, there's doubt by other accounts whether this even occurred. And the objections to the film came from the typically conservative senators who were concerned it was unpatriotic by depiction of corruption in the US Senate.
From wikipedia... there was an ending filmed but not used: The ending of the film was apparently changed at some point, as the original program describes Stewart and Arthur returning to Smith's hometown, where they are met by a big parade, with the implication that they are married and starting a family. In addition, the Taylor political machine is shown being crushed; Smith, riding a motorcycle, visits Senator Paine and forgives him; and a visit to Smith's mother is included. Some of this footage can be seen in the film's trailer.
@@John-je8pg Doesn't it just, though? Ask a number of people who've seen this film what ending they should like to see tacked on, and dollars to doughnuts a majority will outline a nearly identical scenario. But I say that the final image of the President of the Senate (and his expression) is an ending that economically says all that really needs saying. 😎
The questions that the Mr. Smith character asks, are for our benefit. A Senator would know more about the process, but the exposition is what makes this one of the most important movies in and on American History.
Frank Capra also directed several other classic comedies still worth watching, including Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), You Can't Take It with You (1938), Meet John Doe (1941), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), and Pocketful of Miracles (1961). And during WWII he directed a series of films under the title Why We Fight, which helped explain the importance of defeating fascism to Americans back then and that's a lesson we need to remember today!
Another Capra movie, slightly before that "You Can't Take it with you." A weird family headed by John Barrymore( Mr. Potter) whose daughter is Jean Arthur is romanced by Jimmy, whose father is Edward Arnold( Taylor) trying to buy out the family
This is one of my favorite films of all time. As a high school history teacher, I show my U.S History Class this film each year. This movie may be from 85 years ago but teenagers really like this film. Also the favorite scene is always the punching scene because the students are always confused by the random and out the blue nature of it.
Mr Smith Goes to Washington is just one of the amazing number of classic movies from 1939. As someone who has never studied or had a particular interest in classic movies, I know enough to recognize that this was an amazing year for the history of cinema. Ten movies were nominated for best picture that year, some are still considered to be among the best movies ever made: Dark Victory Gone with the Wind (Best Picture winner) Goodbye, Mr. Chips Love Affair Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Ninotchka Of Mice and Men Stagecoach The Wizard of Oz (many folks thought this should have been Best Picture winner) Wuthering Heights 1939 movies not good enough to be nominated in 1939: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Gunga Din The Three Musketeers Beau Geste The Man in the Iron Mask The Four Feathers Gulliver's Travels The Hunchback of Notre Dame The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Son of Frankenstein Drums Along the Mohawk
Fun reaction and glad you enjoyed a timeless movie. Jean Arthur( Saunders) was a wonderful actress and big box office before World War 2. After the War she made very few movies and her last one made was Shane in the early 1950,s and then retired and stayed retired.
Fun facts about Love Affair: it was directed by zleo McCarey in 1939, and starred Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer. Then in 1957, McCarey remade it, starring Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant, with the title An Affair to Remember. Then in 1993, An Affair to Remember was used as an important plot device in Sleepless in Seattle. And finally, in 1994, Love Affair was remade a third time, starring Warren Beatty and Annette Bening.
Although the official release date of The Grapes of Wrath is listed as March 1940, I have seen some film journalists and historians include it in the list of stellar movies from 1939. Not sure if it is strictly correct because of the date, but the quality of the movie certainly warrants its inclusion on that list.
Isn't it amazing that a movie with no special effects, no spectacle, no action scenes, shot in black and white, can be so utterly engaging? Story, character, ideas, emotion. These are what make a good movie, and what I love about old movies from classic Hollywood (30s through 50s) is that they don't have the crutch of CGI and slick visuals to hide a lack of good writing; they have to rely on story, ideas, characters, emotions, and great dialogue. I hate it when people nowadays dismiss old movies out of hand simply because they are shot in black and white, the image and sound are a bit fuzzy, and there's no CGI. That is such a stupid approach to take, and anyone who takes it misses out on the very best movies that have ever been made. If you want to see some more black and white movies that will fill your heart, I suggest Captains Courageous (1937) and How Green Was My Valley (1941).
When you read enough history, you realize that politics has always been this way, because human beings have always been this way. Times change, but human nature doesn't.
Frank Capra was from the generation of filmmakers that had something to say about the human condition and society's responsibility to itself. Of course it helped that the "Studio System" was in place as Hollywood cranked out hundreds of films every year and the studio could afford to make films like Mr. Smith and not have their eggs all in one basket. If it flopped, so what another film could easily be the next big hit. Cassie, you give me goosebumps when you watch these classics and are excited by them, just as I was the first time I saw them. Thanks so much.
There's a great movie from 1957 starring Andy Griffith called A Face in the Crowd. It has things to say about the influence of the media that are even more relevant today than they were then.
Before that, watch Capra's "Meet John Doe". "Doe" and "Crowd" are polar opposites of each other because they look at how the common man can be exploited by greedy, fascist power brokers.
Cassie showing her Canadian background, she didn’t know how a bill was passed. Americans serenade her with me now: “I’m just a bill, yes I’m only a bill and I’m sitting here on Capital Hill…”
Mr Smith was one of three Capra movies that exalted 'the little man' standing up to the status quo in government. I know you enjoyed 'Its a wonderful life' which came after that trilogy. Despite the claims that Wonderful Life was not popular, there are many movie buffs who will point to evidence that it was killed of by the FBI and the McCarthyites with distributors and movie houses being scared off showing it. Capra gave the reason for his early retirement as being blacklisted. While his previous trilogy were stories of challenges to democracy, Wonderful Life was interpreted as being an analogy for socialism, withe the people banding together - complete with shared wealth - to stand against the wealthy landowner. Capra, like others was censored for his ‘feel good' socially aware movies
Former president Trump was shot in the right ear about 2 hours ago. One of his supporters behind him sustained a head wound and died instantly. A woman was also shot but did not get a life threatening injury.
I'm sure it is. I find much refuge in it myself. Just be sure your escape is a temporary one and that you'll return to the fight ready to dish out a punch or two yourself. 😉
I would just like to take a moment and tell the fans of this Channel about the wonderful host we have in here. It may of 2021 I had just discovered Cassie's Channel as a joke I wrote a comment to her asking her to not review any more movies till I got out of the Hospital to my shock she actually wrote me back wanting to know why I was going into the hospital, this game is a bit of a surprise to me I didn't expect it so I just wanted to let everyone know our host is a very kind compassionate person so keep watching and make her Channel even bigger
Cassie is very insightful and expresses herself clearly. Hope she keeps up the movie reactions for a long, long time. She's a treasure in waiting for the right guy when he comes along.
@@justinedse8435 But he made things worse with his narcissistic personality, his ineptitude when handling the COVID-19 response and failed undermining of the 2020 election. What a useless prick.
@@Madbandit77 just out of curiosity, are you talking about the candidate who was voted for by the people or the one who was installed by a small group of democrat elites?
@@justinedse8435 Actually, he made things worse by being a narcissist, being inept when it came to COVID-19 and trying to undermine our voting process.
I love, absolutely LOVE Jean Arthur! Her resume is the thing of dreams. She started out in silent films and went on to star in many classics: Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, You Can't Take It With You, Shane, The More The Merrier, Only Angels Have Wings, Talk of the Town, and my favorite, The Devil and Miss Jones (A tycoon goes undercover to ferret out agitators at a department store, but gets involved in their lives instead). Definitely worth checking out.
I love this movie. I love to watch it on the 4th of July every year, because the idea of Jefferson Smith gives me some sliver of hope in the face of the darkness that envelops Washington and indeed seeks to cover the world.
Wow what a surprise a great movie hardly anyone react to Bravo. :) Other movies you should see of James Stewart are Harvey and The Man Who Know Too Much.
One of my very favorite films, and one of Jimmy Stewart’s finest performances. We believe every time his voice wavers and on to his raspy, hoarse voice at the end. One detail of it that I particularly love is that it steers clear of any partisan issues, focusing on corruption. They often talk about parties, but never specify who belongs to which one. This has the effect of allowing any viewer, no matter where they fall on the political spectrum, to identify with Jeff and cheer him on. Whatever party one favors in real life, corruption can be decried and decency can win the day.
@ct6852 No, First Lady isn't a "real" government position defined anywhere and they have no official duties, so there's no requirement that one exist. (That's also why it can be a daughter, etc.) It's why you almost never hear from some First Ladies while others seem to always be in the public eye.
Hi Cassie, Jimmy Stewart is a great actor and I highly recommend one of my favorite movies "The Glenn Miller Story". This is happening still, lobbyist run things in Washington. great reaction.
Cassie, if you want to know how a bill becomes a lay, the best way to learn that is the way we did in the 1970s: Schoolhouse Rock. There is one called "I'm Just a Bill" that explains the entire process of how a bill becomes a law. Schoolhouse Rock is how we learned the basics of math, grammar and government. Great stuff we are never too old to learn.
1939 Good Bye Mr Chips, some may watch this film and then not shed a tear- I wonder about them :) Robert Donat is best remembered for his role as the school master in Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939). Australian film critic Brian McFarlane writes: "Class-ridden and sentimental perhaps, it remains extraordinarily touching in his Oscar-winning performance, and it ushers in the Donat of the postwar years."[38] His rivals for the Best Actor Award were Clark Gable for Gone with the Wind, Laurence Olivier for Wuthering Heights, James Stewart for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Mickey Rooney for Babes in Arms.
Dear Miss Cassie: You give me hope. I used to be an idealist. I did and truly still do believe in the great American experiment. In 6 decades, I have become jaded. I still believe what I used to, for the most part, but despair of seeing things "fixed". This goes for our government, our culture, our general society and even our churches. Then I watch you watching with all of the naivete and hope that I used to regularly muster I feel feel a bit of hope returning. I know that there are too many instances of human hemorrhoids walking around and, to my own shame, I have moved farther towards the dark side with a sense of hopelessness. You, however, do give me hope. This is not because I expect you to "go to Washington and fix all our ills", but, instead, it is the mere reminder that there are good people who thirst for righteousness, civility and kindness. Watching you watch this has made my day. Thank you for that.
Good to see you returning to some of the old classics. A really great old film is "Treasure of the Sierra Madre". That and "The Maltese Falcon" are both John Huston movies, and are terrific!
Definitely need to watch more F Capra movies. Arsenic and Old Lace for Halloween season. Meet John Doe and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. You Can't Take It With You. All of these are favorites of mine. With the exception of the first film I listed (which is just a plain dark comedic film) have a strong theme about doing things for the common folk over the privileged. I am actually subscribing because of this reaction. Thank you.
They used to have pages in Congress. They were generally teenagers and it was usually an internship. I'm pretty sure the program has been discontinued. I had a friend from Utah who was a page in the Senate one summer.
Congratulations cass on hitting 400,000 subscribers, l remember when U hit 10,000 subscribers, U were so happy so proud so excited that tears of joy were there. U couldn’t believe so many would want to see your reactions on movies. Now look where u r & u deserve it so much for all the love happiness & light u bring into people’s lives. Love your Chanel more than any other by so much that they aren’t even in the same league. I hope u get to 1,000,000 real soon u deserve it so much.
When this came out, there were certain groups that deemed it "un-American," and it nearly caused Frank Capra, Stewart and others to be blacklisted. They weren't, but the picture was considered subversive by many. By the time WWII ends, it was considered a classic. Stewart would go on to win the Academy Award for The Philadelphia Story a year later, and there's always been the belief that his winning the award that year was to make up for not getting it in 1939 for his performance here.
Ok so since this was directed by Frank Capra who also directed It’s a Wonderful Life, you may have noticed several actors in this film who were also in that film. The man at 32:54 is the man who played Mr. Gower the drunk pharmacist who poisoned the pills. The man who played Diz was the same man who played Uncle Billy. The woman who plays Jimmy Stewart’s mother also played his mother in It’s a Wonderful Life. And by the way, Jean Arthur who played Saunders was originally supposed to play Mary Bailey but she was committed to a broadway show at the time so the part was given to Donna Reed instead. A couple other facts: The boy at 36:40 is the voice of Pinocchio in the 1940 Disney film, and the man on the radio at 34:50 is HV Kaltenborn, who was a real radio journalist and one of the first journalists that became a household name from broadcasting the news.
Canada is great! I have been there twice. I was at the Banff Springs Hotel (If you haven't been you should go, they give spooky guided tours) and went white water rafting in glacier water. FUN TIMES!
A great choice and a classic movie. I love James Stewart movies. aka Vertigo. I highly recommend the movie "The Spirit of St Luis" Another classic Jimmy Stewart movie. He always made the source material so personal. To the point that your behind him, cheering him on all the way. 🙂
Absolute classic movie. I'm glad that you watched some of the best Capra. Everyone needs more Capra in their lives. Mr Deeds Goes to Town is phenomenal also. For more great movies in this era, you would adore Powell and Loy. The Thin Man Series, Love Crazy, etc... and William Powell in My Man Godfrey... and... and... and I could keep going for hours
Jean Arthur taught acting at Vassar when my family lived near Poughkeepsie in the late 60s-early 70s. My mother, who was a "mature student" getting her masters in psychology at Vassar, had seen Arthur's movies as a kid growing up in the 30s and 40s. Most of the other students did not know who she was. One who did was an undergraduate named Meryl Streep, who studied under Arthur there
I'm glad you watched this one. This movie, "It's a Wonderful Life", "Flight of the Phoenix", "Firecreek", and an interview with Jimmy Carson on the Tonight show are why I would write "Jimmy Stewart" in on my 2024 Presidential ballot if it was possible; that doesn't even include his service during WWII. He is one of the very few men I would trust in the WH today. His son died in the skies over Vietnam. He could easily have criticized the government, used his platform to cripple our war effort (as so many other Hollywood actors did, much to their ignorant shame)... but he didn't. He calmly discussed it with Johnny in his interview. He played so many good men; Mr Smith being one of them (although Smith, like so many, many other good men, hasn't a clue what our republic is about) being one, and of course George Baily being another. But the man he played in "Flight of the Phoenix" was a flawed character, but one who ultimately accepted his responsibilities and did what he had to do (like, y'know, a man). "Firecreek" is one of my secret pleasures. It's not a real good film, but I like its messaging. It's one of two films I know of that he made with his good, if left-wing, friend Henry Fonda (father of the traitorous Jane Fonda). He portrays a character I can relate to, and thereby he always gave me hope. Btw, for some of us this movie is partially responsible for our cynicism and distrust of government. Even good men can be corrupted.
Greetings from Texas! I really love your passion and open emotions watching these movies. Your sweet smile every time the boys were on screen. You come across very genuine and sweet. Thank you for the heartfelt reaction. ❤️
I see lots of actors that were used in another Capra film, "Meet John Doe" (1941). Frank Capra always had some great romantic lead parts, and this film really excelled in pairing Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck.
The actor who played Diz also played Uncle Billy in It’s A Wonderful Life. I think you recognized him but couldn’t quite place him. He’s one of my favorite actors!
Some of these older black and white movies are really amazing and overlooked anymore. They were a bit before my time, having been born in the 70's, but I still count actors like Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, and Gary Cooper as my favorites. For some more great movies you might try Bringing Up Baby, Sergeant York, or my favorite, Charade.
This is my favorite movie of all time! I am SO happy to watch you watch it! You are the perfect audience for it. You believe in honor and ideals, no matter who has them. Never lose that. I know you'll teach it to your children.
I can't believe Cassie went to my college! 😂 American Heritage is a rough class, but watching "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" was one of the highlights for me.
