Mr Smith Goes To Washington example essay topic

Frank Capra's "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" In Frank Capra's 1939 people's fable "Mr. Smith goes to Washington "Jefferson Smith, a young, idealistic, and na " ive hero from a Midwestern state is thrust into public notoriety through a chance course of events. His journey will compel him to contemplate the veracity of the political foundation which supports American democracy and confront the corruption which seeks to erode it. Smith, leader of the Boy Rangers, an organization closely based on the Boy Scouts of America, becomes a state hero after "single-handedly" putting out a forest fire. Like a fabled hero, his statewide popularity burgeons, particularly amongst his state's youth. When an unexpected political death necessitates the imminent selection of a successor for the position of Senator, Jefferson Smith becomes the unlikely choice. A greenhorn politician, Jeff Smith isn't chosen for his political achievements, idealism or unwavering morality; he's chosen because he's a political neophyte.

The governor and Smith's new colleague, Sen. Joseph Paine, both unscrupulously controlled by Jim Taylor, a corrupt industrialist who runs the state's news papers and commerce, believe Smith will be easily manipulated and a nonentity in their tainted plans. Of central interest to the "Taylor machine" is the Willet Dam Project, a bill which masquerades as a means by which to promote local agricultural interests but in reality only seeks to generate illicit funds for Mr. Taylor and his conspirators, who have deceitfully bought all bordering land. Unaware of Paine's and Taylor's chem e, Smith valiantly proposes a bill for a national boys' camp, which coincidentally would be constructed on land designated for the Willet Dam Project. In so doing, Smith stumbles into the movie's central struggle. While directly Capra's film powerfully illustrates Smith's own intense confrontation with a seemingly omnipotent political machine; his ultimate victory is a condemnation of all industrial greed as well as a reaffirmation of the power of the citizen to make an impact in a government that through all its shortcomings is still democracy.

Capra's film is dramatically enhanced by its patriotic representation of our National's capitol, with particular emphasis on the splendor of the Capitol and strength of the Lincoln Memorial. These images are constant visual reminders of the freedom and strength of personal choice provided by our government. The film's score composed of traditional renditions of patriotic melodies including "Yankee Doodle" and " Auld Lang Syne" only reinforces these sentiments. Capra's most dramatic use of setting is the reconstruction of the Senate chamber, the site for the film's most climactic and inspiring scene. Unwilling to allow the Senate to vote on his expulsion and empowered with the goal of uncovering the Willet Dam Project as fraud, Smith skillfully filibusters the Senate in hopes that his state's populace will come to his support.

Despite Taylor's ruthless propaganda, Smith's earnest ambition and unfailing support of his Boy's Camp begins to win support of the Senate Audience. His ultimate vindication comes however only when Paine, overwhelmed with guilt by the morality, determinism and patriotism of his colleague reveals the conspiracy. Frank Capra's " Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" isn't merely a portrait of how America is or a fantasy of how glorious it could be. Instead it skillfully provides a picture of the reality of American corruption and an illustration of how one man's nobility and idealism conquers it". Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" doesn't simply tell us that one person can make a difference; it tells us why every person must try. As applicable when the film was produced in the shadow of a World War that would threaten the very essence of democracy, as today, in the wake of Enron and World.

Com", Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" demonstrates democracy's and capitalism's failings, with a persistent faith in traditional American values to overcome these shortcomings.