Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

When a vacancy in the senate pops up, there is a mad dash to fill the seat with the right kind of person.  Under the thumb of James Taylor (Edward Arnold), the corrupt political boss, the governor looks for their new senator to be someone who won’t get in their way.  They find a young man who leads the Boy Rangers, Jefferson Smith (James Stewart), and send him off to Washington with the senior senator and friend of his late father, Joseph Paine (Claude Rains).

Once in Washington, Smith acts like a typical starry-eyed newcomer, wondering off to see all the monuments, fumbling with his hat around the pretty girls and naively thinking he can quickly make a difference with his new senate seat.  For Clarissa Saunders (Jean Arthur), Smith’s chief of staff, it’s almost too much to bear seeing such an innocent guy sent straight to the lions den without even realizing it.  She is well aware of the corruption going on between the men who hired Smith and has lost her faith in the government because of it.  But when Smith wants to propose a new bill for a National Boys Camp, he finds out about and sees how he could possibly take down the whole corrupt machine.  Saunders ends up coaching Smith and cheering him on as he does one of the craziest things that can happen on the senate floor, a filibuster.

Stewart’s performance is just wonderful as the innocent Mr. Smith.  From the very beginning, when we hear the governor’s sons going on about Mr. Smith, we know he’s going to be a special kind of person.  The earnest way he is so amazed by all the monuments and history of Washington is cute and refreshing compared to all the bleak corruption around him.  Even if you find his innocent fascination goofy, we see that he’s very kind, especially to the boys who run errands on the senate floor.  I’d wear that Boy Ranger pin with pride.  And when it comes time for Smith to filibuster, which seems like a hopeless cause for quite a while, Stewart does a wonderful job making his long-winded bravery something to admire.

I first saw this film in high school US government class, my teacher thought it was perfect for illustrating some of the aspects of senate processes.  That one scene where Saunders explains the entire process that a bill goes through is quite educational, if you can keep up with her.  A filibuster isn’t something you see very often, but the film also explains the rules behind that as well.  We see that being a senator can be a crafty business, even if you’re not dealing with any corruption.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a really great film that hold up well to a twenty-first century audience. I believe this is Frank Capra at his best and Stewart at his sweetest.  It’s smart, patriotic with honest values that doesn’t get too sweet or cute.  The balance is just right.

“All you people don’t know about lost causes.  Mr. Paine does.  He said once they were the only causes worth fighting for.”

It’s a Wonderful Life

Once again, I have finally watched one of those classic feel good movies that comes on every Christmas and realized what I have been missing.  It’s a Wonderful Life is full of Jimmy Stewart’s aw-shucks attitude, Christmas spirit and Frank Capra’s simple wholesome movie magic.

The movie starts with everything looking like Christmas time and prayers going out.  They are received by some cosmic masses, who discuss sending an angel, Clarence (Henry Travers), to go convince this George (Stewart) from taking his own life.  This is Clarence’s big chance to finally earn his wings, but first ,he needs to learn a bit more about George.

From here on, we’re shown the major events in George’s life, beginning with his episode as a boy saving his younger brother when he fell through some ice.  This incident left George deaf in one ear.  As he grows older, all he dreams of is traveling, getting an education and building the next great things in the world.  But all that is sacrificed when his father suddenly dies and to prevent the heartless, money driven Henry f. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) from taking the business and ruining the good people in town, George takes over.  From then on, George marries his sweetheart, Mary (Donna Reed), and lives an honest and happy life never having much money.

But this day, this Christmas Eve, his business partner Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell) has accidentally lost eight thousand dollars.  In 1946, that’s enough to ruin the business and if George can’t find the money he’ll be arrested, thrown in jail and his family will go hungry.  The most valuable thing he has is his life insurance and he realizes that he’s worth more money dead than alive.

When Clarence intervenes, George is no less morose, and wishes he had never been born.  So Clarence shows George exactly what his town would be like today if he had never been born.  It’s enough to shock George to realizing that no matter how bad his life gets, he has done a lot of good for his world and he just wants to live.

Capra loves to play on the idea of giving rather than receiving, no better setting to put one of his films than Christmas.  Throughout the film we see so many examples of this, George sacrificing his travels, his education even his honeymoon for the sake of others.  Under a portrait of George’s father in the office is the caption “All you can take with you is what you’ve given away.”  Wonderful words to live by.

Through generations we have upheld It’s a Wonderful Life, and every December you’ll find it airing on a few channels.  I can finally understand how this film warrants this honor, its message warms the heart and make us all see and appreciate the wonderful life we have.  No matter how little we have, we should cherish and be grateful for the live we are given.

“Each man’s life touches so many other lives.”

You Can’t Take it With You

I think most people are embarrassed by their family at one point or another.  It’s almost natural at some ages.  But when we grow out of that and can step back and see that we love our folks for all the odd things we used to be shy about, what a great revelation.

In Frank Capra’s You Can’t Take it With You, greedy company owner Anthony P. Kirby (Edward Arnold) is about to create a monopoly, all he needs is to buy one last house.  His son, and therefore vice president, Tony (James Stewart), is less interested in business and is seeing his stenographer, Alice (Jean Arthur).  As he talks of marriage there is that need to meet her family.

Alice’s grandfather, Martin Vanderhof (Lionel Barrymore), owns that last house that Kirby needs for his monopoly.  Inside that house, holds a family doing whatever it is they love most.  Alice’s mother is writing a play, her father builds fireworks, and her sister dances to her heart’s delight.  The family’s house is always buzzing with music, movement and visiting friends.  When Tony first meets everyone, he’s bowled over seeing everyone doing just as they please with no interest or concern with money.  We can see an instant admiration for the idea, but with his business upbringing becomes confused by it.

As the big day for the Kirbys to come over and meet the Vanderhofs nears, Alice politely asks her sister not to dance, nor her mother to talk about her play.   It’s normal for us to sweep a few things under the rug when we’re expecting company.  However, Tony wants his parents to meet Alice’s family in their natural state and brings them over a day early, acting like he got the days mixed up.  He could not have come over to a more hilarious scene.  The rest of the film is a wonderful misadventure and comparison of the miserably rich and happily poor families.

One of my favorite moments is the way Mr. Kirby is portrayed when he first meets the Vanderhofs.  He looks like a miserable toad stewing in unsavory mud.  The family offers him a chair, that every time he moves a certain way it hit him in the back of the head.  He sinks deeper in his muck with every annoying jolt.  The family tries to be friendly and make polite conversation, but it turns to the fact that Kirby has horrible indigestion, which they diagnose as ulcers.  I doubt a more miserable creature had ever entered that happy home.

You Can’t Take it With You is full of wonderfully fun moments and great values about the importance of family and living happily.  As kids, we are encouraged to pursue whatever it is that we love to do.  Sadly, as we grow into adulthood and find our lives ruled by money, that can become more difficult.  This film may be a little unrealistic, but it puts everything into the correct perspective.  I’d rather be a happy film-blogger than an office slave caged in a cubical, I’m thankful for this opportunity and no one has scolded me for it yet.

“Well, Sir, here we are again. We’ve been getting along pretty good for quite a while now – we’re certainly much obliged. Remember all we ask is just to go along the way we are, keep our health; as far as anything else is concerned, we leave that up to you. Thank you.”

Lady for a Day

As I popped the DVD in and pressed play, the first image to come up was full color.  It was Frank Capra Jr., the great director’s son, telling me what a milestone Lady for a Day was for his father.  He explained how Columbia Pictures was just itching for an Academy Award but none of their films had been nominated.  Suddenly, Lady for a Day had four nominations.  No wins, just nominations.  The way Capra Jr. says this is earnestly and grateful for his father’s work.  Little did I know that the film ahead would be about just as honest and kind virtues.

Annie (May Robson) is now a poor old woman who spends her time walking around Times Square selling apples.  For years, she’s been writing to her daughter Louise, who lives in Spain, telling her that she’s a member of high society.  That little white fairy tale lie doesn’t seem to do any harm, until Annie receives word that Louise (Jean Parker) is coming to visit her so that her fiancé and his father, Count Romero (Walter Connolly), can meet her.

Poor Annie is so upset, how can she tell her daughter that she’s a panhandler on the street?  Even worse, when the Count finds out, he’ll surely break off the marriage and Louise’s life will be ruined all because of Annie and her lies just to make her daughter proud.  All Annie can think to do is slink away to a bottle of gin, but her fellow panhandler friends get worried.  So they find David the Dude (Warren William) a mob man they work together with, and find Annie.  When they learn her problem, they concoct a scheme to make her look like high society for the time her daughter is in town.  The Dude is a little hesitant at first, he’ll be the one paying for it all, but agrees to help Annie.

Now Apple Annie, as her panhandlers and mob friends call her, is a sight that would frighten children away.  Her faded white hair sticks out under her worn hat like tufts of straw and she dresses in a long dark cloak that reminded me of the old witch in Snow White.  When the Dude’s friends fix Annie up, ah, it’s one of those heartwarming transformations.  Suddenly, her face just glows and shines softly against her head and the beautiful dress instantly removes all notions of a hunched old woman.  The best part is that Annie is the most surprised and so thankful.

To complete her transformation they have to find Annie a nice apartment, and a husband.  At a pool hall they find Judge Henry G. Blake (Guy Kibbee), their best choice for someone already rehearsed in proper etiquette.  When Louise is in town, it’s Blake’s idea to have a lavish reception in honor of the Count.  But how can the Dude fabricate an entire reception supposedly full of wealthy and important people from his gang of panhandlers?

Lady for a Day is just one of those movies that really warms your heart.  It’s just wonderful how all the people jumping through hoops to help Annie are all mob men and street beggars, you don’t usually associate them with such lengthy acts of kindness.  And the best part is how grateful Annie is for everything, she realizes she’s put everyone in trouble with her and she feels she doesn’t deserve any of it, yet everyone is so willing to help her in so many ways.

I must recommend Lady for a Day.  It’s perfect for all ages, has a wonderful message about kindness and it’s full of laughs along the way.

“You believe in fairy tales dontcha?”