While I thought I would dislike "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," merely because I historically am not inclined toward black and white pictures, I absolutely adored it. Sure, the portrayal of a single, freshman Senator making an incredible difference is a bit far-fetched, but we have encroached on utter cynicism and over-seriousness if we cannot aspire to such a positive, populist depiction.
The film "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," is the sort of wholesome, excessively patriotic and forthright portrayal of a single individual, well ahead of his time trying to make a difference. At the time the film was released, racial inequity and Hollywood's obsession with either excluding minorities or portraying them in menial roles, like "Mr. Smith," where the lone African-American is a shoe shiner, were prevalent. Mr. Smith, by all accounts, is a politically unidentified Senator but espouses rather progressive ideologies on themes of philanthropy and equity.
Rather than marginalizing the female character to the confines of "listening," to his policy ideas, the senator engages the women and seeks her consultation on how best to develop said polices. The women is, however, in an archetypal secretarial role but nonetheless by chronological standards is depicted rather favorably.
Certain pragmatic political theories can be derived from "Mr Smith." The idea of employing the filibuster, something that can be regarded as a necessary evil to 'check,' majority political power, is a mechanism unique to the United States Congress. Obviously, the conclusion of the film is predictable and in alignment with the expectation of a "feel good," film.
To those who question the validity of "Mr. Smith," and cast it as "unrealistic," I ask "Why can't we espouse the sort of equitable and wholesome political fight that Mr. Smith entails?"
Corey Scott-Vincent-William Dutra
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