Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a 1939 American political comedy-drama film directed by Frank Capra and starring Jean Arthur, James Stewart, and Claude Rains. Sidney Buchman wrote the screenplay, which is based on Lewis R. Foster's unpublished tale "The Gentleman from Montana," about a newly appointed United States Senator who battles against a corrupt political system. The picture was controversial when it was initially released, yet it was a box office triumph, and it catapulted Stewart to stardom. It was also partially modeled on the life of Montana U.S. Senator Burton Wheeler, who went through a similar ordeal while investigating the Warren Harding administration.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington received eleven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor in a Leading Role, and won Best Original Story. The film was chosen by the Library of Congress in 1989 as one of the first 25 films for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important." It is widely regarded as one of the best films of all time.

Detailed Information:
Year: 1939
Director: Frank Capra
Stars: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains
Runtime: 129 minutes