Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a must-see for any fan of Americana. It is difficult, therefore to imagine that Mr. Smith Goes to Washington , a 1939 film directed by Frank Capra, was so controversial that Columbia was offered money to shelve it. Difficult, that is, until you watch it. Smith's strength of conviction in the democratic system is still gripping, even though some might find the extreme patriotism somewhat jingoistic today. It works because, as an audience, even with our jaded opinions, we still want the system to work the way it is way meant to work, and in that way, we face the screen with Smith's own naivete.
Nobody does basic human dignity and integrity like Capra.
The duality of our own experience and feelings as we face the screen with cynics' minds and still hopeful hearts, I think, makes the film even more poignant today. We still feel for Smith's disappointments and cheer his successes as the innocent fish out of water in a pool of political sharks. We like to cheer for the underdog, and Smith allows us to do this in spades. It is the political Rocky of its time, and it still stands the test of time, providing a gripping and timeless political and moral struggle. If you wish to buy, follow the below links.