Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

TCM's Dave Karger introduces Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Guest host Alicia Malone introduces Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Girl-Friday in-waiting Saunders (Jean Arthur) and reporter pal Diz (Thomas Mitchell) caught off guard when the new-in-town appointed senator Jefferson Smith (James Stewart) arrives after a spontaneous tour, in Frank Capra's Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939), Frank Capra's masterpiece about a naive young senator (James Stewart) who uncovers political corruption.

The governor (Guy Kibbee) introduces Senate appointee Jeff Smith (James Stewart, in his first scene), who praises Senator Paine (Claude Rains), surprised to learn the supposed stooge is the son of an old ally, in Frank Çapra's Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Saunders (Jean Arthur) delivers appointee Jeff (James Stewart) to the U.S. Senate session where he'll be sworn in, a page (Dickie Jones) and Senator Paine (Claude Rains) assisting, in Frank Capra's Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Chick (Eugene Pallette) informs Saunders (Jean Arthur, her first scene) that the new senator (James Stewart) has gone missing in the capital, launching director Frank Capra's thundering montage, in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

After bad press and a hazing by reporters, appointed senator Jeff (James Stewart) visits mentor Paine (Claude Rains), who offers advice and his daughter (Astrid Allwyn), director Frank Capra providing a famous routine with a hat, in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.

Director Frank Capra's opening salvo, news that the sitting senator has died, relayed through Senator Paine (Claude Raines), Governor Hopper (Guy Kibbee), his boss Jim Taylor (Edward Arnold), whose aide Chick (Eugene Pallette) stands by, in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939.