Graft, Greed and One Man’s Fight Against Political Corruption: The TCM Big Screen Classics Series Brings Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Back to Movie Theaters Nationwide on October 14 and 17 Only.
he David-and-Goliath story, set within the not-so-hallowed halls of the U.S. Capitol. This special presentation of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington also includes exclusive insight from TCM Primetime Host Ben Mankiewicz.
When Governor Hubert “Happy” Hopper (Guy Kibbee) appoints affable Jeff Smith — head of the Boy Rangers — to the U.S. Senate, corrupt political boss Jim Taylor (Edward Arnold) and secretly crooked U.S. Senator Joseph Paine (Claude Rains) believe they can easily manipulate the newly minted politician when he arrives in Washington. But guidance from his hard-nosed, Beltway-savvy secretary Clarissa Saunders (Jean Arthur), Mr. Smith exposes graft and greed that threatens the very fabric of American democracy, and the junior Senator becomes a heroic one-man filibuster.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was nominated for 11 Oscars®, including Best Picture, Best Director (Capra), Best Actor (Stewart), Best Screenplay (Sidney Buchman), and Best Supporting Actor (Rains and Harry Carey as the President of the Senate); Lewis R. Foster took home the Academy Award® for Best Original Story. Initially panned by the U.S. political establishment and even banned by dictator-led foreign governments, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington went on to be recognized as one of the greatest films in cinema history. In 1989, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was added to the United States National Film Registry which called the film “a dramatic tale concerned with the values of a modern western state and, more broadly, a perilous moment for western civilization.”
WHO:
Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies and Columbia Pictures
WHEN:
- Sunday, October 14 – 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time)
- Wednesday, October 17 – 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (local time)
WHERE:
Tickets for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington are available at www.FathomEvents.com or participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in more than 600 select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
