Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a 1939 American political comedy-drama movie directed by Frank Capra. It stars Jean Arthur and James Stewart, and featuring Claude Rains, Harry Carey and Edward Arnold. The movie is about a newly appointed United States Senator who fights against a corrupt political system. It was written by Sidney Buchman, based on Lewis R. Foster's unpublished story "The Gentleman from Montana".[1]
The movie was controversial when it was first released, but successful at the box office, and it made Stewart a major star.[2] It was also loosely based on the life of Montana U.S. Senator Burton Wheeler.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, winning for Best Original Story.[3] It is thought to be one of the greatest movies of all time. It was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 1989.