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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington ()

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A naive youth leader is appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. His idealistic plans promptly collide with corruption at home and subterfuge from his hero in Washington, but he tries to forge ahead despite attacks on his character.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
  • Won 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 12 nominations.
  • See more »
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

78 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

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Saunders
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Jefferson Smith
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Senator Joseph Paine
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Jim Taylor
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Governor Hopper
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Diz Moore
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Chick McGann
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Ma Smith
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Senate Majority Leader
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President of the Senate
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Susan Paine
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Mrs. Hopper
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Senator MacPherson
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Senator Monroe
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H.V. Kaltenborn
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Nosey
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Senate Minority Leader
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Carl Cook
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Bill Griffith
Billy Watson ...
Hopper Boy
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Hopper Boy
Harry Watson ...
Hopper Boy
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Hopper Boy (as Baby Dumpling)
Garry Watson ...
Hopper Boy (as Gary Watson)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Handwriting Expert (uncredited)
Harry Anderson ...
Hoodlum (uncredited)
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Senator Hodges (uncredited)
William Arnold ...
Reporter (uncredited)
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Senator Lancaster (uncredited)
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Senator (uncredited)
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Inventor at Smith's Office Door (uncredited)
Harry A. Bailey ...
Senator Hammett (uncredited)
Tommy Baker ...
Boy Ranger (uncredited)
Kathryn Bates ...
Committeewoman (uncredited)
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Senate Clerk (uncredited)
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Hopper's Butler (uncredited)
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Foreign Diplomat (uncredited)
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Family Man (uncredited)
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Arthur Kim (uncredited)
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Photographer (uncredited)
Ed Brewer ...
Senate Reporter (uncredited)
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Senator Dwight (uncredited)
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Mr. Edwards - Howling Citizen (uncredited)
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Newspaper Employee (uncredited)
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Boy Cheering for Smith in Meeting (uncredited)
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Senate Reporter (uncredited)
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Senator Dearhorn (uncredited)
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Third Radio Speaker (uncredited)
Ken Carpenter ...
Announcer (uncredited)
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Sweeney Farrell - Newsman (uncredited)
Burr Caruth ...
Townsend (uncredited)
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Handwriting Expert (uncredited)
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Ragner - Newsman (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
Davison Clark ...
Committeeman (uncredited)
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Mrs. McGann (uncredited)
Richard Clucas ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
Shirley Coates ...
Assistant Bartender (uncredited)
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Senator Gower (uncredited)
Eddie Coke ...
Photographer (uncredited)
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Woman at Station (uncredited)
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Man in Press Section of Senate Gallery (uncredited)
Hal Cooke ...
Reporter (uncredited)
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Waiter (uncredited)
Georgie Cooper ...
Committeewoman (uncredited)
Jack Cooper ...
Photographer (uncredited)
Nick Copeland ...
Senate Reporter (uncredited)
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Senate Reporter (uncredited)
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Barber (uncredited)
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Diggs - Newsman (uncredited)
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Speaker (uncredited)
Beatrice Curtis ...
Paine's Secretary (uncredited)
Lew Davis ...
Senate Clerk (uncredited)
Dulce Day ...
Senate Reporter (uncredited)
Wally Dean ...
Paine's Friend (uncredited)
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Senate Reporter (uncredited)
Harry Depp ...
Hat Salesman / Secretary (uncredited)
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Waiter (uncredited)
Clyde Dilson ...
Reporter (uncredited)
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Secretary (uncredited)
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Senate Chaplain (uncredited)
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Paine's Secretary (uncredited)
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Taylor's Stooge (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
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Paine's Secretary (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
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Francis Scott Key (uncredited)
Eddie Fetherston ...
Senate Reporter (uncredited)
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Senate Reporter (uncredited)
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Hopper's Secretary (uncredited)
Gladys Gale ...
Committeewoman (uncredited)
Jack Gardner ...
Reporter (uncredited)
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Hopper Girl (uncredited)
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Woman at Station (uncredited)
Gus Glassmire ...
Angry Committee Member (uncredited)
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Woman (uncredited)
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Black Committeeman (uncredited)
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Woman at Station (uncredited)
Roger Haliday ...
Senate Guard (uncredited)
Cliff Hall ...
Senator in Final Scene (uncredited)
Wilfred Hari ...
House Boy (uncredited)
Harry Hayden ...
First Radio Announcer (uncredited)
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Senator (uncredited)
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Soapbox Speaker (uncredited)
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Senator (uncredited)
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Boy Ranger (uncredited)
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Butler (uncredited)
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Senator Fernwick (uncredited)
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Committeeman (uncredited)
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Minor Role (uncredited)
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Senator Byron (uncredited)
Dick Jensen ...
Hoodlum (uncredited)
John Lester Johnson ...
Butler (uncredited)
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Pageboy Richard Jones (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
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Editor (uncredited)
Donald Kerr ...
Reporter (uncredited)
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Senate Reporter (uncredited)
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Summers - Newsman (uncredited)
Richard Kipling ...
Senator (uncredited)
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Reporter Asking 'What Do You Think of the Girls in This Town?' (uncredited)
Wright Kramer ...
Senator Carlton (uncredited)
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Bodyguard (uncredited)
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Boy Ranger (uncredited)
Billy Lechner ...
Boy Ranger (uncredited)
P.H. Levy ...
Rabbi (uncredited)
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Mrs. Edwards (uncredited)
Jack Lindquist ...
Chorus Member (uncredited)
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Hoodlum (uncredited)
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Chief Clerk (uncredited)
Jane Loofbourrow ...
Committeewoman (uncredited)
Jack Low ...
Hoodlum (uncredited)
Jackie Lowe ...
Boy Ranger (uncredited)
Jimmie Lucas ...
Photographer (uncredited)
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Pompous Man (uncredited)
Stanley Mack ...
Senator (uncredited)
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Head Sister (uncredited)
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Photographer (uncredited)
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Nun with Cheering Orphan Boys (uncredited)
Thomas Martin ...
Reporter (uncredited)
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Man in Senate Building (uncredited)
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Senator Albert (uncredited)
Ralph McCullough ...
Assistant Bartender (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
George McKay ...
Reporter (uncredited)
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Civil War Veteran at Lincoln Memorial (uncredited)
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Boy Ranger (uncredited)
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Senator (uncredited)
James McNamara ...
Reporter (uncredited)
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Second Radio Announcer (uncredited)
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Senate Reporter (uncredited)
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Shoe Salesman (uncredited)
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Porter (uncredited)
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Man in Senate Building (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
Robert Morgan ...
Senate Clerk (uncredited)
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Senator Fuller (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
Ray Nichols ...
Boy Ranger (uncredited)
Field Norton ...
Pompous Man (uncredited)
Alex Novinsky ...
Foreign Diplomat (uncredited)
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Senator Alfred (uncredited)
Frank Otto ...
Fisk (uncredited)
Joe Palma ...
Hoodlum (uncredited)
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Committeewoman (uncredited)
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Handwriting Expert (uncredited)
Spencer Quinn ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
Tom Quinn ...
Senate Reporter (uncredited)
Ed Randolph ...
Senate Reporter (uncredited)
Charles Regan ...
Hoodlum (uncredited)
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Lang (uncredited)
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Senator Manchester (uncredited)
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Senator (uncredited)
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Otis Hopper (uncredited)
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Newspaperman with Pipe (uncredited)
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Kenneth Allen (uncredited)
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Senator Pickett (uncredited)
Harry Stafford ...
Senator Atwater (uncredited)
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Senator Ashman (uncredited)
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Flood - Newsman (uncredited)
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Committeeman (uncredited)
Count Stefenelli ...
Foreign Diplomat (uncredited)
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Senate Reporter (uncredited)
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Senate Reporter (uncredited)
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Committeeman (uncredited)
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Senator Burdette (uncredited)
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Bodyguard (uncredited)
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Cab Driver (uncredited)
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Pompous Man (uncredited)
Emma Tansey ...
Committeewoman (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
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Senator Carlisle (uncredited)
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Bodyguard (uncredited)
Arthur Thalasso ...
Doorman (uncredited)
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Butler (uncredited)
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Hendricks (uncredited)
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Boy Ranger (uncredited)
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Porter (uncredited)
Victor Travis ...
Senator Grainger (uncredited)
Laura Treadwell ...
Mrs. Taylor (uncredited)
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Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Frederick Vroom ...
Paine's Friend (uncredited)
Bess Wade ...
Committeewoman (uncredited)
David Wade ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
Max Waizmann ...
Photographer (uncredited)
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Senator Holland (uncredited)
Myonne Walsh ...
Jane Hopper (uncredited)
John Ward ...
Photographer (uncredited)
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Reporter (uncredited)
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Schultz - Newsman (uncredited)
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Senate Guard (uncredited)
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Committeewoman (uncredited)
Eleanor Wood ...
Committeewoman (uncredited)
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Committeeman (uncredited)

Directed by

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Frank Capra

Written by

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Sidney Buchman ... (screenplay)
 
Lewis R. Foster ... (story)
 
Myles Connolly ... (contributor to screenplay construction and dialogue) (uncredited)

Produced by

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Frank Capra ... producer (uncredited)

Music by

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Dimitri Tiomkin

Cinematography by

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Joseph Walker ... director of photography

Editing by

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Al Clark
Gene Havlick

Editorial Department

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Sheri Eisenberg ... theatrical & HDR mastering colorist (uncredited)

Art Direction by

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Lionel Banks

Costume Design by

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Robert Kalloch ... (gowns) (as Kalloch)

Makeup Department

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Faye Hanlin ... hair (uncredited)
Helen Hunt ... hair (uncredited)
William Knight ... makeup artist (uncredited)
Fred B. Phillips ... makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Arthur S. Black Jr. ... assistant director (as Arthur S. Black)
Rex Bailey ... second assistant director (uncredited)
Richard McWhorter ... second assistant director (uncredited)
Charles Vidor ... second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department

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Walter Holscher ... set designer (uncredited)
George Montgomery ... set dresser (uncredited)
Cary Odell ... assistant art director (uncredited)
Jack Wrenn ... prop master (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Edward Bernds ... sound engineer (uncredited)
John P. Livadary ... supervising sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Fred Jackman Jr. ... special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by

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Slavko Vorkapich ... montage effects
John Hoffman ... montage effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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George Hager ... head electrician (uncredited)
William Jolley ... assistant camera (uncredited)
George F. Kelley ... second operative camera (uncredited)
Al Layter ... assistant electrician (uncredited)
Irving Lippman ... photographer: production stills (uncredited) / still photographer (uncredited)
James Lloyd ... head grip (uncredited)
Enzo A. Martinelli ... second assistant camera (uncredited)
Adolph L. Schafer ... special portrait art (uncredited)
Victor Scheurich ... first operative camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Forrest T. Butler ... wardrobe: men (uncredited)
Ray Howell ... head of wardrobe (uncredited)
Eugene Joseff ... costume jeweller (uncredited)
Roselle Novello ... wardrobe: women (uncredited)

Music Department

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Morris Stoloff ... musical director (as M.W. Stoloff)
R.H. Bassett ... composer: stock music (uncredited)
Ben Oakland ... composer: stock music (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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James D. Preston ... technical advisor (uncredited)
Joseph Sistrom ... production assistant (uncredited)
Harold Winston ... dialogue director (uncredited)
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

Naive and idealistic Jefferson Smith, leader of the Boy Rangers, is appointed on a lark by the spineless governor of his state. He is reunited with the state's senior senator--presidential hopeful and childhood hero, Senator Joseph Paine. In Washington, however, Smith discovers many of the shortcomings of the political process as his earnest goal of a national boys' camp leads to a conflict with the state political boss, Jim Taylor. Taylor first tries to corrupt Smith and then later attempts to destroy Smith through a scandal. Written by James Yu

Plot Keywords
Taglines OUR OPERATOR SAYS.."IT'S GOING TO BE A PLEASURE TO RUN "MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON" 5 DAYS STARTING SUNDAY, NOV.7) (print ad - Lubbock Morning Avalanche - Cactus Theatre - Lubbock Texas - November 2, 1938 - all caps) See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Frank Capra's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (United States)
  • Monsieur Smith au sénat (France)
  • Mr. Smith au sénat (France)
  • Mr. Smith geht nach Washington (Germany)
  • Caballero sin espada (Spain)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 129 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $1,500,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia The scenes where James Stewart wanders around in amazement at the Washington monuments were "stolen", since the US Parks Service had denied the studio permission to film near them. See more »
Goofs Under the Standing Rules of the Senate governing debate, Senator Paine would not technically have been allowed to attack Senator Smith's character and accuse him of graft. The rule states: "No Senator in debate shall, directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator." See more »
Movie Connections Edited into High Hopes: The Capra Years (1981). See more »
Soundtracks Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean See more »
Quotes Jefferson Smith: You see, boys forget what their country means by just reading The Land of the Free in history books. Then they get to be men they forget even more. Liberty's too precious a thing to be buried in books, Miss Saunders. Men should hold it up in front of them every single day of their lives and say: I'm free to think and to speak. My ancestors couldn't, I can, and my children will. Boys ought to grow up remembering that.
See more »
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