Mr. Smith Goes To Washington #29 on the AFI Top 100 List ****

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. Truly a great movie with great performances by Jimmy Stewart that "soldified" his acting career, as well as a great performance by Jean Arthur as Saunders. A movie that can truly make you feel proud to be an American and I'm sure helped to "restore order" if you will in the U.S. so shortly after World War II