MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON [1939 / 2014] [75th Anniversary Special] [Deluxe Limited Edition DigiBook] [Blu-ray + UltraViolet] [USA Release] Frank Capra’s Greatest Hit . . . The Screen At Its Most Inspired!
An idealistic newly-appointed senator Jefferson Smith [James Stewart] heads to Washington, where he single-handedly battles ruthless politicians out to destroy him. Celebrate the 75th Anniversary Special of this beloved and influence classic and now fully restored in 4K, plus with this collectable Deluxe Limited Edition DigiBook, complete with rare behind-the-scenes photos and an all-new essay about the making of the film. ‘MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON’ is a timeless and stirring ode to the power of democracy.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1939 New York Film Critics Circle Awards: Win: Best Actor for James Stewart. Nominated: Best Film. 1940 Academy Awards®: Win: Best Writing in an Original Story for Lewis R. Foster. Nominated: Best Picture for Columbia Pictures. Nominated: Best Actor in a Leading Role for James Stewart. Nominated: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Harry Carey. Nominated: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Claude Rains. Nominated: Best Director for Frank Capra. Nominated: Best Writing for a Screenplay for Sidney Buchman. Nominated: Best Art Direction for Lionel Banks. Nominated: Best Sound, Recording for John P. Livadary (Columbia SSD). Nominated: Best Film Editing for Al Clark and Gene Havlick. Nominated: Best Music Film Scoring for Dimitri Tiomkin.
FILM FACT No.2: Among the unbilled veteran character actors seen in the film are Guy Kibbee's brother, Milton Kibbee, who has a bit as a reporter; Lafe McKee; and Matt McHugh of the McHugh acting family. Also in the film in minor roles are Dub Taylor and Jack Carson, later well-known actors. Silent film star Hank Mann played a photographer. The film premiered in Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., on October 17, 1939, sponsored by the National Press Club, an event to which 4,000 guests were invited, including 45 senators. ‘MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON’ was attacked by the Washington press, and politicians in the U.S. Congress, as anti-American and pro-Communist for its portrayal of corruption in the American government. While Frank Capra claims in his autobiography that some senators walked out of the premiere, contemporary press accounts are unclear about whether this occurred or not, or whether senators yelled back at the screen during the film.
Cast: James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, Edward Arnold, Guy Kibbee, Thomas Mitchell, Eugene Pallette, Beulah Bondi, H.B. Warner, Harry Carey, Astrid Allwyn, Ruth Donnelly, Grant Mitchell, Porter Hall, H.V. Kaltenborn, Charles Lane, Pierre Watkin, Dick Elliott, William Demarest, Billy Watson (Hopper Boy), Delmar Watson (Hopper Boy), Harry Watson (Hopper Boy), Harry Watson (Hopper Boy), Larry Simms (Hopper Boy aka Baby Dumpling), Garry Watson (Hopper Boy), Erville Alderson (uncredited), Harry Anderson (uncredited), Stanley Andrews (uncredited), William Arnold (uncredited), Sam Ash (uncredited), Edwin August (uncredited), Frank Austin (uncredited), Harry A. Bailey (uncredited), Tommy Baker (uncredited), Kathryn Bates (uncredited), Brooks Benedict (uncredited), Wilson Benge (uncredited), Edward Biby (uncredited), Wade Boteler (uncredited), Harry C. Bradley (uncredited), Lynton Brent (uncredited), Ed Brewer (uncredited), Al Bridge (uncredited), Harlan Briggs (uncredited), Edward Brophy (uncredited), Tommy Bupp (uncredited), Harry Burkhardt (uncredited), Frederick Burton (uncredited), Georgia Caine (uncredited), Ken Carpenter (uncredited), Jack Carson (uncredited), Burr Caruth (uncredited), Maurice Cass (uncredited), Allan Cavan (uncredited), Eddy Chandler (uncredited), George Chandler (uncredited), Davison Clark (uncredited), Dora Clement (uncredited), Richard Clucas (uncredited), Shirley Coates (uncredited), Edmund Cobb (uncredited), Eddie Coke (uncredited), Dorothy Comingore (uncredited), Chester Conklin (uncredited), Hal Cooke (uncredited), George Cooper (uncredited), Georgie Cooper (uncredited), Jack Cooper (uncredited), Nick Copeland (uncredited), Anne Cornwall (uncredited), Gino Corrado (uncredited), Maurice Costello (uncredited), Alec Craig (uncredited), Beatrice Curtis (uncredited), Lew Davis (uncredited), Dulcie Day (uncredited), Wally Dean (uncredited), Vernon Dent (uncredited), Harry Depp (uncredited), Joe Devlin (uncredited), Clyde Dilson (uncredited), John Dilson (uncredited), Neal Dodd (uncredited), Ann Doran (uncredited), Lester Dorr (uncredited), Robert Dudley (uncredited), Edward Earle (uncredited), Helen Jerome Eddy (uncredited), Jack Egan (uncredited), Douglas Evans (uncredited), Eddie Fetherston (uncredited), Mabel Forrest (uncredited), Byron Foulger (uncredited), Gladys Gale (uncredited), Jack Gardner (uncredited), Frances Gifford (uncredited), June Gittelson (uncredited), Gus Glassmire (uncredited), Mary Gordon (uncredited), Jesse Graves (uncredited), Lorna Gray (uncredited), Roger Haliday (uncredited), Cliff Hall (uncredited), Wilfred Hari (uncredited), Harry Hayden (uncredited), Henry Hebert (uncredited), Louis Jean Heydt (uncredited), Fred Hoose (uncredited), Philip Hurlic (uncredited), Olaf Hytten (uncredited), John Ince (uncredited), Lloyd Ingraham (uncredited), Mitchell Ingraham (uncredited), Frank Jaquet (uncredited), Dick Jensen (uncredited), John Lester Johnson (uncredited), Dickie Jones (uncredited), Eddie Kane (uncredited), Robert Emmett Keane (uncredited), Donald Kerr (uncredited), Milton Kibbee (uncredited), Joe King (uncredited), Richard Kipling (uncredited), Evalyn Knapp (uncredited), Wright Kramer (uncredited), Paul Kruger (uncredited), Bobby Larson (uncredited), Billy Lechner (uncredited), P.H. Levy (uncredited), Vera Lewis (uncredited), Jack Lindquist (uncredited), George Lloyd (uncredited), Arthur Loft (uncredited), Jane Loofbourrow (uncredited), Jack Low (uncredited), Jackie Lowe (uncredited), Jimmie Lucas (uncredited), Wilfred Lucas (uncredited), Stanley Mack (uncredited), Mary MacLaren (uncredited), Hank Mann (uncredited), Margaret Mann (uncredited), Thomas Martin (uncredited), Eric Mayne (uncredited), Philo McCullough (uncredited), Ralph McCullough (uncredited), Matt McHugh (uncredited), George McKay (uncredited), Lafe McKee (uncredited), Sammy McKim (uncredited), Frank McLure (uncredited), James McNamara (uncredited), Robert Middlemass (uncredited), James Millican (uncredited), Howard M. Mitchell (uncredited), Charles R. Moore (uncredited), Bert Moorhouse (uncredited), Gene Morgan (uncredited), Robert Morgan (uncredited), Edmund Mortimer (uncredited), William Newell (uncredited), Ray Nichols (uncredited), Field Norton (uncredited), Alex Novinsky (uncredited), Frank O'Connor (uncredited), Frank Otto (uncredited), Joe Palma (uncredited), Blanche Payson (uncredited), Frank Puglia (uncredited), Spencer Quinn (uncredited), Tom Quinn (uncredited), Ed Randolph (uncredited), Charles Regan (uncredited), Jack Rice (uncredited), Jack Richardson (uncredited), Henry Roquemore (uncredited), Johnny Russell (uncredited), Walter Sande (uncredited), Russell Simpson (uncredited), Walter Soderling (uncredited), Harry Stafford (uncredited), Wyndham Standing (uncredited), Paul Stanton (uncredited), Larry Steers (uncredited), Count Stefenelli (uncredited), Robert Sterling (uncredited), Craig Stevens (uncredited), Landers Stevens (uncredited), Carl Stockdale (uncredited), Harry Strang (uncredited), Charles Sullivan (uncredited), Ben Taggart (uncredited), Emma Tansey (uncredited), Dub Taylor (uncredited), Ferris Taylor (uncredited), Harry Tenbrook (uncredited), Arthur Thalasso (uncredited), Edward Thomas (uncredited), Frank M. Thomas (uncredited), Layne Tom Jr. (uncredited), Fred 'Snowflake' Toones (uncredited), Victor Travis (uncredited), Laura Treadwell (uncredited), John Tyrrell (uncredited), Frederick Vroom (uncredited), Bess Wade (uncredited), David Wade (uncredited), Max Waizmann (uncredited), Robert Walker (uncredited), Myonne Walsh (uncredited), John Ward (uncredited), Billy Wayne (uncredited), Lloyd Whitlock (uncredited), Dave Willock (uncredited), Florence Wix (uncredited), Eleanor Wood (uncredited) and William Worthington (uncredited)
Director: Frank Capra
Producer: Frank Capra
Screenplay: Sidney Buchman (screenplay), Lewis R. Foster (story) and Myles Connolly (contributor to screenplay construction and dialogue) (uncredited)
Composer: Dimitri Tiomkin
Cinematography: Joseph Walker, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black-and-White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 1.0 DTS-HD Master Mono Audio
French [European] 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
German: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Italian: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Português [Brazil]: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Spanish [Castilian]: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Spanish [Latin American]: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English, English SDH, Chinese Traditional, Greek, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese [Brazil], Português [Portugal], Spanish and Thai
Running Time: 129 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Columbia Pictures / SONY Pictures Home Entertainment
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON’ [1939] is producer/director Frank Capra's classic comedy-drama, and considered by many to be his greatest achievement in film and reminiscent of his earlier film, ‘Mr. Deeds Goes To Town’ [1936]. In fact, the film project by Columbia Pictures was first announced as Mr. Deeds Goes to Washington starring Gary Cooper, in a role similar to his previous Longfellow Deeds character.
Frank Capra's classic comedy-drama established James Stewart as a lead actor in one of his finest (and most archetypal) roles. The film opens as a succession of reporters shout into telephones announcing the death of Senator Samuel Foley. Senator Joseph Paine [Claude Rains], the state's senior senator, puts in a call to Governor Hubert “Happy” Hopper [Guy Kibbee] reporting the news.
Hubert “Happy” Hopper then calls powerful media magnate Jim Taylor [Edward Arnold], who controls the state and along with the lawmakers. Jim Taylor orders Hubert “Happy” Hopper to appoint an interim senator to fill out Senator Samuel Foley's term; Jim Taylor has proposed a pork barrel bill to finance an unneeded dam at Willet Creek, so he warns Hubert “Happy” Hopper he wants a senator who “can't ask any questions or talk out of turn.” After having a number of his appointees rejected, at the suggestion of his children Hubert “Happy” Hopper nominates local hero Jefferson Smith [James Stewart], leader of the state's Boy Rangers group.
Jefferson Smith is an innocent, wide-eyed idealist who quotes Jefferson and Lincoln and idolises Senator Joseph Paine, who had known his crusading editor father. In Washington, after a humiliating introduction to the press corps, Jefferson Smith threatens to resign, but Senator Joseph Paine encourages him to stay and work on a bill for a national boy's camp. With the help of his cynical secretary Clarissa Sanders [Jean Arthur], Jefferson Smith prepares to introduce his boy's camp bill to the Senate. But when he proposes to build the camp on the Willets Creek site, Jim Taylor and Senator Joseph Paine force him to drop the measure. Jefferson Smith discovers Jim Taylor and Senator Joseph Paine want the Willets Creek site for graft and he attempts to expose them, but Senator Joseph Paine deflects Jefferson Smith's charges by accusing Smith of stealing money from the boy rangers.
Defeated, Jefferson Smith is ready to depart Washington, but Clarissa Sanders, whose patriotic zeal has been renewed by Jefferson Smith, exhorts him to stay and fight. Jefferson Smith returns to the Senate chamber and, while Jim Taylor musters the media forces in his state to destroy him, Jefferson Smith engages in a climactic filibuster to speak his piece: “I've got a few things I want to say to this body. I tried to say them once before and I got stopped colder than a mackerel. Well, I'd like to get them said this time, sir. And as a matter of fact, I'm not gonna leave this body until I do get them said.”
Jefferson Smith, of course, stands his ground, so the two men set about ruining him. This eventually leads to an unforgettable filibuster scene that solidified James Stewart’s persona and the first persona of his multi-dimensional career, anyway, as a common man with bottomless reserves of backbone and dignity. (James Stewart, in a move worthy of an Oscar, had a doctor administer dichloride of mercury near his vocal chords to give his voice the exhausted rasp he was looking for at the close of Jefferson Smith’s filibuster.)
Though it’s now universally revered as an ode to democratic ideals, Frank Capra’s ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’ [1939] was originally denounced by many Washington power-brokers. That may come as a bit of a shock if you haven’t seen this classic picture for several years. Jimmy Stewart’s lead performance made him a star, and is justly remembered as the key component of a beautifully constructed narrative. But Frank Capra, for all his flag-waving and sometimes naive moralizing saved a great deal of bite for the hallowed halls of American government.
Frank Capra nearly cast Gary Cooper, but finally settled on James Stewart. “I knew he would make a hell of a Mr. Smith,” he said. “He looked like the country kid, the idealist. It was very close to him.” James Stewart knew this was the role of a lifetime, one that could place him near the top of the Hollywood heap. Jean Arthur later remembered his mood at the time: “He was so serious when he was working on that picture; he used to get up at five o’clock in the morning and drive himself to the studio. He was so terrified something was going to happen to him, he wouldn’t go faster.”
On 17th October, 1939, the picture was previewed at Washington’s Constitution Hall. The preview was a major production featuring searchlights and a National Guard band playing patriotic tunes; The Washington Times-Herald even put out a special edition covering the event. Four thousand guests attended, 45 Senators among them. About two-thirds of the way through the film, the grumbling began, with people walking out. Some politicians were so enraged by how “they” were being portrayed in the film, they actually shouted at the screen. At a party afterward, a drunken newspaper editor took a wild swing at Frank Capra for including a drunken reporter as one of the characters!
The wonderfully-acted, absorbing and human film was popular at the box-office and critically successful too. However, the film caused some controversy and pressure was brought to bear to hinder its release (two months after the outbreak of WWII in Europe), due to the fact that Capra's film was propagandistic, depicted political corruption, and appeared to paint an anti-democratic picture of the US government and its inner workings. But the film also called for faith in traditional American values of patriotism and faith in the people, and provided an educational lesson in how bills are passed through Congress.
MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON MUSIC TRACK LIST
COLUMBIA, THE GEM OF THE OCEAN (1843) (uncredited) (Written by David T. Shaw) [Played during the opening credits and often in the score]
YANKEE DOODLE (ca. 1755) (uncredited) (Traditional music of English origin) [Played during the opening credits and often in the score]
AMERICA, MY COUNTRY TIS OF THEE (1832) (uncredited) (Music by Lowell Mason, based on the Music by Henry Carey from "God Save the King") (1744) [Played during the opening credits and often in the score]
SEMPER FIDELIS (1888) (uncredited) (Written by John Philip Sousa) [Played by the Boy Rangers' band]
THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER (1814) (uncredited) (Music by John Stafford Smith) [Played in the score at the banquet]
FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW (uncredited) (Traditional) [Played at the banquet for Jefferson Smith]
AULD LANG SYNE (1788) (uncredited) (Traditional Scottish 17th century music) (Lyrics by Robert Burns) [Sung at the banquet by the senators]
O BURY ME NOT ON THE LONE PRAIRIE (Traditional cowboy song) [Played in the score when Smith and Paine reminisce, and later when Smith is at the Lincoln Memorial at night]
WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME (1863) (uncredited) (Music by Louis Lambert) [Played in the score when Smith goes sightseeing]
TAPS (1862) (uncredited) (Music by Daniel Butterfield) [Played in the score when Smith is at the Arlington National Cemetery]
BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC (ca 1856) (uncredited) (Music by William Steffe) [Played in the score when Smith is at the Lincoln Memorial]
RED RIVER VALLEY (uncredited) (Traditional) [Played in the score when Smith is at the Lincoln Memorial]
JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR (1854) (uncredited) (Music by Stephen Foster) [Played in the score as a love theme]
(Oh My Darling) CLEMENTINE (1884) (uncredited) (Music by Percy Montrose) [Played in the score towards the end of the film]
THE OLD GREY MARE (uncredited) (Traditional) [Whistled by Smith as he jauntily walks in the hall of the Senate]
Blu-ray Image Quality – SONY Pictures Home Entertainment has done a beautiful 4K remastering of ‘MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON.’ The film has a nice crisp and sharp look to it. It’s not overly sharp and some of the close ups, do have a nice intended softness to them because of the lighting. Fabric, patterns and surfaces all display a wonderful amount of detail. This 75 year old classic has found a fountain of youth in this luscious and gorgeous transfer. Blacks are deep and rich in appearance here. No disguising or masking of detail. No crushing noticed. Detail on dark items is still pretty solid. Flesh tones have a nice consistent tone to them. Facial features are pretty impressive. So all in all SONY Pictures Home Entertainment gets a five star rating from me.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – The excellent 1.0 DTS-HD Master Audio was harvested primarily from Frank Capra's personal nitrate print, which was struck from the original camera negative in 1939. The result is a soundtrack which is crystal-clear and free of age-related anomalies. There are some impressive and impactful effects captured here such as the gavel hitting and some of the crowd cheering and horns honking. Some sound effects leave a little to be desired, but due to the age of this track and keeping it intact there isn’t much more you can do here. The whole presentation really engaged and impressed me. The music score by the great Dimitri Tiomkin is given as pleasing a soundstage as possible. So once again, SONY Pictures Home Entertainment has given us a stunning audio experience.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Audio Commentary by Frank Capra, Jr.: With is audio commentary we get a nice introduction by Frank Capra, Jr. and informs us that when he was four and half years old, that he also had a little brother slightly younger named Johnny and remembers one big night when his Father was at an International Press Preview of ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ at Columbia Pictures, but sadly Frank Capra had to be called away as his son Johnny was in hospital having his tonsils out, but sadly passed away and of course the whole family was devastated, but Frank Capra felt it was best to get back to work, as life has to carry on. On his search for a project, he came across a draft for a film on Fredrick Chopin, but Columbia Pictures felt it was too expensive and it was musical, but luckily Frank came across a two page synopsis entitled “The Gentleman From Montana” which Frank thought was fantastic and eventually got turned into the classic film ‘MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON,’ about an naïve senator who goes to Washington and immediately thought of the actor Jimmy Stewart, plus all the other actors and of course the rest is history. We find out Frank Capra hated screen tests and preferred to talk to the actors personally and was very instinctual whether that person would be good for the film. When you see Jinny Stewart visiting all the monument buildings in Washington, it was all filmed without a permit and when the guards thought they had gone in one direction, they then quickly rushed in the opposite direction, got everything out of the van quickly, done a quick set up, shot the footage and then went onto another location in Washington and despite the restrictions, Frank Capra, Jr. feels the images you see, turned out superbly and the shot of the Liberty Bell, of course inspired to be named for Frank Capra’s Film Company. When the film was eventually shown to all the Washington Senators of the time, they hated it and felt the film was an insult on the integrity and reputation, but of course the public loved the film, but even more insult was to follow when the film was shown to the Senator from Montana and his family, they walked out in disgust. As to the music score, Frank Capra, Jr. informs us that Frank Capra wanted Dimitri Tiomkin, a Russian immigrant, which he also worked on the Frank Capra film ‘Lost Horizon.’ But the musical score for ‘Mr. Smith Goes To Washington’ he wanted a 100% Americana flavour. But also very important, we get informed that when we see an actor shed tears, Frank Capra wanted the audience to shed tears. But as we get near to the end of the film, Frank Capra, Jr. reads out a telegram that was sent from a correspondence in France before the Germans in World War II banned American Films, wrote, “Cheers and accumulation! On the speech by the young senator on man’s right and dignity, it was as though the joys, suffering, love, hatred, hopes and wishes of an entire people who value freedom above everything, found expression for the last time.” Which about sums up what I felt about this film, how Frank Capra produced something really superb and honest, that lasts for a generation in bringing joy and happiness for all who view Frank Capra films. But this again is a fantastic audio commentary by the superb Frank Capra, Jr. and makes you even more appreciate Frank Capra’s films. By the way I meant to mention earlier, that all interior shots in the film, especially the Senate Chamber and the actual desks, were actually reconstructed in the Columbia Pictures film lot. So to sum up, this is a totally awesome audio commentary and Frank Capra, Jr. informs us of a lot more other interesting facts on the making of ‘MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON’ and get a definite 5 star rating and is a definite must view audio.
Special Feature: Frank Capra, Jr. Remembers . . . ‘Mr. Smith Goes To Washington’ [1999] [480i] [1.37:1] [11:50] With the start of this special feature, we get introduced to Frank Capra, Jr. [Producer] and informs us that this film was very ambitious film project, especially for Columbia Pictures, especially as it had a very limited budget. We hear that Frank Capra was attracted to this project because of its political stance and in 1938/39 it was the beginning of World War II, especially in Europe, and the film depicted freedom and democracy, as well as the most important political elements, but Frank Capra felt democracy was being taken away. Frank Capra respected and loved all actors, especially Jean Arthur, who was his favourite and he was the one that discovered her and knew Jean Arthur was going to be a big star. Frank Capra also felt the ending of the film was just right, especially showing the corrupt politician getting their comeuppance, and the film has eventually a happy ending, but there is a price to pay for the outcome. This is a really nice little feature and well worth a view.
Special Feature: Conversation with Frank Capra, Jr.: The Golden Years [2006] [1080i] [1.78:1] [17:52] Frank Capra, Jr. informs us that people and especially Frank Capra thought that 1939 was the greatest time for movies and especially ‘Mr. Smith Goes To Washington,’ as well as ‘Gone With The Wind’ and ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ despite that at the time there was a depression in America especially. Frank Capra believed in the goodness of people, but he also believed that people could also be lead astray, and also films also show human emotions, that are still viewable today. After ‘Mr. Smith Goes To Washington,’ his latter films were not so successful, even though they had a lot of comedy and pathos. But Frank Capra is the only director who had a string of hits, compared to other directors of the time. Once again this is a very nice extra, so please give it a view.
Special Feature: Frank Capra: Collaboration [2006] [1080p] [1.78:1] [19:18] Here we get another intimate view on Frank Capra the director and to start off this special we get the contribution from Richard Peña [Associate Professor of Film at Columbia University] and tells us that Frank Capra and the American Cinema, was a very popular director, whereas the likes of Orson Welles and Charlie Chaplin, were also directors, but they also acted in their films. We also get other views from other contributors from the likes of Jeanine Basinger [Curator of the Frank Capra Archives at Wesleyan University]; Kenneth Bowser [Producer/Director] and Frank Capra, Jr. [Producer]. But as the title of this special, is the word “Collaboration” and you find out there were certain people that Frank Capra liked to have behind his team, and they were Robert Riskin, who shaped Frank Capra view of films, plus Joe Walker, a cameraman who was of the inner circle of Columbia Pictures, but when Joe Walker worked on Frank Capra’s first film, Joe Walker did not like what he filmed, because he felt Frank Capra was too opinionated, but when Joe Walker viewed the film, he realised Frank Capra was a brilliant director and knew what he was doing and stayed the course on Frank Capra’s roster. We also get informed that Frank Capra was hands on with all the actors that appeared in his films and in turn the actors really love Frank Capra, as he treated the actors with respect and of course as mentioned before, he really loved Jean Arthur as an actress and in turn got the best performance out of her. One really fascinating information we hear about and that is Frank Capra liked to go the Preview screenings and sit at the back of the cinema with a tape recorder and record the whole screening, including the audiences reaction to the film, especially where the laughter was or not or where they were reacting, so that he could make cuts to the film, so it would run smoother when it went on general release. So all in all, this is a fascinating look at Frank Capra and why he became the most popular director of the time and again this is a well worth view.
Special Feature: Conversation with Frank Capra, Jr.: A Family History [2006] [1080i] [1.78:1] [25:55] Once again Frank Capra, Jr. gives us more personal view on the life and times of his father Frank Capra and that the start of this special we find out his father emigrated to America and he was only six years old in 1903, plus he also had a sister who was younger than him, and a couple of older sisters and an older brother and no one could speak any English, as the family originally came from Sicily in Italy and eventually ended up in California, where they lived with a Community of Italians, until his Father got killed and they lost their home. But when Frank Capra made his first film, he took his Mother to the Premiere, but after the screening Frank asked his Mother what she thought of the film, she said, “it was okay, but when you going to get a proper job.” But when he was down on his luck, he met this Shakespearian actor, who wanted to make a silent film, but the actor didn’t know he was not a director. Anyway the film was made and the Executives loved the film, but sadly it was not a success and came clean and informed the actor he was not a famous director, but he told Frank Capra he knew his secret, despite this they went onto to make about 10 more films. Eventually he got a great break and ended up at Columbia Pictures and it was the start of his prolific career in the movie business, as he learnt all aspects of the film industry. But as Frank Capra, Jr. grew up in the shadow of his Father’s career and especially able to visit the film sets, especially for ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ and the day he viewed the film being shot, it was the hottest day of the year, even though when you view the film, you think it is the height of winter, especially with the heavy snowfall and he thought it was a totally magical experience and his Father gave his some words of wisdom, he says, “ what I produce is magic.” Once again this is another fascinating view pf the life and times of Frank Capra and well worth a view.
Special Feature: The Frank Capra I Knew by Jeanine Basinger [2006] [1080p] [1.78:1] [13:04] Jeanine Basinger first met Frank Capra in the 1960s and it was at an event at Yale University where Jeanine Basinger was student, and Frank Capra was invited to do a presentation and from then onwards they both became very close and good friends. But at the presentation was also Jean Arthur as a guest, who sadly was very reclusive and not very comfortable with crowds, but when she saw Frank, she was really relaxed and enjoyed the presentation. Because Jeanine Basinger was the Trustee of the American Film Institute and was also on the Committee and also helped to select Frank Capra for a Lifetime Award, and so Frank Capra asked Jeanine Basinger to become his curator of his papers and also became involved in the life and times of Frank Capra and was also up close and personal to all of Frank Capra’s family. One fascinating fact is that Frank Capra saved all the correspondence he received and especially from his loyal fans, who he totally appreciated, as without them, his films would not of gained the success they did. When America entered World War II, Frank Capra realised there was no American Administration, so Frank took control, as he thought he was totally ideal for the job and a good job he did, as it would not be as it is today. Jeanine Basinger pulls out all the stops informing us why Frank Capra was such a success and says that he came along in history at the right moment, especially when there was an emerging art form in the film industry, and was on hand for creative storytelling, sensitive entertainment art form, but was very scientific, as well as very technical and grounded in machines and the cutting process and again Frank Capra was the ideal man, especially being around at the right place at the right time to be a star, as he had a very sharp and analytical brain. So all in all Jeanine Basinger is totally delightful and makes you feel that Frank Capra was a totally fascinating intelligent man and someone you felt you would have loved to have been a good friend to know personally, and especially knowing Frank Capra the brilliant filmmaker.
Special Feature-Length Documentary: Frank Capra’s American Dream which is Hosted and Narrated by Ron Howard [1997] [1080p] [1.78:1] [109 minutes] This beloved film artist was driven as much by self-doubt as by his belief in the power of the “little man.” Documentary focusing on the life and film production of Frank Capra revealing an artist whose arrogant manner won the loyalty of several collaborators, producing films that conveyed an enduring vision of what America aspired to be. Before the special starts, we get a very prophetic comment from John Cassavetes, when he says, “Maybe there really wasn’t an America, maybe it was only Frank Capra.” From then onwards Ron Howard introduces himself facing the camera and takes centre stage on the awesome career of the artist director Frank Capra. Here we find out the man was quintessential in bringing to the silver screen the “American Dream,” especially with his hugely successful films between the 1930s and the 1940s, in painting a portrait of America that was decent, honest and willing to stand up and fight for what it believed in. But we also find out that Frank Capra was very brash, cocky and arrogant, but he was equally generous, deeply sentimental, and was racked with self-doubt and for a quarter of a century in his adopted country, was a perfect reflection on each other. As we delve deeper into the life and times of Frank Capra, we find out that in his early days he was determined to get a proper education, plus he did loads of part time jobs to make money and that way he met characters on his journey into life, that were eventually portrayed in his films, that also helped to determine his career in the movie business. But with a stroke of luck met someone that kicked start his career as a director, where he also learned all aspect of how the film industry worked and especially editing film, that eventually helped him get a job with Columbia Pictures., where it brought him a glittering career and deservedly won him several Academy Awards® but some of films were not a success and he used to get very depressed. But after a lean period, he started to get greater fame in films that the American public loved, especially in directing ‘Mr. Smith Goes To Washington’ but after this film he felt it was time to move on and went into partnership with directors George Stevens and William Weiller and created a new company entitled “Liberty Films” and their first project was ‘It’s A Wonderful Life,’ which was started in May 1946, and of course was a critical success and won Five Academy Awards® but despite these plaudits, it was not a financial success with the public at large, and faded away, but of course it gained cult classic success over many years it was broadcast on American Television, especially every year at Christmas time. But despite this, his fortunes went into decline and went out of favour with the general public and even more humiliation had to sell “Liberty Films” to Paramount Pictures, but at the same time he was accused of being a communist sympathiser, but was never charged. But eventually he got signed up with Paramount Pictures as a contract director and his first film was ‘Riding High’ which was followed by ‘Here Comes The Groom.’ Eventually Frank Capra was exhausted, especially with World War II and losing “Liberty Films” decided to take some time off and to become a gentleman farmer, bit over time got bored and eventually found a job at NBC Television and worked on a TV programme entitled ‘MEMO – The Magnificent’ which was a cartoon series about the Bell Telephone system, as he loved educating people. But eventually made his way back to directing films and his first venture was ‘A Hole In The Head’ starring Frank Sinatra, but felt frustrated and tried once again to make a success in films, and did a modern remake of his original ‘Lady For A day’ which was entitled ‘Pocketful of Miracles’ and a really terrible experience, that was produced by Glenn Ford, who totally interfered in the making of the film, which in turned negative for him and got very depressed and eventually turned his back on the film industry he so loved and turned to become an author and produced his autobiography entitled “Frank Capra – The Name Above The Title,” which in turn made him even more popular with the public and was invited to all the Universities in the United States of America and the best thing to ever happen to him, as the students loved his films and wanted to hear all about his experiences in directing films. But despite his renewed success, he sadly passed away in his sleep on the 3rd September, 1991 at the age of 94 and was buried next to his wife Lou in California. But of course Ron Howard does not stand centre stage, as we get other contributions from the likes of Martin Scorsese [Director]; John Milius [Writer/Director]; Robert Altman [Director]; Michael Keaton [Actor]; Richard Dreyfuss [Actor]; Angela Lansbury [Actress]; Garry Marshall [Writer/Director]; Marshall Herskovitz [Director]; Bill Duke [Actor/Director]; Richard Schickel [Film Critic]; Oliver Stone [Writer/Director]; Frank Capra, Jr. [Producer]; Tom Capra [Producer]; Joseph McBride [Frank Capra Biographer]; Bob Thomas [Harry Cohn Biographer]; Allen Daviau [Cinematographer]; Jeanine Basinger [Curator of Capra Archives, Wesleyan University]; Andre De Toth [Director]; Edward Bernds [Sound Technician/Director]; Peter Falk [Actor]; Fay Ray [Actress]; Amy Heckerling [Writer/Director]; Edward Zwick [Director]; Arthur Hiller [Director] and Jayne Wyatt [Actress]. With all these contributors with this special documentary, they tell us why they loved Frank Capra the director. So to sum up, this is a totally fascinating and insightful special documentary and especially hearing all about the life and times of Frank Capra, who was a very intelligent and fascinating person and can sum up that this is a very professional uplifting produced documentary and a definite watch and gests a 5 star rating from me.
Theatrical Trailer [1939] [480i] [1.37:1] [1:42] With this particular trailer, you get an endorsement by the World Famous Commentator H.V. Kallenborn, who of course appears in the film when Mr. Smith does his filibuster in the Senate.
International Trailer [1939] [480i] [1.37:1] [3:55] This International Textless Trailer, includes rare footage that is not in the final release version, including that of Jefferson Smith in a parade in his hometown.
BONUS: Beautiful Designed 26 page Deluxe Limited Edition DigiBook which includes articles such as THE MAKING OF ‘MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON’ By Jeremy Arnold. JAMES STEWART: KEY CREDIT LIST. JEAN ARTHUR: KEY CREDIT LIST.CLAUDE RAINES: KEY CREDIT LIST.FRANK CAPRA: KET CREDIT LIST [As Director]. RESTORING ‘MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON’ IN 4K. Plus we get a plethora of wonderful black-and-white publicity photos and scenes from the film.
Finally, any serious collector or person that claims to themselves as a genuine “film buff” should have the film ‘MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON’ in their Blu-ray collection. There’s an absolute treasure trove and abundance of extras that chronicle the production of the film and life and career of its director Frank Capra. SONY has taken good care and presented an absolute perfection in restoring this with and incredible presentation in both image and audio experience. It’s somewhat a relief to see a classic film like is getting the treatment it justly deserves. SONY, who should be applauded and has outdone themselves and produced another truly great Blu-ray releases of the 21st Century. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
