Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

It is impossible in 2019 to watch this film without relating it to today's political madness. The corruption, the use of media to distort public opinion, the overwhelming effect of money and greed on every thread that forms our political process--all these things were understood long ago, and the testimony of the past could inform opinion today, if contemporary participants were willing to listen to that wisdom. Beyond its civic usefulness, this is a very strong piece of cinema. Director Capra shows all his skill, visual and otherwise, while James Stewart and Jean Arthur give their roles all the earnestness and cynicism, respectively, required to bring the story to its fullest expression. This should be required viewing for all Americans, and all would-be Americans as well; the lessons learned just might be the key to turning around our current dysfunction. Watch it and think about it.

It Happened One Night

The revelation here is Clark Gable's confident, effective performance as the cagey reporter who finds a handful of a story in Claudette Colbert's runaway heiress. That, combined with a good script and Capra's professional direction, makes for a very enjoyable movie. The only quibble: it's a little too long.