Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) ft. Sarah Duncan and Brian Skutle

Dana and Tom with 5x Club member, Sarah Duncan, and new guest, Brian Skutle (Film critic, podcaster, composer, host of Sonic Cinema, projector fixer) discuss Mr. Smith Goes to Washington for its 85th anniversary: directed by Frank Capra, written by Sidney Buchman and Myles Connelly, music by Dmitri Tiomkin, starring James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, and Edward Arnold.Plot Summary: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a classic tale of idealism clashing with the gritty realities of political power. Jimmy Stewart stars as Jefferson Smith, a naive but well-intentioned small-town man thrust into the unforgiving world of Washington politics after being unexpectedly appointed to the U.S. Senate. Smith, with his earnest love for American principles, soon finds himself entangled in a web of corruption and power-play, where his sincere belief in doing the right thing is dismissed as foolish by hardened senators.What follows is a story of resilience, where Stewart’s character battles not only for a cause but for his very soul. Director Frank Capra lets his protagonist shine during a famous filibuster scene, in which Stewart's quivering intensity speaks volumes about the weight of standing up to corruption. While Capra’s romanticized view of democracy is apparent, he tempers it with a frankness about the ugliness of the political machine—a balance that resonates even decades later. It’s a movie as much about Smith’s journey as it is about a society’s idealism and its power to confront, and perhaps even mend itself.Chapters:00:00 Welcome and Introduction to Our Guests01:38 Getting to Know - Brian Skutle05:56 Cast and Recognition for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington09:39 Why This Movie?12:21 Relationship(s) with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington15:04 What is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington About?19:57 Is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Outdated?22:56 Plot Summary for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington24:30 Did You Know?26:51 First Break28:29 What's Happening with Sarah and Brian31:10 Ask Dana Anything39:23 Best Performance(s)53:16 Best/Favorite/Indelible Scene(s)01:05:32 Second Break01:06:14 In Memoriam01:08:31 Best/Funniest Lines01:11:09 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy01:19:01 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance01:24:16 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty01:28:46 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness01:34:11 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability01:37:52 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total01:38:58 Remaining Questions for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington01:44:18 Thank You to Our Guests01:45:57 CreditsGuests:Sarah Duncan - Sister of Tom, Daughter of Dana@thenomadicarchaeologist on IGPrevious Episodes: Zodiac, My Fair Lady, The Artist, Inglourious Basterds, The Great Dictator, and