Review of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
The apparent flaws of the system—such as the possibility of filibustering—are portrayed as strengths, while its originators—in reality, wealthy slave owners looking out for industry—are unquestioned, akin to gods, merely betrayed by bad apples. All the while, Smith’s dream is to create some kind of Hitler Jugend with no girls allowed. This “hero” goes around punching strangers in the face. A couple of points ring true, but the greatest attraction of the film is its symptomatic superficiality, akin to Gone with the Wind (1939).