Confronting the Powerful in Film

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews two films that deal with confronting the powerful to maintain one's dignity. In both "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" directed by Frank Capra, and "Matewan" directed by John Sayles, the protagonists must take on those with power. The reviewer also analyzes the differences in these two films, particularly in the ways the characters choose to overthrow the system. A brief plot summary is given for each film.

From the Paper:

""Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" is a classic Jimmy Stewart, Frank Capra film that shows just how much political influence exists in Washington D.C. In this film, Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart) is appointed as a Senator after the man holding the office dies. He is a naive and trusting, honest man who the political leaders of his state feel they can manipulate and puppet in Washington. He has no idea he has been sent to Washington to ensure the state's political bosses profit from a dam the state does not need, built on land the politicians secretly own. When he finds out, his honor and honesty will not allow him to do anything but fight them for his own ideas, which include building a boy's camp on the very same land. He even finds that his own boyhood idol, Senator Paine, is corrupt and manipulated by the political bosses back home. "

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