1) "Mr. Smith" is but one of many Jesus parables made in Hollywood.

2) Smith is obviously highly motivated by the love of a woman (Clarissa), along with his untarnished ideals. The "reckoning w Lincoln at the Memorial" was mimicked by Gomer Pyle in his 'Impossible Dream" episode.

3) Clarissa, considering Mr. Smith's one-man filibuster: "It's a forty foot dive into a tub of water, but I think you can do it". This is from the "It's just crazy enough that it might work" and "Us against the world" school of old Hollywood movies...actually part of the great engine of American ingenuity and love...it is true if you believe its true.

4) Mr. Smith's butt is saved by Harry Carey Sr. (Senate President), who seems to have enough small-town love of America left to go against Mr. Potter (oops, Taylor machine).

5) People forget that machine politics were dominant in the 30s (each State had a Jim Taylor). This system was largely ushered in by Andrew Jackson in the 1830s (a DJ Trump-like guy who replaced "corrupt" Feds with corrupt State gov). Harry Truman was a product of the Missouri machine.

6) As always, Jean Arthur is to die for

7) The movie came out in 1939, and some in Washington protested its release. It was banned in Hitler's Germany and Franco's Spain. When American films were banned in Vichy France, many theaters chose "Mr Smith" as the last film to be shown prior. One theater owner showed it nonstop for 30 days.

8) Though it was the 2nd highest grossing film of 1939 (up against #1 Gone with the Wind and #5 Wizard of Oz), and 3rd highest of the 30s, some government officials applied pressure to theater owners who "didn't show America in a positive manner" (?). Audiences loved the whistleblower nature of the film, one reviewer saying it affirmed every American's right to one free swing at their Congressman.

9) My favorite Capra, each time I see it (over 10x and counting) I tear up.

10) Possibly the most definitive American film, at least from a standpoint of how we're supposed to work.