Jefferson Smith: You see, boys forget what their country means by just reading The Land of the Free in history books . Then they get to be men they forget even more. Liberty's too precious a thing to be buried in books, Miss Saunders. Men should hold it up in front of them every single day of their lives and say: I'm free to think and to speak. My ancestors couldn't, I can, and my children will. Boys ought to grow up remembering that
If boys learn about freedom only by reading the "land of the free man" in history textbooks, they will soon forget what freedom means for this country. When they become men, they will forget more. Freedom is too precious to be buried in books. Everyone should put it on his chest every day and say: I can think freely, and I have the right to free speech. My ancestors can't, but I can, and so will my children. Boys should receive such an education from an early age to let him remember the preciousness of freedom.
Jefferson Smith: Either I'm dead right, or I'm crazy!
If I am not completely right, then I am completely crazy!
Senator Joseph Paine: He can raise public opinion against us - if any part of this sticks ...
he can to mobilize public opinion against us. . .
James Taylor: Aah, he'll never get started. I'll make public opinion out there within five hours! I've done it all my life. I'll blacken this punk so that he'll-You leave public opinion to me. Now, Joe, I think you'd better go back into the Senate and keep those Senators lined up.
Haha, it is impossible for him to start. I will create public opinion in five hours. I have been doing this all my life. I will completely discredit him. Just let me manipulate public opinion! Now, you better go back to the parliament and let our members stand together.
Jefferson Smith: [His voice very hoarse] Just get up off the ground, that's all I ask. Get up there with that lady that's up on top of this Capitol dome, that lady that stands for liberty. Take a look at this country through her eyes if you really want to see something. And you won't just see scenery; you'll see the whole parade of what Man's carved out for himself, after centuries of fighting. Fighting for something better than just jungle law, fighting so's he can stand on his own two feet, free and decent, like he was created, no matter what his race, color, or creed. That's what you'd see. There's no place out there for graft, or greed, or lies, or compromise with human liberties. And, uh, if that's what the grownups have done with this world that was given to them, then we'd better get those boys' camps started fast and see what the kids can do. And it's not too late, because this country is bigger than the Taylors, or you, or me, or anything else. Great principles don't get lost once they come to light. They're right here; you just have to see them again!
(His voice is dull) Please stand up, stand up and look at the lady above the White House. The lady symbolizes freedom. If you really want to see something, please see this country through her eyes. You will not only see the scenery, you will see how people become "people" through a long journey, you will see the centuries-long struggle for freedom and justice, so that they can stand upright. Regardless of his race or color, he can stand up and enjoy the right to freedom. You should see a country without corruption, greed, without lies, and without any compromise in the struggle for personal freedom. So we should set up a boy scout camp as soon as possible to see what these children can do. It's not too late, because this country is bigger than Taylor, bigger than you, bigger than me, bigger than anything. When great principles meet the light, you will not get lost. It is here, and you will see it here again!
Jefferson Smith: Because of just one, plain, simple rule: Love thy neighbor. And in this world today, full of hatred, a man who knows that one rule has a great trust. You know that rule, Mr. Paine, and I loved you for it, just as my father did. And you know that you fight for the lost causes harder than for any others. Yes, you even die for them, like a man we both knew, Mr. Paine.
Because of this, Mr. Paine, the simple principle: love your neighbor. In today's world, full of hatred, everyone knows how much trust this principle contains. You know. I used to love you for it, just as my father respected and liked you. You know that you have fought and fought for this doomed cause, and you have done more than anyone else. Yes, you will even die for it, just like the person we both know, Mr. Paine.
Jefferson Smith: I guess this is just another lost cause, Mr. Paine. All you people don't know about lost causes. Mr. Paine does. He said once they were the only causes worth fighting for. And he fought for them once , for the only reason any man ever fights for them; because of just one plain simple rule:'Love thy neighbor.'... And you know that you fight for the lost causes harder than for any other. Yes, you even die for them.
I know this will be another cause that is doomed to fail. All those present may not know what "lost cause" is, but Mr. Paine does. He once said that this is the only cause worth fighting for. He has fought for it, just like anyone who fought for it, just for a simple and simple creed: love your neighbor.
Jefferson Smith: Well, what do you expect me to do? An honorary stooge like me against the Taylors and Paines and machines and lies?
Well, what do you want me to do? Can an idiot like me defeat Taylor and Paine and their political machines and lies?
Clarissa Saunders: Your friend, Mr. Lincoln had his Taylors and Paines. So did every other man who ever tried to lift his thought up off the ground. Odds against them didn't stop those men. They were fools that way. All the good that ever came into this world came from fools with faith like that. you know that, Jeff. you can not quit now. not you.
your friend, Mr. Lincoln have had his Taylor and Paine, also had Other people have experienced what you are doing now. Although the chances of them defeating Taylor are small, they did not deter them. They are also fools. But the truth, goodness and beauty in this world depend on fools like you to stand firm and defend. You know, Jeff, you can't give up. Others can, but you can't!
They aren't all Taylors and Paines in Washington. That kind just throw big shadows, that's all. You didn't just have faith in Paine or any other living man. You had faith in something bigger than that. You had plain, decent , everyday, common rightness, and this country could use some of that. Yeah, so could the whole cockeyed world, a lot of it. Remember the first day you got here? Remember what you said about Mr. Lincoln? You said he was sitting up there, waiting for someone to come along. You were right. He was waiting for a man who could see his job and sail into it, that's what he was waiting for. A man who could tear into the Taylors and root them out into the open. I think he was waiting for you, Jeff. He knows you can do it, so do I.
Not all congressmen in Washington, like Paine, are manipulated by Taylor. Taylor and his political machine created a huge shadow, nothing more. Your beliefs are not limited to Paine, your beliefs are much greater than these. You have a simple, noble sense of justice. This country counts on people like you. Do you remember the first day you came? Do you remember how you described how you felt when you saw the Lincoln statue for the first time? You said he was standing there, as if waiting for someone. You're right. He has been waiting for someone who can see his ideals, and then can inherit and perform his duties. This is what he has been waiting for. Someone who can uproot Taylor and the others. I think the person Mr. Lincoln is waiting for is you. Jeff, he believes you can do it, and I believe you can do it.
Jefferson Smith: What? Do what, Saunders?
Clarissa Saunders: You just make up your mind you're not gonna quit, and I'll tell you what. I've been thinking about it all the way back here. It's a forty foot dive into a tub of water, but I think you can do it
what? What are you doing, Sandra?
You are determined not to give up. I have been thinking about this issue on the way here. This is an underwater job that requires a potential of 40 feet, but I think you can do it.
A piece of neglected history: The
film premiered on October 17, 1939, and 4000 people were invited to watch it, including 45 members of parliament. After the film was released, it was immediately criticized by Washington media and politicians, calling it an anti-American and communist-leaning film. Capra once wrote in his autobiography that some congressmen walked out of the theater during the film screening. The media has not confirmed whether there is anything wrong, whether there are members of Congress screaming at the big screen during the screening.
Alben W. Barkley, the leader of the Democratic Party, once called the film "extremely stupid", saying that "the film makes lawmakers look like a bunch of criminals." "Seriously distorted the parliament, ridiculous." The
well-known journalist Pete Harrison suggested that the parliament pass a bill banning cinemas from showing the film. Because the movie "damages the national interest." Although his proposal was unsuccessful, some congressmen believed that the movie had damaged their reputation, so they passed another bill which led to the interruption of the cinema industry chain in the late 1940s.
The US ambassador to the United Kingdom wrote to Capra that he was afraid that the film would damage the "prestige of the United States in Europe." He urged the removal of the movie being shown from the European theaters.
Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, the Soviet Union, and Francis-ruled Spain all banned the film. France was occupied by Germany in 1942, and American movies were banned in the occupied area. Some movie theaters chose this film as the last American film to be shown before the ban. A movie theater in Paris continued to show the film after the ban was issued, and the film was shown in a loop for up to 30 days.
This film is called the "report" film in American history.
It marked a turning point in Capra's film, from a tense optimism to a low tone of pessimism. From "American Madness" in 1932 to "A Lady in a Day", "A Night of Love", "Mr. Diez's Entering the City", and "Floating Dreams" all explain the belief of an ordinary person-the insistence on justice. . In the movie "Smith Goes to Washington", this ordinary person is swarmed by corrupt and rude people, surpassing the mainstream sense of justice depicted in Capra's previous movies. Every character in this movie-except for Smith himself and his little believers, either Taylor's political machine or being bought by Taylor, the politicians remain silent. They appear timid and rude in front of innocent people and children. Citizen rights were trampled, and the image of the government was ruined.
However, Smith eventually blocked the bill, and the president's silent support reflects the director's belief that personal power can change the world. This theme is further developed in "A Beautiful Life".
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