How Politics Is Conveyed in Film - Essay Example

Mr Smith Goes to Washington The movie Mr Smith Goes to Washington was released in 1939, during the 2nd World War, and it is about a U.S. senator who dies, and a substitute has to be searched in an election. However, the competition between the camps that are in favor of the two potential candidates is so severe that the governor qualms for his political future, because picking either one would automatically estrange a big number of voters. Jefferson, the Boy Scout leader comes in as the mess carry on, while Smith who is the governor’s youngest son is an ardent supporter of his father, and he argues that he would make a great senator. As the crisis rise, the governor becomes even more worried, to the level that he considers his son’s advice. Unexpectedly, after a thorough investigation, Smith is revealed to be the perfect candidate because he is naive, devoid of greed and determined politically, and a good, patriotic American. At this point in time, the irony is that, Jim Taylor is the one who runs the government business and not the governor himself as thought before. Most significant thing is that whoever selected must adhere to the rules. The governor and his immediate advisors instruct the now senior senator Paine to take the young Mr. Smith and protect him from any trouble and assist him make a decision on how to vote As a matter of fact, fright takes toll on smith thus he no longer desire to become a politician. However considering that Paine was once a close friend of his father, he believes his advice. Moreover, seeing Washington DC sounds like a dream to him, and considering the mission as a patriotic duty, he accepts. On arrival in Dc, Smith meets famous politicians, the press and the big city that terrifies him. Despite this, he gives it his best short with the help and friendly advice from Paine. Additionally, his colleagues treat him in a kind manner and excuse him whenever he makes any procedural mistakes. With boredom and nothing to do, Smith gets more frustrated and wants to give up but Paine encourages him not to. The bills he creates only benefit Paine and on the day of presenting them it is realized that it was what Paine had been working on for a long time. Therefore, they are cancelled and he is asked to drop the bill, and since Smith did not understand why, he refuses to drop the bill and demand an explanation. At this point his procedural mistakes are not excused. It is discovered that the senior senator and his close allies used Smith’s lack of political knowledge to outsmart him. Hence, Smith is denigrated, criticized and betrayed, but he denies backing down at the time of the conflict, Senator Paine tells Smith that thirty years before he was in his position but he had learned to cooperate. The movie is very enjoyable and interesting to watch because represents the past and the present at the time of its production, but also one indicative of the media's power and role in the eve of the 2nd World War. Moreover, the principal purpose of the movie was to show how democracy is undermined and to expose corrupt politicians. Additionally, the movie was meant for the American people to enable them fight for their freedom and for democracy (Gehring 32). The practicality of the movie is sensible within the plot itself; however, it shows that it is not practical that any given person can be elected into the Senate without any political knowledge. However, the suggestion in the movie is an impartial opinion of view applied to reveal the contest amongst the upright and the dishonest politicians; and to reveal to people how easy it is to be tempted when in possession of political power. On the other-hand, the movie is an eye opener to the audience, as it makes them alert that politicians mostly are corrupt with few of them practicing clean and honest politics. For example, the movie uses Taylor, to reveal that the political field is usually ruled by the one group or person who is in possession of power; clearly this gives incidence in the movie informs the audience the politicians whom they have elected into office are just shadow or puppets for the group or person with the power and resources, which implies that they are the little guy in the movie, but there "Taylor" –people with power- in the background who ran the government or institutions (Mundy). Furthermore, the movie employs the use camera movements to express atmosphere and pass out additional information or clues to the audience. This is especially of the brilliant series showing the improved aspects of Washington as seen through the eyes of the hero, and another series which depict the workings of a corrupt organization. The Senate chamber, with its members, is replicated with terrifying reality big scenes, hundreds of people, but not the usual mass scenes in which every individual is lost. In contrast, many close scenes demonstrate the hand of a director who in mastering technique has not forgotten his art. Capra employs many filming techniques, for example, reaction shot, reverse shot, long shot, and lock up. Capra employs the reverse shot film technique again and again throughout the film to indicate discussions among the characters. Another example, the camera goes back and forth from Smith to the President and back to Smith; Capra employs this to depict the President's smile, he is on Smith's side and wants to hear what Smith has to say. Additionally, Capra employs the film technique of protracted shots, to display the individuals sited behind in the Senate room and to represent their reactions to the proceedings in the senate. In fact, Capra's movie was a call for the freedom of civil rights and speech, which employed the use of rhetoric such as; "Liberty's too precious a thing to be buried in book. Moreover, people should be bold and maintain that they are free to think and speak out their mind every single day of their lives. However, during the time when this contest was in progress at home by the CIO and Civil Liberties Unit, Capra in the movie points to the impending need to keep and observe these rights overseas when he illustrates and points out Hitler. This is evident when the CBS reporter reports that in the diplomatic gallery there were envoys of two dictator powers, whom the reporter claims to have come to witness what they cannot realize at their home country, democracy in action. Bergman points the connection between "the Arnold machine Jim Taylor's authoritarian regulation and control of the media and politics with the politics of these diplomats", whereby the nation, according to Bergman was being "girded for war" in its movie theaters. Moreover, Capra did a brilliant task of choosing a supportive cast that established the movie in a manner that was stimulating, enlightening, amusing, and theatrical. The movie is a very exciting that depicts the realisms of how politics functions, and by viewing it Americans will be wondering who is really behind the political debates of today's time. The sincerity of the film was acknowledged outside of the US, as well because it enlightens people that when electing politicians to office, it is essential to analyze the people behind their power quest. There is also the need to ensure a thorough background checks on their uprightness is conducted in order to eradicate political corruption. Works Cited Gehring, Wes D. "The Politics Of Political Films." USA Today Magazine 137.2760 (2008): 32-33. Mundy, Liza. "Power Player; in the Seven Decades since the Controversial Washington Premiere of 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,' Everyone from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama has Sought a Connection to an Idealistic Fictional Senator Played by Jimmy Stewart." The Washington Post. Jun 28 2009. Read More