Film Analysis: Mr. Smith Goes To Washington

The movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington did a great job demonstrating the power and influence media can have on American politics. In the movie Jim Taylor is an evil man who corrupts politicians. He uses his control of the media, particularly newspapers, to exert is power on politicians. Without his support politicians are viewed in a negative light by the media and are subsequently unelected (22). In the end of the movie Jefferson Smith who was appointed Senator from his state is falsely accused of trying to profit off of his bill. Senator Jefferson Smith goes to the senate floor to filibuster a motion to have him removed from the senate. The filibuster lasts nearly a full day as does the war of public opinion. Jim Taylor uses his pull with the local media to blacklist all information

Senator Smith’s aide Clarissa Saunders contacts the senator’s supporters in his state and informs them of what is going on. They in turn use their own newspapers along with other types of media to try and convey to the public what the Senator is saying. Jim Taylor and his friends in the media try and silence the Senator’s supporters and eventually disrupt their printing of newspapers. The movie shows the power the media can have at swaying public opinion (243). The movie was made in 1939 when newspapers and radio were the primary tools of media. Today, I believe it would be much more difficult for Jim Taylor to try and block the message the Senator was trying to convey. Today, social media has allowed people to crate and share their own content without having to go through traditional media channels (41). Jim Taylor may control the newspapers and radio, but he (in today’s context) could not control social media. Another profound moment regarding mass communications in the movie is when Senator Smith receives telegrams from people from his state on the senate floor. The telegrams are negative and telling him to