NARA Celebrates 70th Anniversary of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Press Release · Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Washington, DC

The National Archives celebrates the 70th anniversary of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington with a screening of the film on Thursday, October 15, at 7 p.m.

The National Archives celebrates the 70th anniversary of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington with a screening of the film on Thursday, October 15, at 7 p.m. The screening will be introduced by special guest Robert Osborne, film historian and host of Turner Classic Movies. This event is free and open to the public, and will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Building, located at Constitution and 7th Street, NW. Metro accessible on the Yellow and Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter station.

The program is presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in partnership with The Charles Guggenheim Center for the Documentary Film and the Foundation for the National Archives. Frank Capra’s classic film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, premiered on October 17, 1939, at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. The event was sponsored by the National Press Club, who invited over 4000 guests including 45 U.S. Senators.

Starring James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains, and Thomas Mitchell, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was nominated for 11 Academy Awards®, and won for Writing –Original Story. Through a quirk of fate, Jefferson Smith (James Stewart), the idealistic head of the “Boy Rangers,” is appointed a U.S. Senator from an unnamed state. He soon learns the harsh realities of Washington politics, and his patriotism and belief in democracy are tested. A pristine 35mm print courtesy of the Academy will be shown. (129 minutes.)

Special Note: Mr. Osborne is available for phone interviews in advance of his appearance at the National Archives. Please contact the National Archives Public Affairs Staff at: (202) 357-5300.

For more information, the public should call the Public Programs Line at: (202) 357-5000, or view the Calendar of Events online.

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For more information, the press may contact the National Archives Public Affairs Staff at (202) 357-5300.

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