Editing Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (section)

==Production==
[[Columbia Pictures]] originally purchased [[Lewis R. Foster]]'s unpublished story, variously called "The Gentleman from Montana" and "The Gentleman from Wyoming", as a vehicle for [[Ralph Bellamy]], but once [[Frank Capra]] came on board as director&nbsp;– after [[Rouben Mamoulian]] had expressed interest&nbsp;– the film was to be a sequel to his ''[[Mr. Deeds Goes to Town]]'', called ''Mr. Deeds Goes to Washington'', with [[Gary Cooper]] reprising his role as Longfellow Deeds.{{#tag:ref| Lewis Foster later testified during a lawsuit that he had written the story specifically with Gary Cooper in mind.<ref name=tcmnote/> |group=N}} Because Cooper was unavailable, Capra then "saw it immediately as a vehicle for Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur",<ref>Sennett 1989, p. 173.</ref> and Stewart was borrowed from [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]].<ref name=tcmnote /> Capra said of Stewart: "I knew he would make a hell of a Mr. Smith ... He looked like the country kid, the idealist. It was very close to him."<ref name=tcmart>Tatara, Paul. [https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/3771/mr-smith-goes-to-washington#articles-reviews?articleId=29876 "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"]. ''Turner Classic Movies''. Retrieved June 26, 2009.</ref>

Although a youth group is featured in the story, the [[Boy Scouts of America]] refused to allow their name to be used in the film and instead the fanciful "Boy Rangers" was used.<ref name=tcmnote/>

In January 1938, both [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] and [[Paramount Pictures]] submitted Foster's story to the censors at the [[Motion Picture Production Code|Hays Office]], likely indicating that both studios had an interest in the project before Columbia purchased it. [[Joseph Breen]], the head of that office, warned the studios: "[W]e would urge most earnestly that you take serious counsel before embarking on the production of any motion picture based on this story. It looks to us like one that might well be loaded with dynamite, both for the motion picture industry, and for the country at large." Breen specifically objected to "the generally unflattering portrayal of our system of Government, which might well lead to such a picture being considered, both here, and more particularly abroad, as a covert attack on the Democratic{{sic?|reason=Is this really capitalised?|date=December 2021}} form of government", and warned that the film should make clear that "the Senate is made up of a group of fine, upstanding citizens, who labor long and tirelessly for the best interests of the nation."

Later, after the screenplay had been written and submitted, Breen reversed course, saying of the film, "It is a grand yarn that will do a great deal of good for all those who see it and, in my judgment, it is particularly fortunate that this kind of story is to be made at this time. Out of all Senator Jeff's difficulties there has been evolved the importance of a democracy and there is splendidly emphasized the rich and glorious heritage which is ours and which comes when you have a government 'of the people, by the people, and for the people.{{'"}}<ref name=tcmnote />

The film was in production from April 3, 1939, to July 7 of that year.<ref>[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/3771/mr-smith-goes-to-washington "Overview"]. ''TCM''. Retrieved June 26, 2009.</ref> Some location shooting took place in [[Washington, D.C.]], at [[Washington Union Station]],  the [[United States Capitol]], and other locations for background use.<ref>Rosales 2003, pp. 102, 117, 124.</ref><!-- Removed IMDb reference: deprecated source per [[WP:RS/P]] due to user-generatedcontent -->

Following Capra's usual habits, working with people he knew well, he brought together again three of the leading actors from his previous film production for Columbia Pictures, ''[[You Can't Take It with You (film)|You Can't Take It with You]]'' of 1938, with Arthur, Stewart, and Arnold in lead roles again.

In the studio, to ensure authenticity, an elaborate set was created, consisting of Senate committee rooms, cloak rooms, and hotel suites, as well as specific Washington, D.C., monuments, all based on a trip Capra and his crew made to the capital. Even the [[National Press Club (USA)|Press Club of Washington]] was reproduced in minute detail,<ref name=tcmnote /><ref>Sennett 1989, p. 175.</ref> but the major effort went into a faithful reproduction of the Senate Chamber on the Columbia lot. James D. Preston, a former superintendent of the Senate gallery, acted as technical director for the Senate set, as well as advising on political protocol. The production also utilized the "New York street set" on the [[Warner Bros.]] lot, using 1,000 extras when that scene was shot.<ref name=tcmnote />

The ending of the film was apparently changed at some point, as the original program describes Stewart and Arthur returning to Smith's hometown, where they are met by a big parade, with the implication that they are married and starting a family.<ref name=tcmnote /> In addition, the Taylor political machine is shown being crushed; Smith, riding a motorcycle, visits Senator Paine and forgives him; and a visit to Smith's mother is included. Some of this footage can be seen in the film's trailer.<ref>[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/3771/mr-smith-goes-to-washington "Trivia"]. ''TCM''. Retrieved June 26, 2009.</ref>

{{Gallery
|File:James Stewart on the set of Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1).jpg
|Stewart and Capra (second from right)
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|File:James Stewart on the set of Mr Smith Goes to Washington (3).jpg
|Stewart and Arthur
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|File:James Stewart on the set of Mr Smith Goes to Washington (2) (cropped).jpg
|Stewart, Arthur and Capra
|alt3=
}}