The oldest movie we’ve ever covered... and somehow, still one of the most relevant.

We’re back with returning guest and comedian Nick Bush to unpack Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, a film that’s somehow more politically sharp in 2024 than it was in 1939. From attempted censorship by real U.S. Senators to Jimmy Stewart’s dangerous commitment to method acting, this episode is a wild ride through old Hollywood and modern-day political déjà vu.

We talk about:

• How lawmakers tried to bury the film before release
• Jimmy Stewart’s raw, wounded performance (yes, he had his throat chemically scorched on set)
• Why Gene Arthur’s drunken bar scene might be one of the best-acted scenes ever
• Whether this film could (or should) be remade — and who could possibly pull it off
• Plus: Boy Rangers, whitewashed Senate floors, and what Mr. Smith Does D.C. would look like

This one is equal parts reverence and ridiculousness. Let’s filibuster.

00:00 – Intro and Nick is back!

01:00 – Why we picked Mr. Smith and its place in patriotic cinema

02:00 – The wild political backlash: senators tried to suppress the movie

04:00 – Jimmy Stewart’s “aw shucks” performance that turns into something devastating

06:30 – Is Tom Hanks our modern-day Jimmy Stewart?

09:00 – Gene Arthur: the underrated MVP of the movie

10:00 – The bar scene: acting masterclass or just fun to film?

12:00 – Are the Boy Rangers… kind of weird in hindsight?

13:00 – That moment they try to kill kids and everyone shrugs

14:00 – The child actors are… actually great?

16:00 – “Leave your rubbers at the door”: what the hell does that mean?

18:00 – Should this movie be remade? (with Pedro Pascal? Dennis from Always Sunny?)

20:00 – The shockingly white Senate and the need for diversity in remakes

22:00 – Filming locations: real D.C. vs studio sets

23:00 – Stewart’s insane method acting involving mercury dichloride

26:00 – Final thoughts, Boy Ranger jokes, and wrap-up

• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was nearly canceled by Congress.
• Jimmy Stewart had his throat chemically burned to sound filibuster-exhausted.
• The film's themes of corruption, media manipulation, and lost innocence still sting today.
• The cast, especially Gene Arthur and the child actors, still feel modern and alive.
• It’s an iconic film that’s hilarious, frustrating, moving—and deeply American.