"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" just starting on TCM

[Sparkly]

If you want to see something uplifting (if not altogether realistic), this is a good one.

I hated hearing awhile back that Jimmy Stewart was actually a conservative.... If somebody can prove that wrong, I'll like the movie even more.

[babylonsister]

1. I saw it recently, first time in many years. It's great

and who knows, maybe conservative wasn't a dirty word way back when.
FYI: Bill Maher is coming up on HBO, too; he's back and I like him!


This Friday at 11 pm, Bill Maher talks with director Spike Lee about post-Katrina New Orleans, music legend Elvis Costello and blogger Marcos Moulitsas—Plus, panel guests fmr. Sen. Max Cleland, author/scholar Vali Nasr and columnist Christopher Hitchens discuss this week's Hot Topics.

[orpupilofnature57]

2. He Really flew bombers! Voluntarily at the height of his careerer, a real

fighter pilot over Germany. So no matter what, he was who he pretended to be , unlike Shrub.

[rasputin1952]

5. Stewart flew bomber missions over Germany, he retired a

Brigadier General from the AF Reserve in 1969. He flew 20 missions over Europe. He was also a Civil Engineer graduating from Princeton.

As for the conservative part, the 40's/50's conservative was far different than the critters who call themselves that now. Eisenhower R's were not bad at all, they were the ones that challenged the Old D's over segregation in the schools. Truman desegregated the military, and Eisenhower helped desegregate vast portions of society.

There were many who served from the political ranks, from the intellectual ranks, and from the entertainment ranks. Ronald Reagan was one of them; a Captain in the Army AF, but he never left Hollywood, although you'd never know it to listen to him talk about flying missions over Germany...on a Sound Stage was the closest he ever got to anything that looked military. Reagan also did Signal Corps training films about VD.

The differences between Stewart and Reagan are astonishing.

[orpupilofnature57]

6. I agree about " Eisenhower Republicans" I wonder what He would think of

Shrub.Ronnie Ray-gun was a demo then,or has that been disputed by kkkarl ?

[rasputin1952]

8. Eisenhower, TR and Lincoln would be livid at what they would see

of their Party today. Coolidge might be upset, but I doubt it, and Harding would fit right in.

Even Goldwater, before he died, was outspoken about what the GP had become...dominated by extremist ideologues and religious loons, he foresaw the destruction of the nation under the pressure of these people...and if Goldwater thought these people were a threat, I have to figure that REAL conservatives are just about ballistic over what their party has become.

[Sydnie]

3. I bought it on DVD last year

I couldn't wait for TMC to get around to playing it. I have watched it several times, usually following it up with Good Night and Good Luck. A trip down what could be and what was is always good for the soul.

[B Calm]

7. I TIVO'd it and plan to burn it on a DVD this weekend.

[Dinger]

4. Did You See Wes Jr. Medntion It In "America Son"?

That's what made me get it & buy the DVD.