Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

One of the best scenes in screen history: when Jeff sorts through the letters and Saunders yells "Stop, Jeff, stop!" During the moments of silence it's all gold. Jeff talks about lost causes, "the only causes worth fighting for" and then "...the simple rule about love thy neighbor..."

25: At Jeff Smith's new Senate office Diz and Saunders wonder where Jeff is. Diz suggests to Saunders that they get married. Jeff knocks and asks if this is Jefferson Smith's office, Saunders misdirects him, then runs after him, finding out he's her new boss. The birth of something new.

45: Jeff meets Susan Paine. We stay on Jeff's hat and watch his nervous fingers. The hat drops to the floor. The hat falls several times, he trips and tips over stuff. He exits. Sen. Paine and his daughter Susan laugh. Susan calls Jeff Honest Abe. Sen. Paine is aware of Jeff's goodness and replies: "With Honest Abe's ideals. A rare man these days, Susan." Now that I'm aware.

60: Efficiency bill talk as Sen. Paine is in the cab with Eugene Pallette (good character actor, watch him in My Man Godfrey). Sen. Paine gets an idea: he'll use Susan to prevent Jeff from interfering with passage of a corrupt bill. Jeff receives letters from boys in gratitude for his boy's camp bill. He starts bonding with Saunders. There's no going back now.

-45: Sen. Paine accuses Jeff of profiting off the boys, Jeff is booed by the Senate. Jeff discovers that Sen. Paine and others are trying to destroy him. Discovery.

-25: Jeff stands alone as he speaks; he's established a foothold on the Senate floor and he keeps it until he collapses at the end of the movie. Diz, Saunders, and kids assist Jeff to spread the word. It's quite a battle and at the end good defeats evil. The final turning point.