On the surface this is a feel-good movie, wherein the cynical female reporter hopes to dig up dirt on a congressman, but discovers that he's really as honest as he seems to be, and they live happily ever after. But if you dig deeper you'll find this film has a somewhat sinister agenda - or am *I* just too cynical?
Remember all those movies in the 30s and 40s where reporters were portrayed as aggressive truth-seekers, the newspapers being a sort of moral watchdog keeping the politicians in line? Well, not in "Washington Story". Here the message seems to be that the Press are vicious liars - if they can't find any dirt, why, they'll make it up! And, if slapped with a libel suit, they'll just double their attempts to ruin that poor politician's reputation. Um, I don't think that really happens. Certainly the media today tends to be under the government's thumb - meekly regurgitating the stories the President feeds them, and rarely reporting on corruption. Hmm, maybe "Washington Story" had the desired (unfortunate) effect!
By casting someone as wholesome and likable as Van Johnson in the lead role, and showing his character working hard, taking the time to help an immigrant about to be deported - gee, he's nice to boy scouts too! - the audience is cleverly manipulated into accepting anything he does, as Good and Right. But how can it be good to vote for a bill that will put so many people out of work? To vote in agreement with the opposing (Republican) party, rather than representing the wishes of your constituents who elected you into office in the first place?
Somehow things get twisted around so that the congressman feels it would be self-serving of him to vote the way his state wants him to...what with the re-election coming up and so on... he'd rather do "what's best for the country as a whole", and risk losing voter support. He's so noble! Isn't he brave? Willing to give up his job next term, in order to do the "right" thing? Not really. I don't believe this guy's actions are justified just because he's kind to children and the elderly, or that it's okay to betray the people's trust in you, just as long as you're not changing your vote due to a bribe.
It's a far cry from "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington", that's for sure, when Jimmy Stewart fought for the common folks and confronted corrupt government officials. As far as I can tell, there *are* no corrupt politicians in "Washington Story" - the Democrats and Republicans are buddies, who good-naturedly squabble. The Evil Mud-slinging Reporters are the only villains here.
Let this be a lesson to us: Never criticize the government - They are always right. Nevermind what the voting citizens may want. We don't elect politicans to *represent* us, but to know what's best for us. And if it seems like their decisions are really only in the best interests of rich capitalists, and lead to more unemployment and struggles for the rest of us... well, we're just too small-minded to understand these Noble Men Who Make Our Country Great. Yep, sounds like the world we live in. I prefer my politics in the movies to be less realistic, and more idealistic. Sorry Van, I love ya, but I'll stick with "Mr. Smith".
Remember all those movies in the 30s and 40s where reporters were portrayed as aggressive truth-seekers, the newspapers being a sort of moral watchdog keeping the politicians in line? Well, not in "Washington Story". Here the message seems to be that the Press are vicious liars - if they can't find any dirt, why, they'll make it up! And, if slapped with a libel suit, they'll just double their attempts to ruin that poor politician's reputation. Um, I don't think that really happens. Certainly the media today tends to be under the government's thumb - meekly regurgitating the stories the President feeds them, and rarely reporting on corruption. Hmm, maybe "Washington Story" had the desired (unfortunate) effect!
By casting someone as wholesome and likable as Van Johnson in the lead role, and showing his character working hard, taking the time to help an immigrant about to be deported - gee, he's nice to boy scouts too! - the audience is cleverly manipulated into accepting anything he does, as Good and Right. But how can it be good to vote for a bill that will put so many people out of work? To vote in agreement with the opposing (Republican) party, rather than representing the wishes of your constituents who elected you into office in the first place?
Somehow things get twisted around so that the congressman feels it would be self-serving of him to vote the way his state wants him to...what with the re-election coming up and so on... he'd rather do "what's best for the country as a whole", and risk losing voter support. He's so noble! Isn't he brave? Willing to give up his job next term, in order to do the "right" thing? Not really. I don't believe this guy's actions are justified just because he's kind to children and the elderly, or that it's okay to betray the people's trust in you, just as long as you're not changing your vote due to a bribe.
It's a far cry from "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington", that's for sure, when Jimmy Stewart fought for the common folks and confronted corrupt government officials. As far as I can tell, there *are* no corrupt politicians in "Washington Story" - the Democrats and Republicans are buddies, who good-naturedly squabble. The Evil Mud-slinging Reporters are the only villains here.
Let this be a lesson to us: Never criticize the government - They are always right. Nevermind what the voting citizens may want. We don't elect politicans to *represent* us, but to know what's best for us. And if it seems like their decisions are really only in the best interests of rich capitalists, and lead to more unemployment and struggles for the rest of us... well, we're just too small-minded to understand these Noble Men Who Make Our Country Great. Yep, sounds like the world we live in. I prefer my politics in the movies to be less realistic, and more idealistic. Sorry Van, I love ya, but I'll stick with "Mr. Smith".