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A man walks into a bar. Ouch. A man walks into a rusty old bar. The second does not just include humor, but description as well. Although both Preston Sturges and Frank Capra use imagery and comedy to deliver messages in their respective movies, Capra’s ability to express his ideas in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington regarding perseverance conveys a much more poignant message, despite Sturges’ more recognizable views about smiling through the pain in his movie, Sullivan’s Travels.
The comedic elements of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Sullivan’s Travels add to the theme of each movie, subtly giving away major plot points. Both movies draw the audience in with the use of farce, such as when Sturges has Sullivan and his companion pushing each other into the pool or when Capra shows Mr. Smith fumbling with his hat because a beautiful woman has spoken to him. While these scenes are there to capture the audience’s attention, they also help the directors say what they need to say. The pool scene helps demonstrate how removed Sullivan really is from the Depression—not only can he afford to have a pool, but he can joke around with a gorgeous woman because he has no worries in his life. Although dropping a hat multiple times will make most people laugh, the scene in Capra’s movie is meant to let the audience in on just how naïve Mr. Smith truly is. Not only is he unable to stay calm when a pretty woman speaks to him, but he also cannot see that she is using him, despite his assistant’s hints. His naïveté and his trust in others is what the movie revolves around, and Frank Capra is able to get that across in one simple scene. Yes, he shows the innocence of Mr. Smith throughout the film, but this one scene captures the essence of it. Sturges falls short of that in the pool scene in Sullivan’s Travels—Sullivan’s removal from reality is emphasized in the scene, but that is because Sturges has a man previously state that fact. The scene alone, while funny,...