Cigars and Cinema Podcast
Every cigar is smoked in thirds: First third, second, and final, just as every Movie is performed in three acts. Join Eric Drazin and Mike Coleman to delve into the world of cigars and movies as they analyze, break down, and critique cigars and films as each progress.
Cigars and Cinema Podcast
"Mr. Smith Is At Washington!" Ep. 112 6/25/26
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The classic of classics and Curtis hasn't even seen it before! This one should be a dusey! Join us for a very special show a we analyze Mr. Smith Goes To Washington! Join Eric and Curtis in smoking the Lure Kingfish LE.
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Welcome back to another episode of Cigars and Cinema. Grab a cigar, something to pair it with, and let's be journey into another episode of Smoke and Scream. Today's episode of Cigars Custom is coming in from the OET cigars site. Join the community and smoke with us on the Oakland Tobacchist YouTube channel as we delve into the written experience of OT Craft Cigars and many cigars and bipolarist custom made just for our membership. If you're interested and if you want to find out more about the subscription and the whole host of DT cigars, visit us at www.com or find us on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok at OGT Cigars. Hello everybody. Welcome back to Cigars and Cinema Podcast every Tuesday night coming to you from North Carolina. I can't necessarily say sunny North Carolina because it was quite rainy today. Uh, but I am Eric with Oakland Tobacch and is coming to you from the East Coast. And with me tonight, coming to you from the West Coast, Curtis Bailey. Curtis, we're back at it. I'm excited for this episode. I think it's going to be a good one.
SPEAKER_01Me, me too. Um uh I'm out here in today, Overcast, Southern California. And um uh I was very happy that we're doing this one because uh, as mentioned previously, this was a longtime resident of my list of shame.
SPEAKER_00So and and I have. Do you want me to throw it up?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, why not? Kaboom. Look at that! I was able to cross it off. I'm very pleased with myself.
SPEAKER_00So, I mean, I've seen M notorious uh that you have crossed off here. Is that uh also the Claude Rains Notorious? Uh right, yeah. Okay, so I've seen that one. I have not seen Modern Times or Metropolis.
SPEAKER_01Those are both good. Those are modern times, is probably my favorite chapter of the ones that I've seen. And he certainly did a bunch that you know I haven't caught up with, but I've seen like a lot of the main ones, like City Lights and Gold Rush and all that kind of things. But modern times is my favorite.
SPEAKER_00Okay, I'm gonna have to look into it, but yeah, we have a lot to talk about tonight. We also have a few people jumping on uh with a few comments. So let's take those comments, as always, guys. We'd love to know what are you enjoying tonight? What do you think about this movie? Also, something I would also say is I would encourage what you would in the future like us to analyze in terms of movies. I would love to talk about that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, suggestions are great. Bring it on.
SPEAKER_00Yes, please, please. But I forgot to say in the beginning uh that this is the podcast where we do smoke cigars unabashedly commentating in some cases giving extreme opinions on film and entertainment. I usually always say that at the beginning, so I completely forgot. Uh RJ is on tonight saying, Hello, Eric and Curtis. Looking forward to the show tonight. Tonight, I'm smoking a Crownheads, Tennessee Wolfs, pairing it with Crystal Light Ice Tea. Very nice. Yeah. Um, question for you, RJ, because you seem to pair quite a bit with crystal light ice tea. What has been one of your favorite cigars that has paired with that? I'm curious because I got to try it myself. But I got to see like what would you recommend with crystallite ice tea? Uh Jason saying hello, Eric and Curtis, enjoying the warm Southern California. Good evening. Um, yeah, we had like last couple days, it's starting to get rain season here in North Carolina. So we were having the kind of like moments of uh torrential downpour where like the rain is almost going like sideways. So fun. It's interesting, but it'll it'll go like that for literally like 15 minutes and then just go away and it's sunny again. So yeah, it's wild. It's wild.
SPEAKER_01I experienced that when I was in Florida. We stayed in um Fort Myers, where my grandparents lived when I was uh a teenager, and um you can almost set your watch to that like 3:30, 4ish p.m. 15-minute afternoon rain.
SPEAKER_00It happened every day. It's wild, it's wild. So um, okay, so let's jump into what we are smoking tonight. Uh, as you guys know, we're going through the latest variety pack, and we are gonna be smoking something really special. This is the new limited edition from Lure Cigars, known as the Wahoo Kingfish. Now, if this is confusing at all, there are two versions of the Wahoo. There is the one we're smoking tonight, which is a Parejo. It is round, that's the Kingfish. The Ono is the box press version. So the Kingfish is a bit uh larger of a cigar. It's a six and a half by 52 torpedo. It has a San Andreas wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler. Um, I think if I'm not mistaken, Critus, this might be the first time you've smoked this one.
SPEAKER_01No, I have had it before. Oh, okay. I believe I got it in one of your random samplers that I just got off the site. Nice month or two ago.
SPEAKER_00Okay, cool. Well, then awesome. We'll be able to do a live review of this. Um, on the show floor, I smoked the box press before I smoked this one. So I have smoked it, but I'm curious to jump into it. I'm looking forward to it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, now I I do know that the one I smoked was a wahoo. I do not remember if it was this or the box press, but okay, okay. I remember being kind of amused by this band.
SPEAKER_00Uh let's see here. RJ is an answer to the question. He says, I would love to say the naysayer is pretty good with iced tea. All right. Gotta give that a try. We also got uh Templar Knight on saying, hello, all.
SPEAKER_01Well, I see somebody a Warhammer fan.
SPEAKER_00There you go. Kaboom. All right. Well, let's uh let's get a cold draw going on the kingfish. I'm gonna go ahead and cut this off. Good open draw.
SPEAKER_01A little bit of oh this is this one's this one's raisin for me.
SPEAKER_00This is gonna sound crazy probably, but this tastes like the cherry flavor Tootsie Pop I had like when I was kids. Like there's that like weird zing of like cherry but density. That's like immediately what comes to mind. Wow. Okay, let's uh let's get it lit up and see how it starts. Every cigar leaves an impression.
SPEAKER_01However, it's not until you take a moment and analyze the full experience from construction to flavor to profile that you can truly appreciate it.
SPEAKER_00So enjoy your cigar as you light it up. Take the time to toast it, smell the room notes, and experience the first notes as they come alive.
SPEAKER_01In the same way, movies can tell deeper stories or show us things we haven't noticed on the surface. So journey with us as we take a more detailed appreciation for the craft of cigar and movie making.
SPEAKER_00All right. I'm getting a little bit of spice. Some of that cherry flavor kind of carried a little bit forward, which is weird. I don't know if I've ever had that in a cigar before. Right. Um I don't know. What are you getting so far?
SPEAKER_01The main thing I'm noticing is a sort of um bright, slightly bitter bready character. Maybe that's like a rye type of thing or something like that. Um that feels like that's the center of the flavor profile for me. Maybe also a little bit of um peanut character or something like that as well.
SPEAKER_00Okay. Yeah, there's a zing of spice. I think some of that bread, you know, almost like the seeds you would get like on the crust of like a bread or something like that. Yeah. Um a bit of a dryness, light sweetness on the back end, uh, maybe a hint of cocoa powder, but not so much right now. Like it's like faint, if anything. But um it's interesting because I feel like it's this is more of the refined version between this and the box press. The box press is gonna be the more aggressive one. Um, but I find it it's it's definitely got some good sweetness. I'm trying to pinpoint it's gone from like cherry to maybe cocoa powder to something else. So it's still okay.
SPEAKER_01I'm not detecting that, but we've talked about that before that me and sweet on cigars, we we don't get along very well.
SPEAKER_00So really interesting start. Um I mean, it doesn't taste or it doesn't feel like overpowering, crazy strong, but I would definitely say full in flavor, like it's definitely encompassing my entire palate. Right. What uh what are your thoughts on a uh torpedo? Are you a fan, non-fan? What do you think?
SPEAKER_01Uh I mean, I I don't know that I have strong feelings or thoughts on it one way or the other. Like, you know, at the end of the day, the most important thing to me is the quality of the flavor. And if you're gonna achieve that with a torpedo, cool. If it's gonna be a box press, cool. If it's gonna be a Lancero, cool. Like, you know, I'm I'm kind of open that way. I mean, you know, I I I do like you know, just seeing all the different varieties of Vitolas you can get, just um, for the aesthetics of them, and that's cool. But yeah, at the end of the day, I want it to taste good, and that's kind of the most important thing.
SPEAKER_00Okay, yeah. I mean, I would say with this being it it kind of feels a little bit larger than a 52 gauge to me, but that could just be in my mind. Um, but I do feel like if it was bigger, 56, 58, then that's what I'm like, yeah, this is better as a torpedo, it kind of tapers that down, channels it a bit. Um, but I'm like you, I'm a little indifferent. I do find it amusing in terms of it being sort of like a uh a swordfish with a torpedo in. I'm like, all right, I'm down for the idea. Sure, why not? Uh let's see here. RJ says, looking forward to try the lure, but I have no more room in my humidors. Well, you're just gonna have to smoke cigars, I guess. I mean, it's a tough line. Just mainlight them straight out of the bag when they're and then Michael's on saying enjoying an Agonorsa International Supreme Leaf. Excellent cigar with a black walnut old fashioned.
SPEAKER_01That's a solid drink, right there.
SPEAKER_00That sounds like a solid pairing. Yeah, nice. Okay, so we are current continuing in sort of our what what are we calling this series? Like Americana or like American history, like yeah, sure.
SPEAKER_01America stuff. I don't know.
SPEAKER_00America. And so uh this movie is not only rooted, I would say, uh, in American history, but it's also rooted in just Hollywood's like I would say this is in a pillar of Hollywood's history, yeah. And so tonight, uh, this was kind of um Curtis's suggestion because of it being on the wall of shame that he hadn't watched. That's right, man. So we are talking about Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. You want to talk about a star-studded cast, Jimmy Stewart, Claude Reigns, Gene Arthur. Um, and then it's got a whole slew, and this is where I'm like, I should probably uh know even a bit more, but um, it's got a whole slew, slew of like Frank Capra like team. Like I noticed that. Yeah, definitely, yeah. Um so I don't know if anyone's gonna recognize these names, but you have Edward Arnold, who plays Jim Taylor, he's in another movie called uh You Can't Take It With You that Frank Capra did. Thomas Mitchell, who was in It's a Wonderful Life. You have uh I believe her pronounced Boela Bondi, who is the mother of Jimmy Stewart, also in It's a Wonderful Life. Uh you have Eugene Palette, who is uh known for things like Friar Tuck. Like the list just continues on. Um, and you also have okay, have you ever heard Curtis of a guy named Charles Lane? Do you know who Charles Lane is?
SPEAKER_01That sounds vaguely familiar.
SPEAKER_00So he is the guy, he's also in It's a Wonderful Life. He was in this, he's the news reporter, kind of in the beginning with the glasses, kind of like older ish gentleman. Um he also is in here. I'll maybe gonna pull up.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, he's he's the um the uh uh uncle or whomever that loses the money in um It's a wonderful life. We're talking about the same guy.
SPEAKER_00Uh actually, so here I'll I'll pull up a picture of him. Uh because no, the uncle, yes, he's he's in it as well. Um, but Charles Lane is the guy that is like in so many different movies, and I'm trying to find a good picture of him. Um, he's like the first reporter that makes the phone call in the beginning, aware uh alerting everyone like the senator is dead. He's like in the oh okay, gotcha, gotcha, and I've almost got it here. So this guy is an is a Hollywood legend because he is in this movie. This guy got it, he is in over 383 movies. Wow, this dude is like the original character actor, like he it's one of those like throw a stone in any black and white movie, and he's around somewhere, like he's in so many. Um, but I figured it would be kind of cool uh if you would allow me to indulge. Uh that uh read off a list of other amazing movies that came out the same year Mr. Smith goes to Washington. All right. So this movie came out in 1939. This is known as the Golden Year of Hollywood. So many amazing, amazing movies came out, and I am gonna go and I'm just I want to name a few of these. Uh, you got Wizard of Oz, of course. You got Gone with the Wind, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, the 1939 version of Wuthering Heights, you have Stagecoach, uh, you have The Hunchback of Notre Dame, you have Dodge City with Errol Flynn, uh, you have Remember the Night, which is a really good Christmas movie. Uh, you have Goodbye, Mr. Chips, The Hound of Baskervilles, which was the first Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movie, Dark Victory, which is uh Betty Davis, which was a big one, Son of Frankenstein, which was the uh third installment of uh that series for uh Universal. You had It's a Wonderful World with Jim Stewart and Claudia Colbert, and let's see here. You also had Bogest come out at the same time, and that's just the name of you, yeah, like The Roaring Twenties, also with James Cagney. Like this year was stacked.
SPEAKER_01Honestly, just even having like you know, Mr. Smith, stagecoach, and gone with the wind, like automatically kind of like almost does that just with those three, and then yeah, you pile on the rest, it's a big year.
SPEAKER_00And isn't that isn't that wild? Like, it kind of sucks for anyone who made a movie that year because it's like okay, well, Gone with the Wind wins, best movie, of course, but it's like it's it's nothing to say bad about any of those other movies, it was just the impact of what was going on at the time, which was crazy.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, there ever every once in a while you'll get uh a year like that where just like you know, a bunch of crazy stuff all comes out in the same year. Uh, another big one is uh 1987 that gets you uh Lethal Weapon, Full Metal Jacket, The Princess Bride, Dirty Dancing, Predator, Lost Boys, Robocop, like oh yeah, 1987 was bananas.
SPEAKER_00Nice, nice. So I am curious though, because I had I think I first saw this movie when I was about 13, 12 or 13. Uh, this is the first time you've seen it. It's now crossed off the wall of shame. That's right. What are your like broad strokes first reaction to Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?
SPEAKER_01Uh, broad strokes are that I I liked it quite a bit. Um, you know, I we've talked about this in the past that uh I had struggled a little bit with being a Jimmy Stewart fan because much like uh John Wayne, there's this version of them that exists in pop culture that is like an exaggerated caricature of them because they have really distinct voices, both of them. Yeah. And it got it was hard to get out of my head when I was watching, you know, pr uh movies with either of these performers. That I was like, it's just I'm I'm seeing the parody, not the real performer. Yeah, and and I feel like I'm getting over that. Uh, at least for Jimmy Stewart, I am so um he's great in this. Um uh I'm not certain. I have to go back and look. This might be the youngest I've ever seen him in anything.
SPEAKER_00Okay. Uh okay.
SPEAKER_01But uh, you know, we'll talk more in detail about this, but I think that the movie's overall approach to its material is interesting because um it's trying to be uh uh you know honest about the very material fact that um American politics almost necessarily invites you know some kind of corruption or you know, whatever it is you want to label that as, you know, going going back almost to the beginning, right? And the way that that's contrasted against the very idealistic language in a lot of our founding documents, and that we're always struggling to be you know, to try to be that version, but because the the engines of the government are flawed human beings, we that we're we're probably never gonna get there, or at the very least, it's a very long, difficult uphill battle, right? To to live up to those ideals. And um so even though it's playing you know that on one hand, the way that the film ends um seems to be like uh Frank Capra and you know whoever else was involved creatively doing the wish fulfillment thing of like, you know, this is what it should be when you have a situation where this corruption has come to light. Um, because I don't think that the the very ending of the movie with Claude Rains is a realistic thing, you know, you I don't think you can expect any actual senator to ever do that, but um, it's kind of like the way that um Aaron Sorkin wrote uh that TV series The West Wing that was on in the 90s, that was like a way better, more competent, excellent presidency than has ever actually probably existed in real life. That's him saying, This is what I want us to be. Look at the if we actually live up to the ideas, look at what we could be. And I feel like maybe there's a little bit of that going on at the tail end of this movie, too. So I like that duality to it.
SPEAKER_00Okay, yeah, no, I would agree, and I think that what really helps too. And Frank Capra is known for kind of like having the the big ending with a lot of people and a crowd of people that kind of work as a community together, he's very big on that, and uh that continues in almost any movie he's done. Um, but I like the fact that the victory scene in this is not so much Jimmy Stewart raising up an army and being like, yes, yes, it's true. It's compelling conviction in someone who thought lost their conviction, right? And that I think is really, really cool. And I mean, just to say too, every time I watch a movie with Claude Raigs in it, he just he becomes a favorite all over again. He does such a good yeah, he does an amazing job. And um, another movie I didn't mention that came out in 39 was Adventures of Robin Hood with Arrowflame. Oh, of course, yeah, and Claude Raigns. And we had actually just seen that movie uh as a family about a month ago, and it's funny because now it's getting to the point where my kids are of the age, they're like, wait, that's the guy from It's Wonderful Life, or that's the guy, and I was like, That's Prince John from and they're like, What? So it's kind of cool to make those connections. I love that. Um, but yeah, I think that this you're right, there is a parody that belongs to Jimmy Stewart. Um, but this really gets to showcase why he is talented the way he is. Yeah, um, and this is also 1939 was kind of like his couple of breakout years, I would say, like from 38, 37. Um, again in 39 that he also did It's a Wonderful World. He also did a really impactful movie on his career called Destry Rides Again with Marilyn Dietrich. Um, but before that, he would he would play these like kind of rando roles. The the other one I would think of that he was probably a little bit younger. You said you watched the Thin Man movies, right?
SPEAKER_01I've seen the first one, I've probably seen caught like bits and pieces of others while my wife was watching them, you know, uh in the background. But uh I only properly watched the original one.
SPEAKER_00Okay, so he I don't want to give too much away, but he plays a pretty interesting role in the second one, and that movie came out right before, but it is very, very young. Um, and I was actually thinking about it, I was like, you know, with a movie like this, the casting with Frank Capra was pretty poignant because I think this was the first movie he had done with Capra.
SPEAKER_01Oh, yeah, you might be right.
SPEAKER_00So it was really interesting because you have that, you also have uh the kind of like classic um yin and yang in position of hero, whether whether it's him and Gene Arthur and her role. Right. Um, and I think it was actually a pretty good role to have her in, sort of like the herald, like the mentor that kind of like helps him. Um but overall I think their chemistry is great in this movie. I agree. Um I think too that the reason that people like this Frank Capra stands out as a director to me is that he really knows how to play the the line of sincerity without being hokey, and that can be very difficult because this movie deals with a lot of high ideals. It does. Now, whether or not it works the entire time through the movie, I don't know. I would love to hear your thoughts on that, like what how it's handled. Um in terms of history and this sort of like reverence that they hold to the figures of America.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, um. You know, uh I think that he's gotten sort of a reputation for uh Capra um for being you know like a really sentimental guy, uh probably largely because of um uh It's a Wonderful Life, and you know, maybe there's this impression that he's like a little bit too uh uh effervescent and superficial, but um like if you really look at It's a Wonderful Life, for example, that's practically a horror movie, the way that plays out when he goes to the um not just the way that his life breaks down to get him to the point that he's considering you know jumping off that bridge, but then the the way you see that the um uh town is depicted without his existence, like that movie gets really dark and it's not afraid to show really ugly things like you know, someone sliding into alcoholism and you know all this other stuff. So it's the same with this, I think, because um, you know, uh it's my understanding that even at the time the movie came out, uh, the reaction from American lawmakers was like, Hey, you're being really rough on us, that's not cool. And it's like, come on, we know the game, right? So uh um, you know, even though there is this uplifting ending with uh and this through line with uh uh uh Mr. Smith, you know, being this kind of like wide-eyed kid almost when he's in Washington and he goes to the Lincoln Memorial and you know gets his head full of all these you know uh ideals. Um the movie's not shy about kind of just being like, yeah, this is kind of a messed up situation, and everybody accepts that it's normal, and you know, that's that's that's the way it has to be in this man's world kind of thing. So I don't think that it's he's you know, like maybe as um sentimental and simplistic as sometimes his reputation might indicate.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, no, no, I see what you mean. Yeah, and I think too, there's a it's because of the level of honesty he's willing to go. Um, and as you say, even kind of brutally honest. And I enjoy the moments of kind of like um, I thought it was really interesting. So when he first visits the Lincoln Monument, um, I really enjoyed kind of like the kid reading it, and then it showed an array of different people kind of like looking up at it, like, well, this is a great uh part of our history, and then at the end, like towards the crisis when things kind of get shattered, and he realizes, oh man, this is as he even poignantly says, the shadow of Taylor and Payne and all of them and this machine, right? It's all filmed under the shadow of this column, and they're in the dark. And I thought that was really interesting and very poignant again because in the other scene at this monument, it's all glowing, it's lit up, the text is glowing, and to have that kind of like bearing down on him, and even as he leaves, the guard shadow is like throwing itself towards him. I was like, This is really good filmmaking, like this is thoughtful filmmaking. I appreciated it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, Kepper's good at that kind of thing, I agree. Yeah, um, and uh, you know, I mean, this isn't of course specific to this movie, but um uh I just I just love black and white film. I love it. You know, there's there's uh um a particular character to it that um I don't think that you know color necessarily improves everything just by default, right? Right, you know, obviously throughout you know a lot of this period of Hollywood, they were choosing black and white film partly because audiences were accustomed to it. Color film, of course, did exist, it was way more expensive. So a lot of movies were just like, hey, we're gonna do the budget conscious thing and whatnot. So um uh, you know, even though the option for color was there, um, there's something that feels, I don't know, more uh I guess like locked in time, uh about the uh a movie like this having been shot in black and white. And I just I dig it, it's super cool.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yes, I agree. Um, and actually something to jump on that as well, but really quick, uh, we got Temporal Knight saying classic movie, especially about uh spirit and and corruption, about spirit and very much so. Um, I think too, what you find in a lot of movies like this that are more, I guess, linear shot might be a phrase for it, but you rely so much on, especially with crowd scenes, choreography. Now, they use the camera very interesting uh and really awesome in like the house. Um, but a lot of the times, like when Jimmy Stewart runs into like the reporters at the station or in his office, so much of that is blocked out. Okay, this is where the camera's at. This is where, and I appreciate the work that goes behind something like that because we're not dealing with okay, cut to this close-up, cut to this close-up. A lot of it is just wide shot and let the actors go in that wide shot.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and there's well, one other thing that I noticed that I really liked is that there are several pivotal moments in the movie where um um Mr. Smith is portrayed you know, pretty small in the frame. The camera's really far away, oftentimes up high, like when they're at the um uh Lincoln Memorial and stuff like that, where it sets him as this little man that is yeah, you know, um amidst both a um corrupt machine that was way more massive than he thought could be possible, but also these ideals that are much larger than any one man who might step into a Senate seat or whatever. So another super cool use of you know, uh filmmaking techniques to reinforce the story. It's awesome.
SPEAKER_00Well, and I think too, I mean, maybe it's not the common thought, but I always get the feeling when we talk about black and white movies, or if I've talked to other people about it, like maybe there's an assumption that, well, that was back then, that's old film, so they didn't uh have like I don't know, the same I mean, granted, yes, same techniques, but it didn't mean they were dumb filmmakers, dude. And and so much about it. I remember I got into uh a debate one time with a uh extra actor. I was on it on a set as extra, and he was like, Yeah, well, I mean, back then, like people like Fred Astaire and so so they didn't really have like talent, they were just kind of giving their life. And I was like, the next time you can play piano, sing, act, and tap dance, let me know. But I think the same people have kind of thoughts about cinematography and directors and such like and it's so not the case, especially when you talk about people like Frank Frank Capra, Howard Hawks, Preston Sturgis, like these for Alfred Hitchcock, these were big names, and it's for reasons. Orson Wells, Orson Wells, yeah, exactly. Um, and I also feel there's the old timer like saying, the old timey saying of they just don't make movies like this anymore, right? I kind of feel like a movie like this. I'm like, I can kind of see that statement, like movies with this type of gall integrity, but also ambition. Um, and what the message they're trying to say, I'm like, they they do kind of feel a little few and far between sometimes, but I agree, yeah.
SPEAKER_01And well, and um there was, of course, an era of Hollywood where they were still figuring things out as we transitioned from the conventions of stage drama to film drama, and there are a lot of early movies where it's just you know, they've got the actors on a set and they're just pointing the camera at them flat, and there's they just you know cut from this to this, and it's you know, really basic. Now, a lot of those movies are still fantastic because they have good writing and good performances and the story's worthwhile and all that kind of stuff, but there wasn't nobody you know trying to investigate hey, you know, now that we we we can take this camera, it's it's the window between the audience and the drama, and we can put it anywhere, we can do different stuff with it, it can move, it can yeah, you know, and they you know, you see uh artists working that stuff out, and Frank Capro is a early-ish guy who you know figured out how to do that kind of thing. You know, what how can I reinforce what the story is saying with how we frame things?
SPEAKER_00And yes, yeah, it's good. And I think and I think this is probably a minor thing, but I think one of those moments in terms of just a static like setup is a lot of the moments in the house when James uh Stewart is kind of like telling about what pain used to mean to him and what his father and all that, and a lot of the shots that we cut to on pain is not always directly on his face, it's almost this over-the-shoulder, and you see him kind of brooding, like from Jane from Stewart's like point of view. And how much more real does that feel when you've had conversations like that? Stuff like that, it's amazing. Yeah, it's good. Um, but very quickly, we need to we need to take a quick break, talk a little bit about the kingfish. Um, to me, sweetness is completely taking the helm on this right now. It is to me a very dessert-like consistency that I'm getting.
SPEAKER_01Okay, uh see, I'm I'm I'm I'm really not picking that up at all.
SPEAKER_00Okay. What uh what are you getting like up at the forefront?
SPEAKER_01I think that's that that bready character that I mentioned at the start is still kind of like the main note that is carrying this thing along. Uh likewise, that like you know, slight um uh peanut or similar character is still there. So far, I don't know that this is one that is presenting a lot of dynamic change to me from from where we started. Um it's good. I'm I'm I'm enjoying it, but um here, let me yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00I for me, I mean that there's a little bit of like I don't know, maybe baking spice happening on the retro, but it's very cakey almost like a brownie cakey consistency.
SPEAKER_01I think I'm also getting a just a little tiny bit of that citrus pith type note that we've talked about before on some others.
SPEAKER_00Nice, yeah. I um I think it's interesting because I don't know, like from the first third, it was a bit more aggressive, a little bit more peppery, but then for some reason, just like it keeps drawing me back to some kind of dessert-like quality to it. But really good burn on it so far. I'm enjoying where it's going. I think it's it's satisfied the itch in terms of having a little bit more of a stronger start, kind of more relaxing, and then like a denser, fuller style.
SPEAKER_01I will say that I do think that the the overall uh character of this flavor profile is um one that is not clashing at all with the drink that I have tonight, which is a gin and tonic. And I always put a little bit of lime juice in my gin and tonic. And sometimes, you know, lime can like you know, butt heads with like chocolate and coffee flavors and stuff like that. So because I'm not picking up anything like that on the cigar, this is a nice pairing, you know. It's not like a magical transformation thing or whatever, but gin and tonic can be a tricky one to pair with cigars sometimes, and this is working working for me.
SPEAKER_00So nice, nice, awesome. Uh, let's hear a few comments here. Double five is saying, Hey guys, enjoying the discussion. A laranja from OGT and a maker's mark. Nice. There you go. Awesome. Uh Jason's saying, have a humidor question. One dial is reading 72 and the other is reading 68. Is that normal? I would say probably a calibration if they're digital. Uh, if they're both digital hygrometers, you probably have to recalibrate it. I know that you kind of have to do that every so once in a while. If one is analog and one is digital, I would say trust the digital over the analog. Um, okay, and then uh Tim Tim Pearl Knight saying, uh, ending is spectacular, the ideal. Um, I really like the way this movie is paced, it has a really good payoff and a really good reward for what you're going through. And for a movie that's essentially about a bunch of guys arguing in a room, yeah, uh, it keeps the attention. Uh uh, what are your thoughts on pacing?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, um, there's um because the way they they structure things uh with the time spent in the uh Senate and not in the Senate, you get a nice flow in and out so that you don't feel like you're stuck in one of those places too long. And um even when you're in the Senate chamber, um there's Kepros again good about you know putting the camera around in different places that suit whatever the particular drama is that's happening at the moment. Like you said, sometimes we're seeing uh um Claude Rains from over his shoulder, or sometimes it's you know a really high shot, you can see almost the whole room, you know, and it's always appropriate for you know what kind of action is happening in a story at that time. So um I don't I think I have like no notes, right? When it comes to that kind of thing in this, it's really good.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, no, I I I agree. And I think that while we're dealing with those backdrops and those those changes, as you had said, um, it also like spends a really good amount of time in developing who you're around instead of just having different faces, like even the um the main like uh president of the Senate, like even his like his like smirking and his every time they cut to that dude, I was like, heck yeah.
SPEAKER_01Just seeing his like you know, uh kind of like he he he understood what was going on maybe more than anybody else in the room, kind of thing, and he was always just you can see he was figuring it out. Um that he the that guy's like the the the low-key stealer of the movie for me. If you know what I mean, like he doesn't actually steal the movie, but I was just like that dude's awesome.
SPEAKER_00No, I know I know what you mean. And honestly, I will say this is also a signature Capra move to have someone that's like presiding over something to have this sort of like whimsical enjoyment. Uh, the same thing has happened. He did a movie called uh You Can't Take It With You, and it's got uh Lionel Barrymore, uh also Gene Arthur and James uh Stewart, and the judge at the very end they have to go before a hearing and has the very same similar type of demeanor. So you could tell this was something that he liked to go to. Um, but it's a formula I think that works. I agree. Yeah, yeah. It was pretty cool.
SPEAKER_01Um real quick, just this is completely unrelated to anything else, but one thing that I noticed kind of early on in the movie, I think it's when um uh um Smith has been uh chosen as the replacement senator, and they're doing this little celebration thing for him, and my cat is trying to be on the podcast again. Bye-bye. Um and uh uh they're got Jimmy Stewart and old Lang Zion in a Frank Kapper movie.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_01I was like, is that is that like his go-to move now?
SPEAKER_00Apparently is is one of his favorite songs. I don't know.
SPEAKER_01Anyway, I just I just thought it was funny. I did not expect that at all.
SPEAKER_00Um okay, so we're talking a little bit in terms of characters. Uh, what is your thoughts on Gene Arthur's character?
SPEAKER_01She's cool. First of all, another great performance in this movie. Um, you know, the the change in tone that she has to play, where she's you know, kind of, you know, definitely more streetwise than uh Mr. Smith, although I guess everybody in this movie is. Um, but you know, she's she's a bit of a cynic, uh, but she's not dumb either. And so um and she's not completely heartless. So I I think that her transition on her attitude towards Smith is um not only portrayed pretty believably, but um maybe one of the most emotionally satisfying things in the movie to see her get won over the way that she does. Um, so I yeah, I really like that component of this movie for sure.
SPEAKER_00Well, and I think what I found interesting too, a dynamic that was common in a lot of romantic comedies in the 30s and 40s was you kind of have this more naive male figure that's basically the hero, but he he's not street smart at all. Right. So that's where this kind of starts out. Um, but you don't end the movie like a lot of these other movies do, where it's kind of like he's just a dumb cluck that doesn't really learn anything through it except that they fall in love, right? And she the heroine falls in love for the stumbling, bubbling professor type persona, right? But I think it works in a way of showing like she mentors him through the entire process. This is what you should do next. But at the same time, he then learns okay, this is what I've got to do. And I think it balances that character dynamic really, really well.
SPEAKER_01I I agree, and um, it's super cool. You know, obviously, there's lots of art from from throughout the 20th century that is not specifically like, you know, um, you know, men are awesome and women suck, you know. Obviously, obviously that's not true. Nevertheless, it's still very nice to see in the late 1930s a story like this where you know, not only is she there because she's you know gonna be the love interest in a in a fashion, but she's integral to his success. Yes, does not succeed at that filibuster if she's not in the room, right?
SPEAKER_00At all, so and that and that happens, and I I completely agree, and that happens on multiple levels. One, I really like the moment when he's like, wait, wait, wait, if we adjourn, what happens? She starts hand signaling, look up this and this and this, or ask him those moments, and then also when in the kind of like dire elements it through the filibuster, and he's starting to get weary and such, then she sends him the note PS, I love you, and he's he completely gets reinvigorated into fighting longer. Really, really cool stuff going on.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I agree.
SPEAKER_00It's great. And another added aspect I like about their relationship is uh the first name, Saunders and Clarissa.
SPEAKER_01Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_00And when that crosses over into him calling her, I just it's stuff like that. It's just it's the added why the story is much deeper than what people might think it is.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's definitely, you know, I mean, I remember having an impression that what what I thought this movie was, um, and you know, in between, you know, just learning that the movie existed and then you know, kind of gleaning a little bit more of what it was actually about through, you know, just culture osmosis. Um uh, you know, it I I knew it was gonna be a movie about this struggle with uh American idealism, but um one of the things that was kind of fascinating, and you know, to the degree that I understand the way that our government actually functions in a procedural level, this seems pretty realistic with you know how it portrays just you know like the rules of who you know who gets to speak and when, and you know, all that kind of stuff. Like, this is not only a movie about the contrast between ideals and corruption, but also just a nuts and bolts procedural of how our Senate functions, and I think that's pretty cool too.
SPEAKER_00I know I agree. One of the more rewarding moments watching this movie because I I it was like early evening, and I told all three of my kids, All right, we're gonna watch a movie, we're gonna sit down and watch this because I have to watch this for the podcast, but I want you guys to watch it too. So we're watching it, and like they get to the part where they go into the Senate and such like that, and Clark is like, This is what we just learned about in school. And it was like cool of him to have that click, like, no, this is a thing that actually keeps going on. So that was really cool.
SPEAKER_01I mean, follow me here if this analogy makes sense, but in a way, it's almost like a sports movie where it's like, you know, yeah, you've got to you've got to understand the rules and know what you can and can't do, what the right play is, the strategic move to make at this moment, you know, like that's like exactly what sports movies are styled like. So um, yes, even though it is a movie about people in rooms talking, there's that there's dynamic action happening all the time because choices have to be made, and you gotta make the right one so that you can get to make the next choice. So I like that about it.
SPEAKER_00Really good, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, there um I also find it interesting too. This movie came out in 1939. So two years later, 1941, Jim Jimmy Stewart actually enlisted the Air Force and was just done making movies for four years. Yeah, it's crazy to think, especially like I said, the uh this was kind of his like breakout year, so then he's reaching the top, and then to go off and do that is is wild to me. I agree, which is super cool, and then his first movie back, he reunites with Capra and makes it a wonderful life, right? Which is really, really cool. Um, it's just yeah, I I probably gonna sound like a broken record. There's not many things I would find that I dislike about this movie. I think it's just it hits on all four cylinders.
SPEAKER_01There was one thing that I felt a little uncertain about, but it absolutely doesn't break the movie. I don't really care if it's accurate or not, but I did kind of have the question of there's that whole bit during um Smith's filibuster where um they are trying to you know mobilize this sort of propaganda machine against him to you know print all this stuff, get it in the hands of the Montana, you know, uh electorate to sway their opinion against or for uh uh Jeffrey Smith. And I was like, that seems like really fast. I mean, I know the filibuster is 24 hours, but they're turning out like you know, you know, completely you know, written articles. You got to do the typesetting, you've got to print them, you gotta do the and that's meant to uh you know completely change Montana voters' minds in the span of a day or less. I was like, this is a little bit of a stretch of credulity, but I'll roll with it.
SPEAKER_00It's kind of got uh a uh a uh exploding shark shark tank that deal with Jaws. Like you're you've gone this far, so might as well just be on for the ride. Precisely.
SPEAKER_01That's a very that's a very good analogy, actually.
SPEAKER_00I definitely agree with. That for sure. Um, but yeah, no, I think that mostly in terms of the way it uh the movie is structured, I think the payoff is really awesome too at the end, and it um again, I think that the focus being more on the turnaround and conviction of Claude Rains' character really works for me, in spite of like the tragedy that's like strikes right before then.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and well, and there's the the you know, the the movie kept me guessing with him because I did have a suspicion that he was gonna do something like that. Uh, but there were uh several times in the movie where I thought, okay, this is the moment where he's gonna come clean and apologize or do the right thing or whatever, because you could see it was bothering him. Um, and then it was like, nope, no, he's doubling down and being even more of a bastard than he was the last time he was on screen. And like that, I like that aspect of it too, because I because I was like, I'm rooting for this guy to do the right thing, but also F you because why would you do this to the guy?
SPEAKER_00You're right. Well, and I think a good way that this movie sets up their relationship is something that I can't see I see very commonly, I can't say I see very commonly in modern movies, and that's the setup conversation they have on the train. So they understand, like, oh yeah, I knew your dad and stuff. So then they have the conversation on the train about the paper and reminiscing about the dad. The dialogue isn't maybe the most subtle, but the performances really sell it. Yeah, like Claude Rains's delivery is incredible, and it's not just, yeah, your dad was this, your dad, uh yes, he was this, and he always said this, and blah blah. Like their chemistry back and forth sets it up to let you know where the gravity is, but it's done sincerely that works.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, he's not just saying the words, the way he says them tells you how he feels about what he's saying. So exactly, it's great, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, well, there you go. I mean, I've spoken mostly about what I think I want to talk about with this movie. It's it's yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Uh, I I'm I'm like I said, I'm super glad to have finally uh checked it off the list, but even more glad that I thought, like, you know, this is this is a pretty fantastic movie. So so I am curious when it went when in both categories. Nice.
SPEAKER_00Uh, what Frank Kapper films have you seen? I mean, obviously, this it's a wonderful life. Is there any others you've seen?
SPEAKER_01Uh, there might be others. Uh, I don't know that I remember any by name, but honestly, I think this might be it. I think it might just be two.
SPEAKER_00So the other one, I mean Mr. Deeds Goes to Town is also very good.
SPEAKER_01Okay, I am familiar with that, but I haven't seen it.
SPEAKER_00Okay. The I I don't dislike Gary Cooper, but he's not my favorite actor. Sure. Um, but I would say the one I feel like that doesn't get enough praise, perhaps the most underrated movie, is the one that I had mentioned, You Can't Take It With You. It is it's got major, like It's a Wonderful Life vibes to it. Um, but it's more Frank Capra leaning into his comedy side, I feel like, than anything. It's got some really good sincerity to it, but it's um if you want to see Mr. Potter not be a jerk, it's the opposite. Lion Lionel Barrymore plays a very different role, but it's it's definitely a movie I would recommend checking out.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_00And then the uh he's done that, of course, and it uh it happened one night, which is also a very popular famous.
SPEAKER_01I have seen that one. Okay, I have I forgot about it, but yes, I have seen that as well.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so there you go. Um, I suppose we should talk a little bit about the cigar. I'm coming down to the final third for mine. Where are you?
SPEAKER_01Again, I don't know that I'm detecting a whole lot of change. I mean, maybe just there on that that that puff that I just took, I was like, is that black peppercorn all of a sudden showing up? I'm not entirely sure.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I wouldn't say this is an incredibly like transitional, complex cigar, but I'm really liking the flavor coming off. Like it's that bready component you were talking about is kind of coming forward a bit more. Um, still a little bit of sweetness on the back end. Uh and maybe a hint of like like maybe the bready component is like a crust, like a bread crust.
SPEAKER_01There's something else that's coming in there on the retro hill that's a little subtle that I don't know that I can quite put my finger on it. Maybe it's like a um like a green bell pepper kind of flavor or something like that.
SPEAKER_00Okay. When you when you are tasting a cigar and you're going through it, are you getting most of the flavor on the palate on the retro? Would you say it's both?
SPEAKER_01It's both, they're just different from each other, yeah. Uh, and you know, it depends on the cigar. Sometimes the retro will just be like an enhancement of what you're already tasting on you know the regular puffs, and sometimes people are like, hey, here's something new. Um, so uh yeah, it just varies, I think.
SPEAKER_00Okay, that may be what I was saying in the beginning that was peppery on the final third here. More on the retro is getting more like a smoked wood, like a smoky mesquite wood. I can see that. Yeah, I can see that for sure. Some kind of woodsy element. Um, but okay, so let's go ahead and uh let's go ahead and put down some rankings for the Wahoo Kingfish. All right. I got a 7.5, and you got a seven. All right. Pretty close, pretty close there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean, for me, this is one that is extremely enjoyable. I would actually absolutely smoke it again. I think I'm missing a little bit of the complexity because my palate doesn't pick up on the sweet stuff you were talking about, especially at the start. So, you know, maybe you know, I'm missing out on a little bit where the cigar has to offer. Um, but there's nothing wrong with it. It's enjoyable. And like I said, it's a great stick to pair with drinks like this.
SPEAKER_00So yes, which, yeah, finding a cigar that uh doesn't completely suck with gin is a tough thing to follow. Um, yeah, no, I really like it. I think it's it's a really good example of lure cigars in terms of it's a bit different from the rest of their portfolio, but I really like the Maduros that they put out, and this one's pretty exceptional. Um, okay, and then uh for Mr. Smith goes to Washington out of 10. What are you giving this movie? It's a nine, baby. All right, I gave it an 8.5. I was I was right up there with you. I was like, I can't go as low as an eight. Am I ready to cross the threat threshold of nine? Um, but it deserves to be up there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I thought about 8.5, but I was like, I'm just pulling my punches because, like, you know, um not only as a movie that just successfully does movie stuff, right? Like good performances, shot nicely, interesting way the cameras used, pretty uh nicely written script, all that kind of stuff. Um, as a movie that is in conversation with America about itself and problems that we are still dealing with today, um, I feel like it's important for artists to be able to shine a spotlight on that kind of stuff and remind all of us that this is important stuff that we need to think about and care about. And for you know, all those reasons combined, I was like, this is this is a pretty special movie, and nine feels right.
SPEAKER_00I I mean I would agree with you, and it's um it's it's cool too to be sitting here in 2026 and to be singing its praise even from nearly a century later. Getting close, yeah. It's crazy. Um, but yeah, it's expertly done, and also uh Frank Capra got me again. I mean, it's like he can pull off a movie to where I'm like completely invested in, I'm laughing at one moment, even getting teary-eyed at other moments. Like he's able to go all those navigate all those things, and he does an amazing job.
SPEAKER_01One extra uh thing I I want to say, just uh in terms of we were talking about um how effective um uh the Saunders character is integrated into this story. Um it's not across the board, but there is a uh side of sort of trope in um not only movies from this era, but maybe even like the proceeding, like when you're getting into the silent films and stuff, where there's a real just kind of like matter-of-fact superficiality between the the love story that develops, and you know, obviously, these characters don't spend time specifically engaging in like you know, going on dates and all that kind of stuff. It's not that kind of thing, but the way that um uh uh we see her you know let the guard down and be very effusive about her concern and care for uh Smith, particularly as the um uh filibuster goes on, the way she plays that feels so sincere. It's just great, yes.
SPEAKER_00And even like, and I think too, a poignant moment is when she even kind of just gets so upset about it and she overdrinks, and some of the honesty that spills out of her during that time. Absolutely. This is also another character who's flawed, and also at one point, as she even mentioned, she was at some degree as naive as he was when she first came, and she was on the precipice of doing the same compromises until she's like, His standard is pulling me to a better standard, basically, right? Right, which is pretty good, yeah. Good stuff. Um, so we are continuing, especially with the 4th of July, the 250th birthday of this nation. We're gonna be watching a movie very integral to that next week. I don't know if you want to do the honors or not.
SPEAKER_01It is going to be the Patriot from the 2000 when that came out, I think or thereabouts.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that sounds about right. That sounds about right, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, the whole shebang. We're we're checking out the Patriot next week.
SPEAKER_00We are when when was the last time you watched this movie?
SPEAKER_01Uh it's been well over a decade, probably longer. Nice, yeah. It might even be 15 to 20 years since I've seen it. It's been a while.
SPEAKER_00I'm already gonna say one positive thing about it, and that is the soundtrack. The soundtrack is fantastic.
SPEAKER_01No, I mean, yeah, John Williams, come on.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yes. Uh, let's see here. Double of five saying, looking forward to trying the cigar from Sampler, watching the famous movie. Thanks, guys. Um, awesome. Well, thank you so much. Thanks for watching with us. Uh Jason's saying, have a great night. Great seeing you guys, you as well. And uh, we'll be back next week for the Patriot. So sweet. Everyone, have a great night. Thanks for joining us for Mr. Smith Goes of Washington.
