Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941)

After watching a movie with your children or students, we encourage parents and teachers to look for education opportunities to teach with movies. Here are a few discussion topics that can help with lesson plans or teaching in the home.

In the movie, David is portrayed as a man’s man, with an aggressive, jealous temper. Jeff, his business partner and soon archrival, is depicted as a gentleman with a “turn the other cheek” philosophy. Why does Ann waffle between finding these character traits attractive and repulsive? Which of these two personalities would you prefer to marry?

Much of the humor of this film is based on the societal norms of the 1940’s. Over the last 60 years, how have attitudes changed about marriage, promiscuity, gender roles, spouse abuse, and the use of alcohol and tobacco?