| Overall: | B+ |
|---|---|
| Violence: | B |
| Sexual Content: | A- |
| Language: | A- |
| Drugs/Alcohol: | C |
| Run Time: | 129 |
| Theater Release: | |
| Video Release: | 08 Dec 2008 |
| MPAA Rating: | |
| See Canadian Ratings | |
| How We Determine Our Grades | |
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.
Do you think political corruption is better or worse in light of our more modern media and communications efforts?
In this movie, media (Jim Taylor owned a chain of newspapers) is seen as having a great deal of influence on the political process and popular opinion. Are you surprised that the media would be depicted that way in 1939? Does the media have that kind of power today?
What kinds of traits do the political leaders of today posses? What kinds of traits should they have? Are morals and ethic valued today?
Would you want Mr. Smith to represent your state? Why?
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About the Reviewer: Rod Gustafson
Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. He currently serves as the President of the Alberta Association for Media Awareness, a provincial non-profit society. He also authors a regular column for The Parent's Television Council in Los Angeles. He and his wife Donna have four children.
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