Portrayal Of American Politicians In Bob Roberts, Meet John Doe,

In America’s history, politicians have been frequently deemed dishonest and without morals. The film industry has portrayed their own feelings, as well as those of the public, by making movies that chronicle the corrupt political system of this nation. Three political satire movies include Bob Roberts, Meet John Doe, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. The main character of Bob Roberts can be perceived as the villain that drives the political machines. However, the main characters of Meet John Doe and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington act as heroes in a corrupt political system.

The first movie film, Bob Roberts, produced in 1992, portrays the documentary of Bob Robert’s 1990 senate campaign. Roberts, played by Robbins, is a tall, open-faced man with a contagious smile that can turn, in an instant, into a mask of anger. Roberts has two identities. His external persona is a carefree politician who works for the people and claims to be their friend. His internal persona is a temperamental showman who uses money and influence to buy the public’s votes.

The motive for Roberts’ political campaign is pure emotion. He has no

Bob Roberts is the type of politician with which the 60-80’s generations are familiar. He is slick as a snake and has the money to back up his shortcomings. He attempts to show us that money and a political machine can get us anywhere. Even though he underwent scandal, he was still able to get the votes by manipulation of the public’s perception of the truth. This was not the case in the other films. They show that the political machine does not win out in the end. They portray the bravery of individuals as the cornerstone of our political system.

Meet John Doe, premiering in 1940, ended a decade that had been dominated by despair, disillusionment, dislocation and desperation. It was a time characterized by a reliance on often-inept government officials or duplicitous would-be leaders. This film employs its main character as an innocent man forced into a life of dishonesty. A journalist portrayed by Barbara Stanwyck on the verge of getting fired decides to write an anonymous letter about a John Doe who’s fed up with world and wants to kill himself by jumping off the roof of the capitol building. To make the story a series, the newspaper finds a wandering hobo named John Willoughby portrayed by Gary Cooper and creates “John Doe”. “John Doe” becomes a public figure, preaching goodwill and neighborliness over the radio as the cure for all the world's ills. Backed by the tremendous publicity “John Doe” becomes a national figure. “John Doe” clubs spring up everywhere.

Jefferson Smith as a hero comes at a vital time in America’s history, the 1940’s, when mistrust of the government was high and fascism was leaking into American mentality. The film shows several “fascists” sitting in the senatorial viewing area watching the attempted breakdown of American democracy. However, the dedication, integrity, and honest morality of Jefferson Smith demonstrate that American heroes prevail.

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