Intro.
It's finally here - my 100th film review. I've thought a lot about which film I'd write about and finally chose something that is in keeping with the season and happens to be one of my all time favorite movies. It took me awhile before I first saw It's a Wonderful Life. During my high school English class, I found out that I was the only student not to have seen this seemingly essential holiday classic. As a fan of old movies, I felt quite ashamed. Looking back on it now, however, I think seeing it for the first time just prior to that transition from high school to college really had an influence on what I thought of it. It also made the movie one of my all time favorites.
Overview
It's a Wonderful Life opens with the voices of unseen people in a little town called Bedford Falls all praying for help for a man named George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart). It's Christmas Eve and George is in trouble. Up in the starry sky, St. Peter assigns angel second class Clarence (Henry Travers) to the case. First Clarence gets to see George grow up, from the time he saves his little brother from drowning up through his other good deeds and his courtship with Mary Hatch (Donna Reed). Time and again George gives up his dreams in order to help others. First he puts off going to college in order to save his family's building and loan business after his father's death. Then when his brother Harry returns from college to take over the business, George says he doesn't have to since Harry has a great job offer from his father-in-law. Miserable at being stuck in his family business in the small town, the only thing George can really take comfort in is Mary. They marry but before they can get away on their honeymoon, there's a run on the banks and on the Bailey Brothers Building and Loan. George and Mary give away their honeymoon cash in order to keep the place from closing. As time passes, the couple has four children and fixes up a beautiful house on Sycamore Street. All the while George struggles to keep the business going and out from under the thumb of local tyrant Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore), a bitter old man bent on owning the whole town. Well, that Christmas Eve, George's Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell) goes to the bank to deposit some $8,000 for the Building & Loan. He accidentally drops the envelope into Mr. Potter's newspaper and all heck breaks loose when he realizes that he's lost it and can't remember where it went. Mr. Potter, being the perfect movie villain that he is, won't say a word about it. George tries to find the money too, but after all his efforts, he faces financial ruin, scandal and a possible jail term. It seems like his whole life has been a failure and the only good he can do is die and leave Mary his life insurance money. So George finds his way to the bridge over the river and tries to kill himself, only to find Clarence. He tells Clarence that everything would be better off if he'd never been born. Clarence in turn accompanies George back to town, where George slowly realizes his wish has been granted - George Bailey never existed. In his absence, Bedford Falls has turned into the corrupt town of Pottersville, filled with bitter, lonely and angry people. George goes through the town realizing that his life has in fact made a difference, a much bigger difference than he had thought. Each person's life touches so many others, Clarence explains, that his absence creates quite a void. Overcome by what he sees, George discovers that all he needs are the people that he loves and prays to return to his life. George gets his wish and returns home ecstatic to be alive, even cheerfully greeting the attorney at his house who comes bearing a warrant. Then a real Christmas miracle happens - Mary comes home with a giant collection basket. Following her are dozens upon dozens of George's friends, family, and neighbors, each giving what they can to save George. The overwhelming support saves them all in the end, and Clarence at last earns his wings.
Highlights
It's a Wonderful Life has some truly unforgettable characters. Even if you've never seen the film, you probably know something of the story and the people in it, as it's become such a staple in American culture. I knew about George Bailey and Clarence long before I had seen the film. In addition to them there's also the incredible Donna Reed (who makes motherhood look way too easy!), the great Thomas Mitchell, and of course the legendary Lionel Barrymore. In addition to these great characters, there's also Bert the cop (played by one of my favorite supporting actors, Ward Bond) and Ernie the cab driver (played by Frank Faylen), who would inspire the naming of another unforgettable pair - Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street. The acting and the relationships between characters is very good and contributes to the feeling that the film is timeless. There are some outstanding lines from this film as well, ones I'm sure we all know by heart. For example, the line "every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings" is from Clarence. This time as I watched, I was struck by Ma Bailey's line about Mary: "she's the kind of girl who will help you find the answers, George." Truer words were never spoken, for it is Mary that George sees last in his dream with Clarence and it is Mary who goes around asking for and receiving help that snowy Christmas Eve. Mary (and through her, their children) is George's lasting dream: the one that means the most to him and the one that has come true. I also got to thinking that few actors probably could have pulled off the role of George Bailey. Jimmy Stewart is often called the "everyman" hero of Hollywood, and nothing emphasizes that title better than this film. I think one of the reasons it remains such a classic is that we can all relate to George Bailey. His sacrifices are more than admirable, but we can still see his frustration and disappointment throughout his life. I'm sure we can all relate to some turning points in our own lives. Over on his blog, Better Living through Beowulf, my former film professor Robin wrote about It's a Wonderful Life and some of the turning points in his grandfather's life. He also talks about how dark this movie is, both in filming techniques and in tone. After you've seen it, it's hard to remember how bleak the film is because the ending far outweighs the sadness. When I first saw the film, I felt this crushing blow when I saw George Bailey seriously contemplating suicide. Here is America's everyman hero, a far greater man than anyone we know, hopelessly pushed to the brink of despair. George's decision to live again is one of the most moving scenes in all the films I've ever seen. It was so moving that when Capra was filming the first shot of that scene, Jimmy Stewart began sobbing for real. Instead of forcing Stewart to do a second take to get the close-ups, Capra used enlargements of the original shot. It gives the film genuine emotion and makes the story hit closer to home.
I've read a lot about the morality of this film too. George Bailey is a hero in every sense, always giving of himself and making sacrifices for the sake of his family and the town. Then this horrible event happens to him and there's no way out (or so he thinks). I always thought it a bit upsetting that Mr. Potter gets away without punishment. One review I read suggested that, as the film was made after WWII and both Capra and Stewart had seen much of the war, they both knew that life wasn't always so clearly black and white (pardon the pun!). Looking at it now though, I think Potter does receive punishment. He's played out his final hand by keeping the misplaced money only to see George Bailey again rise up victorious. You can't keep a good man, down, Mr. Potter, especially a man like George Bailey. Potter's envious of the kind of riches that George has, the treasure of family and friends. In the end, Potter is left alone while George is surrounded by people. It's appropriate that the film takes place at Christmas too, for it is a time when families and loved ones are supposed to come together and bring light to the darkest and coldest nights of the year.
Returning to memorable lines from the film, I'm going to end with my favorite, a line that is in a note from Clarence to George: "Remember, no man is a failure who has friends." I can't tell you how many times that line has comforted me over the years. I've had those dark moments where everything looked hopeless, but I've been lucky enough to have some very steadfast friends to bring some light back into my life. I think we all have those times where we look at all the choices we've made and wondered if the path we've chosen was the right one. I know I'm not alone in having foregone some dreams for one reason or another, and like George we may all feel frustrated and disappointed at times, maybe even hopeless. But George finally realizes that life isn't about material things or dreams left unfulfilled; it's about the dreams that do become reality and the enduring strength of love and friendship. His epiphany gives all of us hope.
Review and Recommendation
I could write a lot more about the details of this film and why it all works together so well to make something so timeless, but I'm getting more emotional and a bit corny as I write, so I think it's best I wrap it up. If you have yet to watch It's a Wonderful Life, I can't recommend it enough. There are some films for which a short review just can't do justice, and this is one of them. To all of my friends and readers out there, thank you for your comments and your support this year as I worked to chronicle my classic movie obsession. Here's to 2011 and another year of movie memories!
