Premiered December 20, 1946.
This is another case where due to a film's popularity, we'll depart a bit from our usual format.
If you're reading this blog, chances are you're familiar with the plot of It's A Wonderful Life:
George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), through circumstances beyond his control, never gets to leave the his hometown of Bedford Falls and pursue his dreams. He later falls in love with and marries Mary (Donna Reed). George and Mary have four children and settle in Bedford Falls. George becomes a pillar of the community.
When a large sum of money is lost, which may cost him his business and might lead to his arrest, George considers suicide. His suicide attempt is interrupted by Clarence (Henry Travers), his guardian angel, who shows George what the world would've been like if he'd never been born.
Since we're focusing on Oscars this month, It's A Wonderful Life features multiple members of the cast and crew that received awards from the Academy.
This film was nominated for six Academy Awards and won the Technical Achievement Oscar for its technique of making fake snow.
This film's director Frank Capra won three Best Director Oscars for directing It Happened One Night, Mr. Deeds Goes To Town, and You Can't Take It With You.
Capra also produced and directed Prelude To War, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary.
Jimmy Stewart won Best Actor in 1940 for The Philadelphia Story.
Donna Reed won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for From Here To Eternity.
Lionel Barrymore, who plays the evil Mr. Potter, won the Best Actor Oscar for A Free Soul.
Thomas Mitchell, who plays George's eccentric uncle Billy won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Stagecoach.
Last but not least, Gloria Grahame, who plays Bedford Falls' resident "bad girl" Violet Bick, won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for The Bad And The Beautiful. Grahame is best remembered today for her roles in film noir movies.
J.A. Morris says:
I'll start by saying this is a great film. I'm old enough to remember when it fell into the public domain and was on TV constantly on multiple channels every December. So I have lots of sentimental attachment to It's A Wonderful Life. However, I don't think it's perfect.
Like others, I find the depiction of librarians to be ridiculous. When George sees what Bedford Falls would've been like if he'd never been born, he freaks out when Clarence tells him "She became an old maid. She never married...she's just about to close up the library!" My co-blogger and I have both worked in libraries for many years. The idea that Mary becoming a librarian is the worst thing that could've happened is insulting to librarians and women in general. It's also worth noting that, even in "librarian drag," Donna Reed is still a very attractive woman and even in 1946, this depiction of librarians was probably an outdated stereotype.
Does George's contemplation of suicide and subsequent descent into darkness when he sees what the world would be like without him make it a somewhat depressing film? Yes, but the holiday season can be a depressing for many people, so it makes sense that It's A Wonderful Life has been a Christmas classic for decades.
The lesson of the finale, that George is "the richest man in town" since he has so many friends is a great message for a Christmas movie or a movie set during anytime of the year.
The acting is great all-around, especially Barrymore's portrayal of Mr. Potter. Barrymore created one of the greatest villains in movie history. It's interesting to note that, unlike other Christmas villains, Potter is not reformed at the end and gets away with stealing the Bailey's money.
Some trivia:
The pool hidden under the gym floor is real! It's called the Swim Gym, it's located in Beverly Hills High School and was built in 1939! It still works today.
Ellen Corby has a small role as Miss Davis. Corby later gained fame when she played Grandma Esther on the The Waltons.
While the librarian stuff is stupid, It's A Wonderful Life is still worth watching seven decades after its release and it's overall message about respect for your fellow human beings and how one person can improve lives of so many people is as relevant as ever.
J.A. Morris' rating:
4 candy canes.
RigbyMel says:
It's A Wonderful Life is one of my all-time favorite holiday films, partly because of repeated exposure due to its public domain status when I was growing up. I found the portrayal of small town America charming and the ways it integrates recent (at the time) history like WWII and the Great Depression into the story line is interesting.
That being said, it's the characters that make the movie work. We sympathize with George feeling stuck and I appreciate that even secondary characters like forgetful, animal loving Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell) are interesting and help drive the plot, which is a credit to the screenwriters and actors who brought them to life.
...and Karolyn Grimes who plays George's daughter Zuzu both appear in the 1947 film The Bishop's Wife.
Additionally, a former child star, Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer of Our Gang/Little Rascals fame has a featured role in the famous dance scene involving a swimming pool under the floor of the Bedford Falls HS gym.
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| Carl Switzer as Freddie Othello. |
As J.A. Morris says above, there is a good deal of darkness to the story -- it does involve a suicide attempt -- but the holidays can be a very difficult time for many and I think acknowledging this is important.
Plus, in optimistic Frank Capra fashion, it all ends well thanks to Clarence's timely intervention. There's a fine balance of humor and pathos in this movie, which provides much to enjoy on repeated viewings.
RigbyMel's rating:
4 candy canes
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