It's A Wonderful Life

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.

It's interesting to note that a couple of the child actors that appear in It's A Wonderful Life  also show up in different roles in another holiday classic.   Robert J. Anderson who plays young George Bailey...

...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.

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

Arsenic and Old Lace

Premiered September 23, 1944

"Look, I probably should have told you this before but you see ... well ... insanity runs in my family. ... It practically gallops." - Mortimer Brewster

It's Halloween in Brooklyn, and well-known author and theatre critic Mortimer Brewster (Cary Grant) weds his neighbor, minister's daughter Elaine Harper (Priscilla Lane).  They're planning to run off to Niagara Falls for a honeymoon.

But before they depart, they stop to visit Mortimer's aunts Abby (Josephine Hull) and Martha (Jean Adair), who live with his brother Teddy (John Alexander).

Mortimer opens a window seat and is shocked when he finds -- a dead body!
He believes it's the work of Teddy, who thinks he's President Theodore Roosevelt.  (Teddy is a bit touched in the head.)

Mortimer tries to break this news to his aunts gently, but to his chagrin, is told they know all about it! In fact, they killed the man.  It turns out that Aunt Abby and Aunt Martha have been taking in lonely old man boarders who have no family for years and poisoning them with arsenic-laced wine.  The aunts consider their work to be merciful rather than murderous since all the old gentlemen were alone in life.

Mortimer is utterly beside himself -- how can his sweet old aunties,  beloved in the neighborhood for their charitable deeds and kindness be responsible for more than a dozen cold blooded murders?   And how have they been disposing of the bodies?

The Aunts explain that they get Teddy to help them by sending him to the basement to dig locks for the "Panama Canal" (he does think he's TR, remember)  Then they tell him their poisoning victims fell prey to "yellow fever" and need to be buried quickly  (in the "locks").   They make sure each gentleman receives a proper burial with hymn singing and everything.

Mortimer decides the only thing to be done is to  blame the murders on Teddy's mental state.    To do this, he must convince a judge to commit his brother to the Happy Dale Sanatorium.

Things become further complicated when Mortimer's OTHER brother Jonathan (Raymond Massey) shows up unexpectedly.   He has been leading a life of crime and is responsible for more than a few homicides himself.  Jonathan is accompanied by a man called Dr. Einstein (Peter Lorre) who plans to perform plastic surgery to disguise Jonathan's identity ... and ANOTHER dead body!

Meanwhile, new bride Elaine wonders why her recently minted husband Mortimer suddenly seems to be avoiding her!

Will Moritmer and Elaine make it to Niagara Falls?  How many people will wind up at Happy Dale? (or in prison?)  Will more bodies pile up in the Brewsters' basement?
Watch out for elderberry wine!

RigbyMel says:

I discovered this deliciously dark comedy when I was in high school.   The premise is insane and the insanity builds to ridiculous screwball levels as the movie progresses.

Cary Grant does an amazing job as poor, put upon Mortimer.   His gifts for physical comedy are fully evident in this film.

Josephine Hull and Jean Adair are charmingly homicidal as the Aunties.   (Yes, I realize that  calling murderers charming is odd,  just roll with it.) They are utterly and completely uncomprehending of whatever could be upsetting Mortimer so much.  In fact, they put it down to his being a newlywed!

There is also a rather brilliant running gag involving psychotic brother Jonathan -- Dr. Einstein apparently botched the last plastic surgery procedure and everyone keeps telling Jonathan he resembles Boris Karloff.    This sends Jonathan into paroxysms of rage, and is also an inside joke as Karloff actually played Jonathan in  Arsenic and Old Lace's original run on Broadway!

The ensemble as a whole is very funny from a long-suffering taxi driver (Garry Owen) waiting to take Moritmer & Elaine to Niagara, to the dim bulb beat cop (Jack Carson) who wants to share his unpublished play, since Mortimer is a famous drama critic.

"CHAAARRRGE!" (the staircase is always San Juan Hill!)

John Alexander's commitment to Teddy's obsession with Teddy Roosevelt is incredible. It's great that they kept the same actor from the original play in this role so the performance is preserved.

You can definitely tell that this is pretty much a filmed version of the play with just a few little "opening out" scenes like the line for the marriage license and some business in the graveyard between the Aunties' house and Elaine's.   But that doesn't take away from the gruesome glee of the story.

This film would be a wonderful addition to any Halloween festivities.   You'll die laughing.  *rim shot*

RigbyMel's rating:

4 jack o'lanterns


J.A. Morris says:

Unlike RigbyMel, I hadn't seen this until recently, but I saw the play years ago.  The film's dialogue feels fresher in some ways than other 1940s films, perhaps due to its origin as a stage play.

Halloween is not exactly central to the plot here.  But we do get a scene that features an early version of trick or treating.

 And the opening credits feature traditional Halloween symbols like witches, owls and black cats.

But the creepy, macabre atmosphere certainly adds to the Halloween sensibility.


I'm a big fan of Cary Grant's movies and Arsenic and Old Lace features some of his best acting.  He's constantly running around, shrieking and making crazy faces.

Priscilla Lane isn't remember very well today, but she was a star in the 1930s and 40s.  Lane was often cast in "girl next door" roles, in this film, she literally plays the girl next door and does a fine job playing off Grant.

And I agree with everything my co-blogger said about the supporting cast.

Arsenic and Old Lace was directed by Frank Capra.  Today, he is best known for directing another holiday film, It's a Wonderful Life.  His films tend to be sentimental.  On the surface, the Brewster sisters seem to fit a "sweet little old lady" stereotype that could have fit into any other Capra picture. However, this story turns that image on its head.  Capra deserves credit for honoring the source material and retaining its morbid humor.

Halloween is not exactly central to the plot here.  But we do get a scene that features an early version of trick or treating and the opening credits feature traditional Halloween symbols like witches, owls and black cats.

Arsenic and Old Lace is a classic adaptation that makes for great Halloween viewing.

J.A. Morris' rating:

4 jack o'lanterns!

It's A Wonderful Life at the Byrd Theatre!

A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of attending a screening of Miracle On 34th Street at Richmond's Byrd Theatre.  It was thrilling to see one of the most beloved Christmas movies on the big screen.

Our readers who reside in the Richmond area have another opportunity to see a holiday classic at the Byrd.  It's A Wonderful Life will be shown on Christmas Eve at 7:15 and on Christmas Day at 7:15 and 9:45.  In recent years, it's become an annual tradition to show this Frank Capra film on Christmas.

As I've said here before, seeing a classic movie on a big screen with an audience of fans is exciting and I always notice something new in the films, no matter how many times I've seen them at home.

So if you're not busy entertaining relatives, visit the Byrd and spend Christmas with George and Mary Bailey!

J.A.

Classic Christmas movies on the big screen!

Miracle On 34th Street screens today at Richmond's Byrd Theatre!

This is the time of year when many of the classic Christmas films show up on tv.  It's A Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol (various adaptations), A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation and modern classics like Elf are all over the cable schedules and dvd/blu-ray release calendar.  Of course holiday fanatics like us can't get enough of these movies.

But as much as we enjoy watching at home, nothing compares to seeing these films in a theater with an adoring crowd.  Here in Richmond, we're lucky to have several opportunities this holiday season to do this.

Last year, the historic Byrd Theatre hosted a charity screening of White Christmas.  It was exciting and touching to hear the multi-generational crowd singing along with the film and clapping at the end.

Interior of the Byrd Theatre.  Richmond's movie palace opened on Christmas Eve, 1928.

Today, we're getting another classic Christmas movie at the Byrd!  Miracle On 34th Street will be shown at 1:30, proceeds will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle, with Natalie Wood and Maureen O'Hara.

The Byrd will also continue its tradition of showing It's A Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

But these holiday movie events aren't just limited to our city.

On December 7, select theaters nationwide will be showing a Double Feature of Christmas In Connecticut and the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol.  Check here to see if this event will be showing in your area.

And a week later, White Christmas celebrates its 60th anniversary by returning to theaters!  It will be shown on December 14th and 15th, look for tickets here!

So if you've always wanted to see these classic movies in the theater, we recommend you take advantage of this opportunity.