I first remember watching the grand finale of Its a Wonderful Life at my grandma's house in Battle Creek, Michigan when I was just a kid. I remember it was Christmas time and my cousins and uncles and aunts were all at my grandma's house and it was always such a fun time. And in the living room the adults were watching this very old movie in black and white. I of course wasn't watching the film, yet rather playing toys with my cousin. However I distinctively remember the grand finale where James Stewart merrily welcomes the entire town into his house and they begin singing Christmas carols. From then on I had known of this classic film that was associated with the Christmas season.
It actually wasn't until a few years ago that I watched this movie in it's entirety for my first time. Once again I was at Michigan, this time with my brother Andres, Aunt Laurie, and cousin Jennifer. I was excited to finally watch this classic from beginning to end, and remember feeling quite satisfied with the film's legacy.
Well this past week I once again watched the movie, twice, with my dad during the Christmas season. We both were quite enthralled with the story, the characters, and the overall film. I now feel I have a greater understanding and appreciation of this classic film. I would even go as far as calling this film one of my new all time favorite Christmas movies and even further by considering it a movie masterpiece in general.
A Christmas Classic
While this film is associated as a Christmas classic, the story hardly is about Christmas. It's about a young business man who undergoes many hardships throughout his life and needs an angel to show him his significance. It is actually not until the end of the movie that we get our first dose of Christmas. The setting of Christmas plays a vital part towards this memorable finale in which the main character realizes that it is a wonderful life indeed. I would argue that it's because of this happy ending set during Christmas, that makes this film such a Christmas classic.
The Premise
The story begins with a group of stars, which happen to be angels, discussing that there is a person in need of dire help. The angels agree this would be the perfect chance for Clarence, played by Henry Travers, to get his wings by helping someone. That someone happens to be George Bailey, played by James Stewart. As a kid George is very righteous; he saves his young brother from falling in the ice, he works for a pharmacist and fixes an error that saves another life, and he defends his father's honor from the ruthless businessman Mr. Potter.
As a teenager George is eager not to partake in his father's business yet rather to leave Bedford Falls so he can travel the world and become an architect. He makes this abundantly clear when he begins to fall for Mary Hatch, played by Donna Reed. Before George can set off from Bedford Falls, his plans are abruptly altered when his father dies. He has no choice but to join his uncle in managing the family bank. In his stead he sends his brother Harry off to college in hopes that he will later take his place managing the bank.
Four years later, Harry returns from college with a new wife and a new job offer in Buffalo. Realizing that he cannot leave his family business George hesitantly reunites with Mary, and agrees to marry her. However during their honeymoon another crisis unfolds, and they must use up all their savings to pay off a loan from Mr. Potter.
As the years go one George and Mary have children and watch their bank thrive. At one point George even considers selling his bank to Mr. Potter, in hopes that he can finally travel and leave Bedford Falls. However he changes his mind when he shakes hands with Mr. Potter and sees thru his ruthless plight. Each of the characters play a role in WW2, most notably George's brother Harry, who receives the Medal of Honor.
On Christmas Eve the town of Bedford Falls prepares a hero's welcome for Harry Bailey. However on this day George's foolish uncle misplaces an $8000 loan, mistakenly handing it to Mr. Potter. This drives George into a mad panic realizing that his business, his job, and his life revolve around that loan. He flips out on his wife Mary, and his children, and in a desperate act begs his arch enemy Mr. Potter for some money. Mr. Potter convinces George he is worth more dead, which sends George to a night drinking binge.
As the snow falls on Christmas Eve, George drinks heavily at a bar, gets into a fight, crashes his car into a tree, and approaches a bridge ready to take his life. At this point the angels hear Mary's prayers, and Clarence is called into action. Clarence jumps into the river causing George to jump in after him and save his life. Clarence then explains to George that he is an angel there to help him thru his struggles. George however brushes Clarence off and tells him he'd be better off had he not been born. At that point Clarence uses his magic to show George a world in which he had never been born.
George quickly realizes that things are different; for example the town is no longer called Bedford Falls yet rather Potterville. And nobody remembers George, not the bartender, not the taxi driver, not the police men, not even his mother, nor his wife Mary. At that point George realizes that he was wrong to wish that he'd never been born and that he actually doesn't have it as bad as he thought. The angel Clarence thus reverses the spell and takes things back to normal.
At this point the movie reaches it's grand finale, where George displays great jubilation. He runs thru the streets wishing Merry Christmas to all, and is so happy to be reunited with his children and wife. Things get even better when he realizes his wife, Mary, has asked the town to come together in helping pay off the $8000 loan that was lost. This makes for an extremely happy ending as the entire town comes into the Bailey household to share money and sing Christmas carols. Harry also arrives just in time for the holidays to partake in the jubilant festivities. At the end we hear a bell ring from the Christmas tree, and George states that every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings, referring to his guardian angel, Clarence.
The Films Legacy
The film was based on a 1939 story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern. The story was produced and released as a film in 1946, directed by Frank Capra. Capra was already well regarded for his Oscar worthy films of Lady for a Day, It Happened One Night, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, You Can't Take it With You, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. The star actor of the film was another highly regarded name in Hollywood, James Stewart, known for his Oscar worthy performances in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and The Philadelphia Story.
The film went on to receive instant critical acclaim, nominated for five Oscars, for it's story, it's film direction, it's acting, and it's general setting. It's a setting infused with the American dream and the Christmas spirit. It is such an original story that has survived the test of time and still plays a relevant part in today's popular culture. It is for this reason that the film has gone on to become a Christmas classic and considered by many critics as one of the greatest films of all time.
Well this past week I once again watched the movie, twice, with my dad during the Christmas season. We both were quite enthralled with the story, the characters, and the overall film. I now feel I have a greater understanding and appreciation of this classic film. I would even go as far as calling this film one of my new all time favorite Christmas movies and even further by considering it a movie masterpiece in general.
A Christmas Classic
While this film is associated as a Christmas classic, the story hardly is about Christmas. It's about a young business man who undergoes many hardships throughout his life and needs an angel to show him his significance. It is actually not until the end of the movie that we get our first dose of Christmas. The setting of Christmas plays a vital part towards this memorable finale in which the main character realizes that it is a wonderful life indeed. I would argue that it's because of this happy ending set during Christmas, that makes this film such a Christmas classic.
The Premise
The story begins with a group of stars, which happen to be angels, discussing that there is a person in need of dire help. The angels agree this would be the perfect chance for Clarence, played by Henry Travers, to get his wings by helping someone. That someone happens to be George Bailey, played by James Stewart. As a kid George is very righteous; he saves his young brother from falling in the ice, he works for a pharmacist and fixes an error that saves another life, and he defends his father's honor from the ruthless businessman Mr. Potter.
As a teenager George is eager not to partake in his father's business yet rather to leave Bedford Falls so he can travel the world and become an architect. He makes this abundantly clear when he begins to fall for Mary Hatch, played by Donna Reed. Before George can set off from Bedford Falls, his plans are abruptly altered when his father dies. He has no choice but to join his uncle in managing the family bank. In his stead he sends his brother Harry off to college in hopes that he will later take his place managing the bank.Four years later, Harry returns from college with a new wife and a new job offer in Buffalo. Realizing that he cannot leave his family business George hesitantly reunites with Mary, and agrees to marry her. However during their honeymoon another crisis unfolds, and they must use up all their savings to pay off a loan from Mr. Potter.
As the years go one George and Mary have children and watch their bank thrive. At one point George even considers selling his bank to Mr. Potter, in hopes that he can finally travel and leave Bedford Falls. However he changes his mind when he shakes hands with Mr. Potter and sees thru his ruthless plight. Each of the characters play a role in WW2, most notably George's brother Harry, who receives the Medal of Honor.
On Christmas Eve the town of Bedford Falls prepares a hero's welcome for Harry Bailey. However on this day George's foolish uncle misplaces an $8000 loan, mistakenly handing it to Mr. Potter. This drives George into a mad panic realizing that his business, his job, and his life revolve around that loan. He flips out on his wife Mary, and his children, and in a desperate act begs his arch enemy Mr. Potter for some money. Mr. Potter convinces George he is worth more dead, which sends George to a night drinking binge.
As the snow falls on Christmas Eve, George drinks heavily at a bar, gets into a fight, crashes his car into a tree, and approaches a bridge ready to take his life. At this point the angels hear Mary's prayers, and Clarence is called into action. Clarence jumps into the river causing George to jump in after him and save his life. Clarence then explains to George that he is an angel there to help him thru his struggles. George however brushes Clarence off and tells him he'd be better off had he not been born. At that point Clarence uses his magic to show George a world in which he had never been born.
At this point the movie reaches it's grand finale, where George displays great jubilation. He runs thru the streets wishing Merry Christmas to all, and is so happy to be reunited with his children and wife. Things get even better when he realizes his wife, Mary, has asked the town to come together in helping pay off the $8000 loan that was lost. This makes for an extremely happy ending as the entire town comes into the Bailey household to share money and sing Christmas carols. Harry also arrives just in time for the holidays to partake in the jubilant festivities. At the end we hear a bell ring from the Christmas tree, and George states that every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings, referring to his guardian angel, Clarence.
The Films Legacy
The film was based on a 1939 story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern. The story was produced and released as a film in 1946, directed by Frank Capra. Capra was already well regarded for his Oscar worthy films of Lady for a Day, It Happened One Night, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, You Can't Take it With You, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. The star actor of the film was another highly regarded name in Hollywood, James Stewart, known for his Oscar worthy performances in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and The Philadelphia Story.
The film went on to receive instant critical acclaim, nominated for five Oscars, for it's story, it's film direction, it's acting, and it's general setting. It's a setting infused with the American dream and the Christmas spirit. It is such an original story that has survived the test of time and still plays a relevant part in today's popular culture. It is for this reason that the film has gone on to become a Christmas classic and considered by many critics as one of the greatest films of all time.
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