It's a Wonderful Life.
It's that time of year so yes, I am going to share my thoughts on the classic Frank Capra gem
I still absolutely love this film and I always will. Even at the time, most dismissed it as more "Capra-Corn", but I don't think those people nor modern haters really understand or have sat through the film. Many people only remember Clarence, Uncle Billy, Bedford Falls, and the last five minutes of the film. To do so is a shame.
I.A.W.L. isn't a schmaltzy, cheesy holiday film to me. This film is DARK. People seem to forget how dark this movie is. Sure, it's nice and sunny for some scenes and even makes us laugh from time to time. But to say it's light holiday fare is doing it a great disservice, especially considering only the very last half takes place at Christmas.
The scenes that spring to mind first are the following:
A) A young George Bailey being beaten by the grief-stricken pharmacist who had just lost his only son in War. This isn't a child-friendly scene, but one that sets the stage for the kind of characters Capra is masterfully helping to craft.
B)The scene when George pays a call on Mary at her house for the first time, realizing he loves her and by loving her, he was throwing away all his dreams of travel and adventure. His feelings come to fruition while they are both sharing the earpiece on the same old phone. This enabled Capra to go in for a super tight shot, focusing on Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart's faces. When he finally surrenders to his fate and destiny, George shakes Mary violently as if he could shake his love right out of her, before finally succumbing to her kisses . It makes for one of the most romantic, albeit dark scenes ever made in all of film history.
C)The whole section of the film after George Bailey returns home in trouble after his Uncle Billy "lost" all of the funds from the 'Bailey Building, Savings, and Loan' (which was actually taken by the horrible Mr. Potter brilliantly played by Lionel Barrymore) is beyond dark. The change in him is so abrupt and played so well that it's off putting. Yet the scene that still gives me goose bumps is seeing George in the bar praying with tears welling in his eyes, while contemplating his worth and considering death.
D)His supernatural tour of 'Pottersville' is not family friendly either. Seeing his friend Violet being violently arrested as a whore, his old friends trying to arrest him, his mother not knowing him then throwing him out in disgust, and finally his wife running away from him in fear thinking he was a stranger trying to rape or attack her. These are almost everybody's worst nightmares.
I could go on and on but like the end of "It's a Wonderful Life", it's Christmas so there is still much to be done. I just had to take a moment to say why I love this movie. On a more personal note, somebody very close to me lost a son. This was her favorite film. Since he died in his teens, his organs were donated to those in need. I pestered him to be an organ donor the year before he died. 60 different people benefited from those donations so she had each of their names engraved on bells and put the bells on his grave, by his tombstone. It comforts her to hear the bells ring. Like her favorite movie says, she pictures an angel getting their wings.
As for me, I was watching I.A.W.L. again one year with my big brother and when George Bailey's little daughter 'ZuZu' came on the screen, my brother said "That's exactly how adorable you were when you were little". And a nickname was born =)
Happy Holidays to you and Yours.
-Zu-
I still absolutely love this film and I always will. Even at the time, most dismissed it as more "Capra-Corn", but I don't think those people nor modern haters really understand or have sat through the film. Many people only remember Clarence, Uncle Billy, Bedford Falls, and the last five minutes of the film. To do so is a shame.
I.A.W.L. isn't a schmaltzy, cheesy holiday film to me. This film is DARK. People seem to forget how dark this movie is. Sure, it's nice and sunny for some scenes and even makes us laugh from time to time. But to say it's light holiday fare is doing it a great disservice, especially considering only the very last half takes place at Christmas.
The scenes that spring to mind first are the following:
A) A young George Bailey being beaten by the grief-stricken pharmacist who had just lost his only son in War. This isn't a child-friendly scene, but one that sets the stage for the kind of characters Capra is masterfully helping to craft.
B)The scene when George pays a call on Mary at her house for the first time, realizing he loves her and by loving her, he was throwing away all his dreams of travel and adventure. His feelings come to fruition while they are both sharing the earpiece on the same old phone. This enabled Capra to go in for a super tight shot, focusing on Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart's faces. When he finally surrenders to his fate and destiny, George shakes Mary violently as if he could shake his love right out of her, before finally succumbing to her kisses . It makes for one of the most romantic, albeit dark scenes ever made in all of film history.
C)The whole section of the film after George Bailey returns home in trouble after his Uncle Billy "lost" all of the funds from the 'Bailey Building, Savings, and Loan' (which was actually taken by the horrible Mr. Potter brilliantly played by Lionel Barrymore) is beyond dark. The change in him is so abrupt and played so well that it's off putting. Yet the scene that still gives me goose bumps is seeing George in the bar praying with tears welling in his eyes, while contemplating his worth and considering death.
D)His supernatural tour of 'Pottersville' is not family friendly either. Seeing his friend Violet being violently arrested as a whore, his old friends trying to arrest him, his mother not knowing him then throwing him out in disgust, and finally his wife running away from him in fear thinking he was a stranger trying to rape or attack her. These are almost everybody's worst nightmares.
I could go on and on but like the end of "It's a Wonderful Life", it's Christmas so there is still much to be done. I just had to take a moment to say why I love this movie. On a more personal note, somebody very close to me lost a son. This was her favorite film. Since he died in his teens, his organs were donated to those in need. I pestered him to be an organ donor the year before he died. 60 different people benefited from those donations so she had each of their names engraved on bells and put the bells on his grave, by his tombstone. It comforts her to hear the bells ring. Like her favorite movie says, she pictures an angel getting their wings.
As for me, I was watching I.A.W.L. again one year with my big brother and when George Bailey's little daughter 'ZuZu' came on the screen, my brother said "That's exactly how adorable you were when you were little". And a nickname was born =)
Happy Holidays to you and Yours.
-Zu-