For years the Bailey Brothers Building and Loan
had been an asset to the small community of Bedford Falls, offering
loans to ordinary people with good character, when the regular
bank wouldn't consider them. This business, started by Peter and
Billy Bailey, has been a thorn in the side of the nasty and mean
Mr. Potter, who wants to control all commerce in Bedford Falls.
Peter's son, George Bailey is now in control of
the Building and Loan business, and has been following in his
father's footsteps, helping people build houses, sustain businesses,
much to the annoyance of the infamous Mr. Potter, who waits for
an opportunity to trip up George and end his competition.
The story begins on Christmas Eve, and George
Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) has felt that he has hit the bottom of
the barrel. He is in deep trouble, probably facing jail because
Uncle Billy accidentally misplaced $8000 which evil millionaire,
Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) gets a hold of. Seeing this as his
big chance to get rid of George Bailey, Potter gets a warrant
for George Bailey's arrest, while keeping the missing $8,000.
Seeing no way out, only a future of shame and trouble, George
thinks about suicide, believing that it would've been better if
he had never been born. After hearing the prayers of George's
family and friends, who know that for some reason, George is in
trouble, the angels above have a discussion, and decide after
viewing a synopsis of George's life, to send George's guardian
angel, Clarence (Thomas Mitchell), who is trying to earn his wings,
to try to change his mind.
The synopsis of George's life begins when George
is 12 years old, in 1919. George saves his brother from the icy
water of a frozen pond, which results in George getting an infection
in his left ear, loosing his hearing. When he is 12, he also works
for the town druggist, Mr. Gower. While on the job one morning,
we meet Mary and Violet, two girls who will be important in his
life. George notices that the drunken Mr. Gower is distraught,
and sees a telegram stating that Gower's son, Robert has died
of the flu. He further observes that Mr. Gower, in his emotional
state, has put poison by accident in pills being sent to a sick
child. At expense to himself, George doesn't deliver the pills,
and shows compassion to Mr. Gower.
This is the beginning of George living his life
doing the right thing, despite what the cost is to his own dreams
and aspirations. When his father dies, he gives up his planned
summer adventure to stay home and help run the office. To prevent
Mr. Potter from putting them out of business, George winds up
accepting the job as head man at Bailey Building and Loan, giving
his hard-earned savings he was going to use for college to his
younger brother, Harry so he could go to college. 4 years later,
Harry winds up not coming home as planned, but George winds up
marrying a wonderful woman Mary, who has love him since she was
a child.
On their wedding day, there is a big bank run
on the Bailey Building and Loan, with many people wanting to take
their money out. George once again thinks of others, at the expense
of his honeymoon. Under his direction, Bailey Building and Loan
helps families build their own homes in a new development, Bailey
Park, escaping the run-down, expensive rental housing that Potter
offers.
He and Mary wind up living in a grand old, fixer-upper
house with their four children, during WW2, fighting the good
fight for fairness and opportunity for the people of Bedford Falls.
After viewing this synopsis, the 293 year old
Clarence Oddbody begins his assignment in a unique way, hoping
to change the black attitude of the despairing George Bailey to
one of hope, joy and thankfulness for his wonderful life, where
he has made the difference in so many other people's lives. Clarence
allows George's wish that he had never been born to come true,
to open George's eyes to what life would be like in Bedford Falls,
if George had never been born. George is in for some frightening,
personally horrifying surprises, that snap him out of his state
of mind, wanting him to live, no matter what the future brings.
He realizes what is the most important thing -what makes his life
a wonderful one.
"It's a Wonderful Life" is the film
that Frank Capra considers to be the crown jewel of his career,
though the audiences and the academy awarded him his Oscars for
his other films, "It Happened One Night," "Mr.
Deeds Goes to Town," and "You Can't Take It With You."
It is in this film, however, that Capra made a strong case for
how the individual can affect many lives, and what a huge hole
the absence of one person can create.
This labor of love is a classic, loved by many
because of its inspiring script, gifted direction, detailed sets,
great production values and tremendous acting by a talented cast,
hand-picked by Capra. Capra had a lot of control over the making
of this picture, as he was also the film's producer.
While the screenplay did have elements of three
other previously written attempts by writers for RKO, Capra captured
the essence of the original story by his own written screenplay,
with some help of a friend or two, Frances Goodrich and Albert
Hackett.
The direction by Capra brought out some truly
inspiring performances by his talented cast which consisted of
some well-known leading men and women, some new faces and some
well-established character actors. All did an outstanding job.
Jimmy Stewart had worked with Capra before, in
such films as "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and "You
Can't Take it With You." In Stewart's wonderful portrayal
of George Bailey, he displays both the positive and the dark side
of George in such an effective manner that it touches the audience,
making the story real and poignant.
Donna Reed was perfectly cast as Mary Hatch Bailey,
his wife, who is as positive as George is, being a supportive,
loving person who has loved George for who he is for a long time.
The multi-talented Lionel Barrymore had a lot
of fun playing the villain, Mr. Potter, a formidable opponent
of the Bailey family, because of his desire to financially control
the whole town.
Oscarred supporting actor, Thomas Mitchell is
very convincing as the well-meaning Uncle Billy, who has a few
vices, but who does his best.
British born Henry Travers, is wonderful in his
portrayal of Clarence Oddbody, angel 2nd class. This performance
is the one that he is most remembered for, though he had a successful
career as a character actor in the 1930's and '40's.
Beulah Bondi did a fine job portraying Ma Bailey,
George's (Stewart's) mother. The change she portrays in Ma Bailey's
personality when George didn't exist is quite surprising. This
fine character actress often played mothers and grandmothers,
"both sweet and vicious," in many Hollywood movies.
She played Stewart's Mom in 3 other films. The change she portrays
in Ma Bailey's personality.
I also enjoyed H..B. Warner's portrayal of the
drunken pharmacist, Mr. Gower who has an epiphany because of the
actions of young George Bailey.
This film is a great film for family viewing.
The pacing in the synopsis of George's life, seen by the angels
was perhaps a little slow, but the pace was perfect after this
part in the film.
Quote from Clarence: "You've been given a
great gift, George. A chance to see what the world would be like
without you. One man's life touches so many others, when he's
not there it leaves an awfully big hole. You see, George, you
really have had a wonderful life".
Quote from Zuzu Bailey: "Every time a bell
rings, an angel gets his wings".
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