Review of It's a Wonderful Life (1946) by Jacob M — 05 Dec 2014

"Look Daddy. Teacher says, 'Everytime a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.'".

Out of all the films that have defined the Christmas season, the one that's extremely regarded the most for sure is Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life. While it's not necessarily a Christmas film (only because the setting in the most pivotal moment of the film is on Christmas Eve night), like with just about every single person in the history of the world. It's a Wonderful Life is an exceptional Hollywood classic, possibly the best Capra film, and it's mixture of comedy and inspirational drama makes this timeless film one of the best films to watch around the holidays.

This timeless classic is about George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), a highly respected man living in the small town of Bedford Falls. While he is definitely blessed for sure, especially with an attractive wife named Mary (Donna Reed), he considered himself a failure cause he never gets to go out and travel the world. On Christmas Eve, 1946, George suffers even more problems due to a scandal at the Bailey & Loan business, mostly due to the fault of the greedy Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore). Convinced that he's "more dead than alive", George considers committing suicide when he meets Clarence (Henry Travers), a guardian angel sent from heaven to help George out. Clarence shows George what it would be like if he was never born to show him that George in fact had a wonderful life after all.

There's quite a cast also involved in this film, besides Stewart, Reed, Travers, and Barrymore, we have Thomas Mitchell as Uncle Bailey, Beluah Bondi as Mrs. Bailey, Ward Bond and Frank Faylen as cop/taxi driver buddies Bert and Ernie (which, you know where that leads to, Sesame Street lovers), William Edwards as Mr. Martini, Gloria Grahame as the attractive Violet Bick, Todd Karnes as George's brother Harry, and Sheldon Leonard as a bartender named Nick.

I'm not the biggest fan of Frank Capra. While I really love this film and the compelling Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, his films often contain loads of sentimental cheese in them, which is why his films are often called "Capracorn", and it's also why I strongly believe It Happened One Night is an extremely overrated film. You'd think that since I really couldn't care for Clark Gable's situations in said film, I would really tear this film to pieces. I mean, there's a ton of sentimental moments in this film and loads of moments that would be considered extremely syrupy had it been made today. But the good news is that these sentimental moments actually make It's a Wonderful Life much more meaningful and is also one of the most moving motion pictures I've ever watched.

To start out, Capra and his crew did a wonderful job at creating the town of Bedford Falls. It's one of the largest sets ever built in a Hollywood film, and with each subsequent viewing, you're meant to believe that Bedford Falls is a real and marvelous small town. Well, for me, it probably helps that I actually live in a town called Bedford (but without the falls), but no matter where you live, there's something great about the world of Bedford Falls, set or not, that makes the town feel special to anyone that watches this. Even more amazing are the visuals created for the snow, which it's lighter makings to make the dialogue easier to understand earned an Oscar nomination. What's hard to believe that this film was filmed in the summer months during a record-breaking heat wave, which was so bad that the cast had to have a day off from shooting cause of how extremely hot it was in the studio.

Obviously the story in this film is exceptional. Capra succeeds in creating a story filled with comedy, with the funniest moments being George's developing romance with Mary (which includes the scene in the school gym with the swimming pool) and an average joe's reaction to hearing that Clarence is an "angel, second class", while creating one of the most moving pictures in all of Hollywood cinema. From the opening shots showing citizens praying for George, you know this film is going to be extremely special. The scenes in the alternate reality where George was never born features brilliantly dark black and white cinematography that would lose Capra's intended darker style in color. And that ending. Oh that wonderful ending. It's very rare for me to actually cry during a movie, especially in one that touches the hearts of many filmgoers with each passing generation, but that extremely moving ending in It's a Wonderful Life is that rare moment that I have actually shed a couple of tears with the last couple of viewings of this great picture. Thank you Mr. Capra for showing my softer, side.

The acting is great as well. Donna Reed is wonderful as Mary, George's wife. She shows her attractive sex appeal while being extremely wholesome, and for a 40's Capra drama, that balance really works. Henry Travers is delightful as Clarence the guardian angel, providing a touch of comedy in the more dramatic moments. Lionel Barrymore is incredible as Mr. Potter the greedy, evil, and ruthless crook who caused George's despair in the first place, who brilliantly portrays an evil selfish man. Even more surprising for a film released during the Hay's Code is that fact that his character actually gets away with the crimes he commits, something completely inappropriate for a film in 1946. Also they couldn't say "jerk" in that film, so that was changed. Man that Hay's Code was really stupid. But the best performance in this movie without a doubt is Jimmy Stewart's role as George Bailey. This was one of his first really serious roles (after Mr. Smith, another great Capra film), and he portrays George's complexity perfectly, from his early romance, to his emotions when attempting suicide, to that wonderful ending that caused me to cry. There's a reason why Jimmy Stewart is one of my all-time favorite actors, and along with his phenomenal role in Hitchcock's Vertigo, his role as George Bailey is one of his most beloved roles, and he aces it really well.

It's really hard to believe that It's a Wonderful Life was a flop in 1946, despite it's Oscar nominations and President at the time Truman calling it his favorite movie. Thankfully, today, It's a Wonderful Life is that beloved timeless classic that Frank Capra intended it to be back in 1946. It's not really a Christmas film, but due to the extremely wonderful message that life is truly a precious gift, It's a Wonderful Life is truly a wonderful film to watch during the Christmas season.

"Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas movie house! Merry Christmas emporium! Merry Christmas you wonderful Building and Loan!".