7tavern: It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Sound (2)
3
Plot (2)
3.7
Cast (2)
3.3
Special Effects (2)
2.5
Length & Pace (2)
3.3
Cinematography (2)
3.3

Directors: Frank Capra

Writers: Philip Van Doren Stern (story), Frances Goodrich (writer)

Release: 7 January 1947 (USA)

Tagline: They're making memories tonight!

Plot: George Bailey has spent his entire life giving up his dreams to the people of Bedford FallsBut. On the Christmas Eve of Bedford Falls, he is broken and contemplating suicide over the $8000 loan which his Uncle Billy has misplaced. An angel named Clarence comes to earth to help George and shows him what it could have been without his presence. George then realise how much he meant to the people and that his life is truly a wonderful one.

Cast:   James Stewart - George Bailey, Donna Reed - Mary Hatch Bailey, Lionel Barrymore - Henry F. Potter, Thomas Mitchell - Uncle Billy Bailey, Henry Travers - Clarence, Beulah Bondi - Ma Bailey, Frank Faylen - Ernie Bishop, Ward Bond - Officer Bert, Gloria Grahame - Violet Bick, H.B. Warner - Mr. Emil Gower, Frank Albertson - Sam Wainwright, Todd Karns - Harry Bailey, Samuel S. Hinds - Peter Bailey, Mary Treen - Cousin Tilly, Virginia Patton - Ruth Dakin Bailey

Runtime: 130 min

Country: USA

Language: English

Company: Liberty Films (II)

Links: IMDb Profile

Categories: Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance

Main

Trailer

Squish
Reviews: 740
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

Sound:
Plot:
Cast:
Special Effects:
Length & Pace:
Cinematography:

2.5

It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

AND a skinny wife!

Genre: Drama Family Romance

Starring: James Stewart (Rear Window • The Naked Spur), Donna Reed (From Here to Eternity • "Dallas")

Directed By: Frank Capra (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington • It Happened One Night)

Overview: It's Christmas Eve and George Bailey is sent a guardian angel to stop him from committing suicide. The angel shows George what life in his town would be like should he have never been born.

Feel free to click here to skip the spoiler bit at the beginning.

As you all know, the critical moment that causes George Bailey to consider jumping into the drink stems from his partner losing their business' money. What makes It's a Wonderful Life so surprising to this critic is how the incident is treated. If you'll allow me to walk you through it: George Bailey's business partner, Uncle Billy, goes to the bank to deposit $8000 (today, that would be almost $90,000). On his way to the teller, he runs into Mr Potter, curmudgeony antagonist and profiteer extraordinaire. He talks to Mr Potter about a homecoming, pointing out the article in our antagonist's newspaper. This is when Uncle Billy leaves the overstuffed cash envelope, literally, in Mr. Potter's lap. Mr. Potter quickly finds the cash and, being an opportunistic low-life, keeps it, and keeps it quiet.

So many twists of the plot could have brought that envelope to light: Uncle Billy's retracing of his steps; George Bailey's guardian angel could have become a Deux Ex Machina and worked his angelic magic of reparation; Potter could have been discovered with it; Potter could have whipped up a sudden morality - or at least a sportsmanship about the whole thing - and given it back of his own volition; or as I had most expected, Mr. Potter's butler could have come forth, even anonymously, and left it at the Savings and Load door. Capra's film explores none of these things. The lane of least resistance, that manageable happy ending that comes from everything being set to right is replaced instead with a far more realistic display. The bad guy stays bad, and the money is lost forever in his pockets.

For as much as Frank Capra might make films that are about 'distilled human kindness', he remains true to the characters and that cataclysmic twist without cheapening the terrifying situation of losing a year's worth of profit. The reason It's a Wonderful Life is so timeless must be because that ending is so pure, as opposed to being too convenient. My only regret is my own expectation that the happy ending would come from something so obvious.

AFI's Top 100 films of the last 100 years, and although Capra's films lean on the saccharine side of the human condition, the sheer presence of the cast and the power of the script inspires the kind of Drama that everyone will love. It's no wonder that you can find this on television every single Christmas, several times over the season.

And for you new Technology snobs, yeah, it's available on Blu-Ray.

Even moments down in the doldrums!

Performance: 10 Cinematography: 8 Script: 8 Plot: 8 Mood: 8

Overall Rating: 84% (Wonderful and Terrific)

Recommendations: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, 2009), Requiem for a Dream, Dawn of the Dead

2010-08-06 05:50:17

Squish
Reviews: 740
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

AND a skinny wife! Genre: Drama Family Romance Starring: James Stewart ( Rear Window • The Naked Spur ), Donna Reed ( From Here to Eternity • "Dallas") Directed By: Frank Capra (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington • It Happened One Night) Overview: It's Christmas Eve and George Bailey is sent a guardian angel to stop him from committing suicide. The angel shows George what life in his town would be like should he have never been born. Feel free to click here to skip the spoiler bit at the beginning. As you all know, the critical moment that causes George Bailey to consider jumping into the drink stems from his partner losing their business' money. What makes It's a Wonderful Life so surprising to this critic is how the incident is treated. If you'll allow me to walk you through it: George Bailey's business partner, Uncle Billy, goes to the bank to deposit $8000 (today, that would be almost $90,000). On his way to the teller, he runs into Mr...

(Read More...)

2010-08-06 05:50:17

McDozer
Reviews: 200
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

It's a Wonderful Life

If you've ever wondered if the world might not have been better off if you had never been born (Yes, all you "Bohemian Rhapsody" junkies from the 70s), then you'll definitely be able to relate to this movie , and you won't even mind that it's not in color. It's doubtful that a better version could ever be made. You'll even want to watch it a few times, just to make sure the lesson sticks.

(Read More...)

2010-03-11 02:01:30

» = New Post

Movies you may like

Discuss It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Log in to comment.