1946 Directed by Frank Capra
A holiday favourite for generations... George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George's modest building and loan company. But on Christmas Eve the business's $8,000 is lost and George's troubles begin.
James Stewart Donna Reed Lionel Barrymore Henry Travers Thomas Mitchell Ward Bond Frank Faylen Beulah Bondi Todd Karns Mary Treen Charles Williams Gloria Grahame Frank Albertson H.B. Warner Virginia Patton Samuel S. Hinds Lillian Randolph Sheldon Leonard Sarah Edwards Charles Halton William Edmunds Argentina Brunetti Carol Coombs Karolyn Grimes Larry Simms Jimmy Hawkins Robert J. Anderson Jean Gale Jeanine Ann Roose Show All…
Pamatyk kine: Nuostabus gyvenimas, Tai nuostabus gyvenimas, Mens, Durf te Leven, Эта прекрасная жизнь, Це прекрасне життя, Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life
Part of Buddy the Elf, What's Your Favorite Color?
“Is this the ear you can’t hear out of? George Bailey, I’m going to love you till the day I die.”
George Bailey (James Stewart) was loved, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his affection was signed by the policeman, the taxi driver, the barkeep, and all the other citizens of Bedford Falls. Even the bank examiner signed it; and the bank examiner’s name was good for anything he chose to put his hand to. George Bailey was as loved as...well, as an angel.
It is a hoary old cliché to say that Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life is a sentimental ripoff of…
'Twas the week before Christmas, when all though the house
Not a creature was stirring; just me and my mouse
The decorating done; all the lights hung with care
I fancied a Yule film, so rose from my chair
The choices were varied; all classics the lot
The pick must be perfect to start the onslaught
The Trouble With Angels; my sweetheart Miss Hayley?
Oh wait just a minute, it must be George Bailey!
I flew down the stairs; DVD disk in tow
And slotted the plate; turned the lights way down low
The screen it did light with the Liberty marquee
My heart all aflutter with pure Christmas glee
We start in the stars where we hear there is…
This film is a testament to the hypnotic powers all great classics possess. Every time I watch this I want to call my mum to tell her I love her, call my mate I haven't seen for far too long to grab a beer and it makes me want to go outside to hand out smiles to everyone I meet.
It turns me into the biggest optimistic sap you'll ever see and I love it for that!
Things I noticed this time:
The big one I can't believe I never put together before:
The first defining moment of George Bailey's life is diving in the icy water to save his brother; and Clearance has him do it again to save himself.
How good is Samuel Hinds in his two brief scenes as Pa Bailey?
All the portraits that Potter has of himself hanging in his office and his home.
Love the scene where Potter offers George a job. It's been done plenty of times before and since, I suppose, but having the movie's villain be the single person who is able to articulate and sympathize with George's lifelong frustrations like that is such a brilliant stroke.
When…
Such a complacent story that ages so well in our day and age. There is a subtle eerie feeling that goes into this film during its climax that is appropriately matched with the "saving grace" moral that is just so perfect.
Final Grade: A+
Of course, one of the few movies that is able to stretch to the boundaries of my emotional range from a pitch black sadness to a fierce, fierce joy...Jimmy Stewart is always a joy, Donna Reed is an absolute sweetheart...if I can make a film as emotionally satisfying as this, I will have succeeded at life, as that is the goal of the profession...well done Frank Capra...mastermind...
I watched this movie a few times when I was young but never realized its brilliance until recently. This embodies old Hollywood for me and they don’t make movies like that anymore; there is so, so much to love here. The simple cinematography is endearing, it pioneered a new snow effect in film (this is set during Christmas but was shot in July 😂) and it’s one of the most heartwarming stories with the romance between George and Mary (LOVE Donna Reed in this) and the finale, but also an emotional one with all of George’s acts of helping those around him and the Pottersville sequence. I would be crazy to not heap praise on the show-stopping performance of James…
I'm sure I'm not alone in this, but this is one of the few films that is absolutely guaranteed to elicit at least one tear upon each and every viewing. A beautiful film and one that still holds up, even all these years later, thanks largely to Jimmy Stewart's captivating central performance.
A little out of season but feeling something old and pleasant I decided to visit It's a Wonderful Life and, at the risk of tooting my own horn, I struggle to see how I could have chosen better.
Genuine and honest it offers plenty of laughs alongside the concerns of small town Bedford Falls, concerns that are still as relatable now some 80 years on. I often find myself forgetting the charm black and white film can have and it's perfectly coupled with the homely tale on show here. Should you find yourself looking for something kind to watch on a cold night this will sustain a smile throughout and is well worth a knock on the door.
Oscar Lau 1,000 films
The 15th and the latest edition of TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films www.theyshootpictures.com/gf1000.htm The complete list of "1,001-2000" is available HERE.
Peter Stanley 1,222 films
All the films from all the editions, including those subsequently removed, presently totalling 1222. An easy way of seeing how…
Dave Vis 250 films
Letterboxd's Top 250 movies, based on the average weighted rating of all Letterboxd users. I removed all stand-up specials, concert…
