View The American Classic Film Its A Wonderful Life
Parimal
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Capra's Its a Wonderful Life is without a doubt one of the all time feel-good movies. It's not feel good in the way that, say, a cheap Lifetime movie is feel good, it's not some phoney baloney optimism like Pay it Forward, it is real, true, and honest. It is also, without a doubt, the greatest Christmas film ever made.
Yes, your inner child says "Not it's not, that would be A Christmas Story, thank you very much!" and your inner cynic wants to laugh the whole thing off and say that Lethal Weapon is the greatest Christmas movie. Both wrong. This film is the best holiday film of all time for quite a number of reasons. Not How the Grinch Stole Christmas, not Die Hard, It's a Wonderful Life.
The film deals with the darker side of the holidays, the depression, the self pity, the nihilism, despair and disappointment that so few filmmakers have the courage to address. In fact, the second act begins with Jimmy Stewart, the warmest and most friendly actor in history, attempting suicide! To start from such an incredibly low point takes confidence.
It is because of this ugliness, this darkness and pessimism, that it is so heroic to see Stewart's George Bailey overcome the odds and learn to love his life again. True optimism only counts in the face of adversity. Anyone can be positive in one of those weepy made for cable Lifetime movies where nobody ever really faces any true challenges, but Bailey faces the worst challenges of his life, and learns to face them with a sense of hope.
The movie ranks alongside Rocky as one of the greatest "happy tears" films of all time. If you're not shedding them by the end of the film, then sorry, but... What the heck is wrong with you? Any real, live human being can't help but at least feel a little moisture in their eyes when the bell rings and the angel gets its wings. It is simply a matter of optimism triumphing over negativity.
The movie actually flopped on release for some reason or other. Capra was always a director you could rely on to make a lot of money for the studios, but for whatever reason, this one just didn't grab the initial audience. Luckily, it did go on to become one of the most popular movies of all time on cable, in second runs, and on video and DVD. Still, at the time, it almost sank the director's career.
Another interesting point: Film legend has it that Stewart was the director's only choice for the lead, but in fact, his first choice had been the other legendary nice guy of the screen, Henry Fonda. Fonda could have turned in an incredible performance, but Stewart really plays the character of a lifetime in George Bailey.
There were a number of alternative endings considered, but none of them would have been as satisfying as the way the story wraps up in the film... Except maybe the Saturday Night Live sketch where Bailey leads the whole town to Potter's house to give him a comeuppance... Interestingly, this ending, while a spoof, was nearly the same as an alternative ending that was actually filmed!
Yes, your inner child says "Not it's not, that would be A Christmas Story, thank you very much!" and your inner cynic wants to laugh the whole thing off and say that Lethal Weapon is the greatest Christmas movie. Both wrong. This film is the best holiday film of all time for quite a number of reasons. Not How the Grinch Stole Christmas, not Die Hard, It's a Wonderful Life.
The film deals with the darker side of the holidays, the depression, the self pity, the nihilism, despair and disappointment that so few filmmakers have the courage to address. In fact, the second act begins with Jimmy Stewart, the warmest and most friendly actor in history, attempting suicide! To start from such an incredibly low point takes confidence.
It is because of this ugliness, this darkness and pessimism, that it is so heroic to see Stewart's George Bailey overcome the odds and learn to love his life again. True optimism only counts in the face of adversity. Anyone can be positive in one of those weepy made for cable Lifetime movies where nobody ever really faces any true challenges, but Bailey faces the worst challenges of his life, and learns to face them with a sense of hope.
The movie ranks alongside Rocky as one of the greatest "happy tears" films of all time. If you're not shedding them by the end of the film, then sorry, but... What the heck is wrong with you? Any real, live human being can't help but at least feel a little moisture in their eyes when the bell rings and the angel gets its wings. It is simply a matter of optimism triumphing over negativity.
The movie actually flopped on release for some reason or other. Capra was always a director you could rely on to make a lot of money for the studios, but for whatever reason, this one just didn't grab the initial audience. Luckily, it did go on to become one of the most popular movies of all time on cable, in second runs, and on video and DVD. Still, at the time, it almost sank the director's career.
Another interesting point: Film legend has it that Stewart was the director's only choice for the lead, but in fact, his first choice had been the other legendary nice guy of the screen, Henry Fonda. Fonda could have turned in an incredible performance, but Stewart really plays the character of a lifetime in George Bailey.
There were a number of alternative endings considered, but none of them would have been as satisfying as the way the story wraps up in the film... Except maybe the Saturday Night Live sketch where Bailey leads the whole town to Potter's house to give him a comeuppance... Interestingly, this ending, while a spoof, was nearly the same as an alternative ending that was actually filmed!
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