Nov 08 2008
The Essential Christmas Movies (1)
Its a Wonderful Life
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) is a heart-warming movie in which the main character George Bailey learns what life in his hometown would be like without him and that is a dreary place. In the opening on Christmas Eve, George’s life is rosy with a good family and loving wife. He has his own business handed down to him by his father. But Uncle Billy causes a crack in George’s world when he learns that his uncle has lost the money owed to the bank. George has thus far helped the town with his savings and loan business. With the money lost, he realizes he will lose his business, home, and that the towns people will be at the mercy of Mr. Potter. The bank owner, Mr. Potter is a mean-spirited grouch.
George is so dispirited by this bad news that he thinks of suicide, but an angel, Clarence, gives him a picture of what his town becomes without his presence, it is somewhat like a different time line theme. Franklin and Joseph, invisible angels, narrate explaining Clarence’s mission to him, through flashback’s of George’s life; the flashbacks show George’s good effect on his friends and community during his life so far. George decides to go home and finds out that the town’s people are at his house pulling money together to help him.
The American Film Institute gave this movie recognition classing it in the best one hundred flicks made in America. It is at the top of their inspirational films list.
