It's a Wonderful Life (review)

Don't worry I'm not going to blast you for your review of It's a Wonderful Life as you might expect others to. You make some interesting points about the film. I'll be the first person to admit the film isn't totally realistic with its black and white morality, but Star Wars was a film just as black and white in its moralizing. "The totally evil empirial government trying to thwart freedom and justice throughout the galaxy is being fought against by a group of rebels driven by 100% good intentions" -- how realistic is that (ignoring the sci-fi/fantasy element of it of course)? Yes, Han Solo was kind of a wild card in the first movie until the film's conclusion, but in the end he joins the Rebel Alliance for totally good-hearted reasons. This fact doesn't take away from the film's enjoyable qualities and for me that goes for Its a Wonderful Life too. Both of these film classics are modern fairy tales and that's what makes them beloved around the world. Besides, in the Star Wars Trilogy evil is punished while the villian in It's a Wonderful Life gets away with his foul shenanigans. How's that for realism? Oh well, that's my two cents. Happy holidays!

P.S.-- Am I the only one who finds it odd that It's a Wonderful Life, a Christmas movie, ends with a New Year's song being sung?

[originally posted to FlickFilosopher.com 12.20.99]

dear chick: i love the movie It's a Wonderful Life and while i can absolutely see where you have problems with the various overdone aspects of the film, it is something that spoke particulary, i think to the Boomer generation. perhaps simply because of the exposure from television, but also because they benefited from the post-war boom and never felt that materialism is enough. i truly think this is an instance where "generational" outlook makes a difference between a "hokey" movie and a "pointed fable."

however, mainly i have to tell you about an error in fact [in the Point/Counterpoint article at the Online Film Critics Society]. when referring to the rich man with the car and the new young wife, you are mixing up George Bailey's brother, Harry Bailey, with Sam Wainwright, the well-to-do, young man about town. Sam had been courting Mary in the earlier part of the movie and also offers George the chance to go into the "plastics" business with him. it is Sam Wainwright who appears at Baily Park ("hee haw") with his young wife and flash car when the Martinis are moving into their new home.

Harry Baily does comes home from college with his wife and a good job offer (small to start but with the opportunity to go far), but he does not actually reappear in the movie until the very end when he flies in from Washington to make the toast to his big brother at the end. Sam Wainwright is also the rich man who wires from London that he authorizes his bank to advance George Bailey up to $25,000 on his word alone. he is a rich man who does not forget his friends or where he came from.

i just had to tell you that, because it does sort of weaken, a bit, your section of the argument about money and goodness. Sam Wainwright is not the most loveable or the most prominent character in the move, but he does play an important part in balancing some of the rich/poor elements.

otherwise, enjoyed your reviews (as always) and the "Point/Counter-Point" column even more than usual.

[originally posted to FlickFilosopher.com 12.20.99]

My personal feelings about It's a Wonderful Life aside, you made a MAJOR mistake in your column, and according to the points you made, it heavily influenced your impressions of the movie.

You claim that George Bailey's brother Harry came home from college, stepped off the train, and introduced George and Uncle Billy to his new wife.... but then showed up years later at Bailey Park in a fancy car with a DIFFERENT wife. This is absolutely FALSE. [Patrick goes on to detail my error, but as it is explained above, I don't see the need to repeat it. --MaryAnn]

By the way, thanks to your persuasive positive comments on Meet John Doe, I plan on renting soon. Perhaps it will become my SECOND favorite movie of all time. Can you guess the FIRST? :-)

[originally posted to FlickFilosopher.com 12.20.99]

I read the discussion [about It's a Wonderful Life] between you and Dan, and it seems that you both need to watch the film again. In the scene you refer to that takes place in Bailey Park, the man in the new car with the different woman is NOT Harry Bailey. [Again, I've snipped the details. --MaryAnn] My take on the movie, which I have seen at least 20 times, is this: No matter how insignificant you might think you or the things you do are, you can and do make a big difference in the lives of others, sometimes without even knowing it. This movie has been a large source of inspiration for me, and has caused me to do more, to try to be a better person, to think about how my actions will affect others and act accordingly. I suggest you watch it again, with less cynicism, and see the REAL message it sends.

[originally posted to FlickFilosopher.com 12.20.99]