George puts some chocolate ice cream in a dish.
GEORGE: With coconuts?
MARY: I don’t like coconuts.
GEORGE: You don’t like coconuts! Say, brainless, don’t you know where coconuts come from? Lookit here –
– from Tahiti –– Fiji Islands, the Coral Sea!
He pulls a magazine from his pocket and shows it to her.
MARY: A new magazine! I never saw it before.
GEORGE: Of course you never. Only us explorers can get it. I’ve been nominated for membership in the
National Geographic Society.
He leans down to finish scooping out the ice cream, his deaf ear toward her. She leans over, speaking
softly.
CLOSE SHOT –– Mary, whispering.
MARY: Is this the ear you can’t hear on? George Bailey, I’ll love you till the day I die.
It's a Wonderful Life, was the first movie director Frank Capra made after returning from service in WW2. He had an established voice and vision having created film parables (Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Meet John Doe, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) of ordinary citizens in extraordinary circumstances, and developed It's a Wonderful Life from a short story, The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren.
In the story, George Bailey (played note perfect by James Stewart), is a young man who dreams of higher education, travel, adventure and erecting great buildings. But events conspire to keep George from his goals and he remains in his hometown of Bedford Falls; his loyalty to his family and his strong resolve to stand up to the greedy local banker are long term commitments. When the film was first released, it performed poorly considering its expensive budget. Also, it was criticized for its sentimentality, but Capra undeterred, firmly believed that it was the best film he ever made.
Although the film does get a little corny in places (just picture those blinking stars and that homely model of Earth at the start of the movie) it redeems itself time and again through its excellent screenplay, delightful performances and careful direction. For me, story is everything and the best writing challenges the viewer/reader and lingers long after the movie (or book, or show) is finished. It’s a Wonderful Life like A Christmas Carol is a holiday staple. It's a deeply spiritual story that celebrates the importance of living in the present, and understanding what matters most. George's family and friends love and cherish him, even when he can't muster those feelings for himself--it's so sincerely heartwarming, I have to cry a little...every time.
3 comments:
A friend of mine lists this as the saddest movie he has ever seen. And there's some argument, from an "achiever's" point of view, that despite the fact that George changed the world for others, he never satisfied his own goals. He had to re-define his dreams at the end.
It's one of my favorite movies, but I do agree there's a little melancholy streak in there. I've just never figured out whether Capra meant it to be there.
I think everything about the movie was carefully planned and realized by Capra. George aspired to do great things and become a great man, and Clarence is able to show him that he did and was, even it wasn't in the manner he first imagined. Potter never gets his come-uppance because Capra wants us to focus on the good--it's really all that matters. For me, it's moving, not sad.
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