A Wonderful Film With A Christian Message

Rating: Null/10 (3 January 2001)

I was first drawn to this film after reading about it in one of Norman Vincent Peale's books. One can see the influence of previous Christmas stories like "A Christmas Carol" on it and one can also see its influence on more recent films like "Jumanji" (the cut lip and the family get together singing "Hark The Herald Angels Sing"). In his book Dr Peale mentions how critics were divided over on it on its release- some loved it others said it was "too Pollyannaish". However it was released into a world cynicised by the Second World War and the subsequent austerity. It shows that if we care about people, people will care about us. George Bailey is a great guy but not without his faults. He will seek comfort in alcohol when things get very bad and he reduces his children's teacher to tears with an angry phone call (so much that her husband punches him in the bar giving him the aforementioned cut lip). Still, nevertheless his values remain unaltered. He is willing to give up opportunities he has wished for all his life to help others. From an early age he has known right from wrong. This film also shows that as well as people caring for us God also cares for us no matter what our faults and will help us in our deepest moments of despair. Although it was made in the 1940s its message will be contemporary for all time, like that of the Bible. It was James Stewart's favourite of all the films he made and one can see why.