It's a Wonderful Film

Rating: 10/10 (27 December 2019)

Capra's masterpiece. It's easily the film I've seen the most times in my life, and still incredibly moving after all these years. The film is very well cast, with Lionel Barrymore and Jimmy Stewart especially turning in excellent performances, and Capra tells the story perfectly, delivering one five star scene after another. The development of the romance with Donna Reed's character is sweet and wonderful, as are the fantasy elements. It's a film that swells my heart with that rousing ending, and also along the way with so many powerful messages:

What comes around goes around. It's telling that the first guy in line to give money to George at the end is the same one who demanded his full $242 when there was a run on the Building and Loan, and that even the taciturn bank examiner chips in. George treats people with decency and respect even when they're surly or flawed, and it all comes back to him.

Count your blessings. I think at some point in every life one looks back on dreams that weren't quite realized or compromises that were made along the way; George never getting out of Bedford Falls to see the world, go to college, or build thing is a symbol for that. The film shows real darkness when his frustrations about life boil over into raging like a lunatic in front of his family, and then considers suicide.

You matter. A cynic might say that the world would probably go on mostly the same if any one of us was here or not, and it's an exaggeration that early on young George (played well by Bobby Anderson) has already saved two lives, his brother's and whoever was going to take the medicine old man Gower accidentally laced with poison. But we do make a much bigger difference in the lives of those around us than we probably realize, and I think the story amplifies George's impact in Bedford Falls to make this point.

Stand up to the evil side of capitalism. The only hope of thwarting the Potters of the world is to stand up for what's right and to stick together. George bravely and selflessly sticks up for the immigrant "garlic-eaters" and blue collar folks like Bert the cop and Ernie the taxi driver; by contrast Potter lives only to amass more wealth and power. What a nice little touch that little skull on his desk was. Stewart and Barrymore's scenes together are brilliant, and lines like this ring true just as much today as they did then (just replace Potter with Bezos, et al):

"Do you know how long it takes a working man to save five thousand dollars? Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about, they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, it is too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him but to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well, in my book, he died a much richer man than you'll ever be."

Most (but not all) people are good. There are obviously elements of religious faith in the film, with the angel (Henry Travers) and prayer playing big roles, but I think the more important faith Capra is showing us is that in our fellow man. Almost everyone is redeemed, which is sometimes shown in little ways, e.g. the teacher who maybe should have made sure Zuzu came home with her coat buttoned, being the same one quoted by Zuzu when she says "Look, Daddy. Teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings." Everyone is redeemed, that is, except Potter, unlike the situation in Capra's 'You Can't Take It With You' from eight years earlier. Even in this idealistic film, the older and wiser Capra knew that there is always going to be some element of evil in the world which must be confronted.

After the war Capra was especially determined to make his movies life affirming, saying "My films must let every man, woman, and child know that God loves them, that I love them, and that peace and salvation will become a reality only when they all learn to love each other." He achieves this with such artistry in 'It's a Wonderful Life' that it will always be one of my favorites.