Review (pan!) Pls publish this, for an alternate "take".

Rating: 1/10 (24 May 1999)

I've been collecting (& watching) old films for over 20 years, and have over 700 in my collection. Call me "Ebeneezer Scrooge", but I think that "Wonderful Life" is one of THE WORST films I've ever seen!!!! (I'm not kidding).
People today are amazed that it got such lousy reviews when it premiered; I feel that audiences THEN could see what a bad film it is!
What's wrong with it? First, the pacing. The first half of the film (where all the "bad stuff" happens) is MUCH too long; it goes on FOREVER. The part after his suicide attempt is much too short, and doesn't dispel the "depressing-ness" of the beginning. Plus, the scene where the clerk hits young Stewart on the ear is an extremely brutal (& violent) scene for that era; it STILL bothers me!
If you want to see GOOD Capra, check out "Arsenic & Old Lace", "Lost Horizon", "Lady For a Day", "You can't take it with you".....in fact, any film BUT this one!
It may be a "Wonderful Life".....but, it's a lousy movie!