It’s a Wonderful Life

Director: Frank Capra

12 August 2024

See

George Bailey (James Stewart) is a good man at his wits end. As he contemplates ending his life, an angel, Clarence (Henry Travers) is sent to intervene. The film then recaps George’s key moments that would’ve gone a different way without the part he played in so many people’s lives.

Think

From the first scene of boys sledding across ice, George’s little brother Harry falling through, and jumping in to rescue him, leading to a cold and partial hearing loss, the tone is set for George’s selflessness. This continues with other kismet scenes; stopping a chemist from misbottling a prescription, the evolution of his relationship with his childhood sweetheart and how he goes on to marry Mary (Donna Reed). And the biggest crossroads of taking over the family business instead of travelling and studying. 

Feel

It’s George’s rivalry with Mr Potter (Lionel Barrymore) the wealthiest man in town, that is his constant test of character. They compete with building and loan business catering to housing regular people, the Great Depression then WWII, even a high paying job offer. It’s another chance encounter with Potter that causes the crisis which leads George to snap, make a scene in front of his family, and be standing on the edge of a bridge. 

In that moment Clarence jumps first and George’s instinct is to save him. I don’t want to spoil the alternate reality of what the world would look like without George in it, but it’s less wholesome without him doing good seemingly selflessly. People see that and then he does. I now finally know the cinematic origins of “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings” and “No man is poor who has friends.”