The politics of It's A Wonderful Life

[hyphenate]

We have our own little eco-system in the film, It's A Wonderful Life. But has anyone ever sat down and considered the actual working politics in the film? Here's my take--post your own!

George Bailey has got to be a liberal. While he works with money as a Savings and Loan CEO, his goal is to help other folks realize their dreams of owning a home, and help save a little to pad their future retirement.

Mary Bailey could be a passive conservative, but she's got enough spunk to remain mostly an Independent. She assists in many of George's projects, and had the foresight at the end to ask friends and family members to help with the problem they're facing.

Potter is obviously a conservative. No doubt about that--and one of the worst kind, too--he's in it to make his money bags heavier, without thinking of the welfare of anyone else.

Bert and Ernie are blue collar workers, which in some cases means unions. This makes them members of the working class, and therefore they are, on the surface, Democrats, but I suspect they also have a "middle-of-the-road" position at the same time.

Violet is a working girl. If she doesn't support women's rights, she's kidding herself. Despite her continuing problems, she's also an Independent, with a strong lean to the left.

Harry Bailey is a war hero. They don't go into a huge amount of depth on his history, but I think he is a Republican, though not of the same wicked caliber as Potter. He's what most of "middle America" was like when the movie was made, which has in many ways since then become perverted by the radical right.

Mary Bailey's mother is clearly a Repub. Thank goodness Mary doesn't listen to her!

Sam Wainwright is another Repub. Very much in the same vein as Harry Bailey. Clearly motivated, without any compunctions about what he does and how he gets there. Not evil by any stretch, just a businessman who puts that business first.

Mr. Gower the druggist is a Repub. But I suspect he isn't very politically motivated.

Mr. Martini and Nick, the bar owner and bartender respectively are definitely Democrats. You can't really run a business like a bar without having some sort of desire to serve the people.

Ma Bailey is one of those old fashioned women who were silent about their politics in front of the men,but probably secretly had a desire to go out and campaign for women's rights if the opportunity ever came.

How right do you think I am? Suggestions? Discussion?

I just thought this would be fun considering the film is one of the world's most beloved holiday fantasies, and to see it in the context of its political message.

[Gothic Sponge]

1. Good observations.

It's too bad Jimmy Stewart was a Republican. However, i get the feeling he would not approve of Bush........I'd like to hope.

[progressoid]

5. He was old, OLD school republican. The kind I used to at least respect -

not agree with, but respect. Now I just loathe them all. Obviously an over-generalization but tuff shit. A lot of those old school repubs just vote repub out of habit. I think they don't have a clue how their party has been hijacked (like my mother-in-law and her friends).

[Merlot]

2. Sounds good except for one point:

Mr. Martini and Nick, the bar owner and bartender respectively are definitely Democrats. You can't really run a business like a bar without having some sort of desire to serve the people.

I don't remember much about this movie, not sure I've even sat throught the whole thing. But I do know that you can have a bar and be repub. Emphasis is on profit, not service. They keep their hands clean and hire other people to do the actual serving!

[kittycat1164]

4. OMG! I don't think there was anyone out there that hadn't seen it!

"I don't remember much about this movie, not sure I've even sat throught the whole thing." My MIL gave me the colorized version a few years ago. GASP! I turn it to black and white when I watch it. Colorizing old films is just wrong. IMO.

[hickman1937]

3. Mostly agree

Except Violet, I think she's one of those self loathing republican women types, and Sam Wainwright is definitly a Democrat. He didn't ask for any interest on his loan guarantee at the end of the movie.

[gmoney]

8. Sam Wainwright is a war profiteer, therefore Republican

He makes millions on the war instead of going to serve himself, and then guarantees a loan to a friend probably with company money. Very Enron.

Also, I also seem to recall that Sam has ANOTHER girl in his office while he's calling Mary, meaning he's a two-timer who wants the big city floozies for sex, but wants the respectable hometown girl for a wife. Hypocrite, therefore Republican.

I've always been kind of bothered by the fact that the big moving finale is all about money saving the day. I guess it's an easy way to demonstrate that George is rich because he has friends and that he's not better off dead.

[mcscajun]

6. Nick can't be a democrat...

When Clarence wants to order an eccentric beverage...and he and George are talking about "angels", Nick snaps:

"Hey look, mister - we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast, and we don't need any characters around to give the joint "atmosphere". Is that clear, or do I have to slip you my left for a convincer?"

Shortly thereafter:
"That does it! Out you two pixies go! Through the door, or out the window!"


He's intolerant and homophobic. :)

[Coventina]

7. But that was "Pottersville Nick"

Bedford Falls Nick was a nicer person, because the environment was more nurturing and supportive.

:-)

[mcscajun]

9. True...

...I stand corrected...Or rather, Sit, so. :)

[Red State Blues]

10. It's been a while since I've watched it but ...

I've never heard anyone refute the oft heard position that Potter was John D. Rockefeller.

I also remember a speech where George talks of the potters of the world treating people like cattle and then later, when he is talking about going to Europe saying that he would be happy to go with the cattle. Pretty obvious to me.

Years ago, when I thought I was one of the only people who had not seen the movie I sat down one day and watched it straight through on an excellent quality laserdisc. I highly recommend to anyone who has not seen it to go through the extra effort to rent or buy the best copy they can find and watch it without all the commercial interruptions, (and recommend this to people who HAVE seen this before as well). The whole movie really is all about politics, there's an amazing amount of "meat" there that gets overlooked as a piece of holiday fluff.

"Mr. Smith goes to Washington" deserves the same treatment.

[Red State Blues]

11. more

Just want to point out, while I do think people should watch the movie as social commentary (in fact, I don't see how you can't!); I don't think the movie should be simply reduced to today's view of Democrats and Republicans.

[hyphenate]

12. Very true

I did this as an exercise to see if an analysis is even possible. The Republican values in the film are directly reflective of the era in which the film was made--1946 is a very, very different time than 2004. Many Republicans at that time were decent human beings whose value systems were a lot more benevolent than they are now. I think in the context of the world today, a film such as It's a Wonderful Life couldn't really be made--it would look like an oddity in terms of social values.

The only truly "evil" person in the film is Potter, and his character strikes a chord even now as representative of today's average Repub. Back then, he was evil--today, Potter would be outclassed, outwitted and out "evilled" by far too many others--he would and could be considered "average" by the standards the RNC holds today.