Despite its reputation, "It's a Wonderful Life" is a fairly dark film

[DerekG]

Much is made of the schmaltzy ending, wherein all of Stepford Falls' denizens pitch in to save both their town and George Bailey. Yet this film isn't nearly as sentimental as it's perceived to be: through most of the film's duration, we're treated to the story of a man who sacrifices his talents and ambitions for the sake of his fellow man (whether it be brethren or community). Bailey is a saint, but he's a three dimensional one, and it's a testament to Jimmy Stewart's superb performance that we see this character's frustration seething, until it erupts into rage.

On the whole, Frank Capra's film seems more honest, more textured, than most are willing to admit.

[mr_hat]

1. It gave spinster librarians a bad rap, though. Also,

the town only had one floozy.

[Union Thug]

4. true, I enjoy towns with hordes of floozies... /eom. =)

[democracyindanger]

5. Me likey spinster librarians

that look like Donna Reed.

[Union Thug]

2. The ending is pure "Capra-corn" but you're right...

I really enjoy how it captures the economic insecurity of the time, and the way it portrays a world run by Republicans like Mr. Potter.

There are some great lines about empowering people to own their own homes, etc.. real progressive ideas about treating human beings fairly that manifest throughout the film.

[SharonAnn]

15. Bailey = Liberal capitalist, Potter = Conservative Capitalist

It's kind of a thumbnail sketch about us vs Bush. Bush, of course, is the Conservative Capitalist who wants us all to live in a place like Pottersville while he and his friends get rich purveying vice.

[mcscajun]

3. Interesting take...

...and you're right on some of it, for sure.

Okay, George Bailey...you think your life sucks. Let's see how the lives of others would suck more if you'd never been born. Now you get the chance to make their lives better by existing again. Don't you feel better now? Get off the bridge and go home.

But I have to admit, I've always been a sucker for the film. My one quibble has always been in the ending. Sure...the arrest warrant and the bank examiner's report get put in the basket. Yeah...that reflects reality. Sure.

[stopbush]

6. "Yeah...that reflects reality." ???

It's as real as a guardian angel showing up and/or a man's existence being erased, maybe moreso.

Your point is?

[mcscajun]

7. It's that Suspension of disbelief only goes so far with me...

...I've watched this film countless times. I really do enjoy it...but every once in a while, that part bugs me.

YMMV

[mondo joe]

23. Suspending disbelief is fine - but it can be ABUSED

The viewer is required to suspend disbelief about an angel in order to take in the story. That's fine.

But it's an abuse of that gesture to ask the viewer to accept humans behaving in ways they simply wouldn't in a given situation.

[histohoney]

9. It's a movie

from Hollywood,when did absolute reality happen in any of the films from LA LA LAND.
Still George Bailey is more liken to Shaw's everyman. George is a compilation for many people making the big and small sacrifices many people make over a life time.
The message, EVERY man (Woman) contributes something in life to others.
If you make the scarifies for the good, you have done more good than you might know.
Dark, sure, there are dark times in every life but keep looking for the good.
Now is that such a terrible message?

[PinkTiger]

12. I thought of that, too.

I also thought it would be a good contrast to Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman."
We could teach these side by side as a work of contrasts and comparisons.
Along with Hamlet, of course -- the tragic hero.

[histohoney]

18. If you teach

the class I will come !!!

[PinkTiger]

31. Unfortunately

I no longer teach literature. I'm in the communications department and teach PR and Journalism - print journalism - so I can't teach the film.
But, should I ever go back to English - it's an idea.

[mcscajun]

17. No, it's not such a terrible message...

but sometimes I do get a tad cynical. Yet...I refer you to the comment I alluded to in two other posts here:

I do enjoy the film and have watched it countless times. I'm a sucker for Capra-corn.

And I know it's only a movie...and I don't expect reality. But Potter's still out there. All the love and 'money in the basket' wouldn't change that.

[histohoney]

19. Yes, Potter is still out there

But every one must choose for them selves. Are you a money in the basket type or a Potter.
OH NO!
Now I sound like a Capra-corn.

[mcscajun]

20. I'm a money in the basket type...

...ya' know...a cynic is just a crushed idealist.

[HEAVYHEART]

8. Yuck

I hate that movie. Mainly because my ex husband insisted on watching it together every Christmas for the 9 years we were together. I think I'll barf if I see the movie again. :puke:

[cruadin]

10. Yeah---it's a film whose central character is on the verge...

of suicide from frustration and despair at one point.
In a way, it's a little surprising that such a film has enjoyed such a long term popularity.
Perhaps, as has been said, it's because it does take a fairly unflinching look at the reality of hopes and plans vs. reality,it certainly has appealed to people across generations.

[lastliberalintexas]

14. Actually not long term popularity

The movie was released post WWII in 1946, and audiences tended to think it was too dark for them. They wanted the light, fluffy fare that the studios started producing post war, and this movie didn't fit the bill. It was actually one of the least successful of the Capra or Stewart movies. It's only been in fairly recent times that it's become a holiday staple.


So, for the OP- yes, it is a dark movie and was originally seen as such. George Bailey is bitter, suicidal, and resentful- of his small life, his small town, the constraints of family and society, and his unrealized dreams and ambitions. He even "goes off" on Uncle Billy in a rather hateful way. But we can all see parts of ourselves in that character, some more so than others. The fact that he is still a decent person is what saves him and the movie for us.

[cruadin]

24. Wow---that's interesting that audiences didn't immediately...

accept it as a "Christmas movie"---although not particularly surprising considering the themes and moods that it explores.

So, when did it become one of the definitive holiday movies?
Was it only after its re-release for a TV audience?

[lastliberalintexas]

27. Sometime in the mid 1970s

Someone let the copyright expire, stations could play the darn thing all day without having to pay a penny, and that's just about what they did! Even then it wasn't until the 1980s that it really became seen as staple holiday fare. Maybe it was Reaganomics that made the film seem timely. :-)


Capra was apparently pretty disillusioned after his service in the war because of everything he'd seen, understandably so of course. This movie was much darker and more serious in tone than movies of his earlier career. Although some of them did deal with pretty serious subjects as well (like Meet John Doe and Mr. Smith), they didn't quite have the darkness of Wonderful Life. Earlier Capra films almost exclusively played the bad guys as the wealthy elite who ran the show, but in Life, he showed that we all have those traits- it's just that the decent among us will overcome them. So he was still optimistic about mankind, just not unreasonably so.

[cruadin]

29. Again---some very interesting background on the film.

It's one of those films that has seemed (to me at least) to have "always" been around. I guess twenty or more years of relentless screenings can seem like always. ;)

I think you're probably right about Capra too. Despite being disillusioned with the grimy reality of human endeavors, he remained very much a believer in the inherent decency that we can each summon forth.
He just understood what happens when we, individually or collectively, fail to answer the better angels of our nature.

[PinkTiger]

11. Ironic that the Democratic ideals espoused in the film

Clash with Jimmy Stewart's own Republican ideals.
But then, the moral for the whole film could be summed up thus:

We are all interconnected as human beings, and have an effect on each other, for good and bad. When someone lives a good life and is willing to sacrifice his or her selfish aims for the good of the group, that sacrifice is not wasted, but is reflected in a thread of good that enhances the group.

It's kind of like taxes - each little bit all of us pay, help create an infrastructure that holds up all of us.

The greed of the banker is a negative element that can be erased by the good works of the many.

[Orangepeel]

13. I can't watch it. It is too depressing.

The smaltzy ending doesn't make up for the pain I feel when watching it. I've sat all the way through it, but I usually can't make it past when the druggest is thrown out of the bar in the alternate reality.

[DerekG]

21. If you don't mind me asking

Are you just absorbed by the story or do you empathize with Bailey's life?

[Orangepeel]

28. I just feel bad for everyone

even though I can tell myself that a)it's only a movie and b) even in the context of the movie, the Bailey-less alternative reality isn't the way it "really" is and c) everything turns out okay in the end, it's still painful for me to watch.

I don't know exactly why it affects me that way. Generally, I like happy entertainment, but I can usually get through darker stuff. With old movies, I like "The Grapes of Wrath." With newer movies, I liked "Mystic River." But, "It's a Wonderful Life"? I can't watch. :shrug:

[lastliberalintexas]

30. That's funny, because I

have the same trouble with Grapes. As much as I love Fonda and his performance in this movie, it is Jane Darwell who does me in. When she poses before the mirror with the earrings, I just lose it. The expression on her face conveys so much sadness and despair that it's just heartbreaking for me to watch.

It's just a small scene in a fabulous movie, but the depth of feeling that Darwell conveyed with that one look and without speaking a word is wrenching for me. I don't understand why, but it is. :shrug:

[iconoclastic cat]

16. That "violins by the light of the moon" song gives me the creeps.

Maybe it's just me.

[PinkTiger]

32. I'ts "Dance by the Light of the Moon."

:party:

[iconoclastic cat]

33. That's right! I knew it was something like that.

[MonkeyFunk]

22. It's a fairly shitty film too.

I've never really understood why people like it so much.

[tjdee]

25. That's why our generations like it so much.

As liberalhistorian said, when it was released nobody wanted to see a suicidal Jimmy Stewart.

Now that everything has literally gone to hell, personally I find the film to be kind of uplifting in an almost gritty way.

The way he roughhouses Uncle Billy is very honest, although not very nice. And Jim works it the whole time.

I like it. It's too long though.

[Nikepallas]

26. You hit the head on the nail on the head... and could have very easily

been a very sad ending but everyone remembers the ending (the cheeringness of it) and it seems to erase the gloomy darkness of the whole movie.