Question regarding Frank Capra

[absyntheNsugar]

OK...now most of his fans have been Freeper Flag-waving types who saw his movies as a celebration of American Patriotism.

However...I've read in several places Capra was not a Freeper, and in fact was a big Democrat - one who championed the New Deal, Roosevelt and our fight against fascism in WWII...and that his movies were a celebration of THAT America, not the Freeper one.

Anyone else hear this?

[mr_hat]

1. Freeper America didn't exist in Capra's darkest nightmares. >

Unless you view Mr. Potter as the prototypical Freeper.

[absyntheNsugar]

3. True, in his most 'political' movie

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, good ol' fashioned Democratic values win out in the end.

One other thing that Capra movies have in common with us lefties is that they make the assumption that everyone deep down inside is a good person, and would do the right thing when it comes to sink or swim. THAT'S US!!! Freepers are far to paranoid to beleive that.

[CO Liberal]

2. IMHO, George Bailey Was a Democrat & Mr. Potter Was a Republican

In that context, "It's a Wonderful Life" takes on a whole new meaning.

:-)



ON EDIT - While searching for the above picture, I found the following page about "It's a Wonderful Life". Very interesting.)

http://www.failuremag.com/arch_arts_its_a_wonderful_life.html

[Bunny]

5. One of my very favorite movies.

Never fails - I'm a blubbering fool by the end of the show. :)

[mrfrapp]

6. Copyright

"It's a Wonderful Life" and it's admission into the public domain is a perfect example of why copyright should be "for a limited time only". Consider what would have happened to the film if the copyright laws of the early 1970's were similar to those of today -- the film would still be under copyright and the "owners" would be preventing its distribution, thereby denying legions of people from experiencing it.

This is far too complex a subject to discuss right now; I'm tired and have had far too many splendid beers, but interested readers should check out this link to Lawrence Lessig's excellent summary of the topic.

[mitchum]

4. Capra was a rank sentimentalist, but I like his politics