
In a nutshell, George Bailey (Stewart) is in trouble. Money trouble. Big money trouble. Well, $8,000. but in 1946, that was equivalent to.....well I don't know to tell you the truth. But it was a lot! Anyway, George is sent help in the form of an angel, Clarence, who gives George the chance to see what life would have been like if he hadn't been born. George lovingly touched so many lives, more than he realized, and the world would have been a dark and nasty place without him (at least in Bedford Falls).
I guess it's the Capra version of the Butterfly Effect. When you think of it, so many things would be different if events had taken a different turn.
What if,
Churchill had become a dentist
Fred never met Ginger
Bob never met Bing
Simon never met Garfunkle
Bill Gates went into plumbing
Hitler's parents had a girl
Well, there's no end to it.
Of course it all worked out for George Bailey. His friends came to his rescue and we realize that money is just money, but "no man is a failure who has friends".
(I still feel bad that he never got to see the world. Yes, I know the point is he had a "Wonderful Life" anyway, but still....Paris and all......)
If you haven't seen the film, hop to it. It's one Christmas film you'll watch over and over.

Remember earlier this year when we spoke of a warmth in black and white films. Well this is certainly one dont know if its the original feel good film but that how I feel when its over.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite movies. I love the theme of existentialism - how each person's actions alter and effect the world around them.
ReplyDeleteMe too! It's a film I can watch every year and never tire of it. Do they have a colorized version? I hope not!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the truth! I love it too. It's on our "watch" list every year.
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