A different perspective on a holiday television tradition:
“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a terrifying, asphyxiating story about growing up and relinquishing your dreams, of seeing your father driven to the grave before his time, of living among bitter, small-minded people. It is a story of being trapped, of compromising, of watching others move ahead and away, of becoming so filled with rage that you verbally abuse your children, their teacher and your oppressively perfect wife. It is also a nightmare account of an endless home renovation.
And the theory does make sense when you think about it:
The movie starts sappily enough, with three angels in outer space discussing George’s fate. Maybe that’s what turned my dad off, that or the saccharine title. I’m amazed they didn’t spoil it for me in 1981, but I may not have been paying attention yet.
Soon enough, though, the darkness sets in. George’s brother, Harry (Todd Karns), almost drowns in a childhood accident; Mr. Gower, a pharmacist, nearly poisons a sick child; and then George, a head taller than everyone else, becomes the pathetic older sibling creepily hanging around Harry’s high school graduation party. That night George humiliates his future wife, Mary (Donna Reed), by forcing her to hide behind a bush naked, and the evening ends with his father’s sudden death.
Disappointments pile up. George can’t go to college because of his obligation to run the Bailey Building and Loan, and instead sends Harry. But Harry returns a slick, self-obsessed jerk, cannily getting out of his responsibility to help with the family business, by marrying a woman whose dad gives him a job. George again treats Mary cruelly, this time by chewing her out and bringing her to tears before kissing her. It is hard to understand precisely what she sees in him.
George is further emasculated when his bad hearing keeps him out of World War II, and then it’s Christmas Eve 1945. These scenes — rather than the subsequent Bizarro-world alternate reality — have always been the film’s defining moments for me. All the decades of anger boil to the surface.
After Potter takes the deposit, George flies into a rage and finally lets Uncle Billy know what he thinks of him, calling him a “silly, stupid old fool.” Then he explodes at his family.
So, if you’re forced to watch this movie again, think about it and maybe you’ll see that George Bailey’s life wasn’t so wonderful after all.
December 20th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Wow. Um… Going a little Scroogy here? Yes, George Bailey’s life didn’t work out the way he wanted it to, but the whole movie is about how he made the best of his circumstances and remained faithful under trial and disappointment.
His “abuse” of his children and rant at his uncle happened while he was under extraordinary stress (and yes, it was still wrong), and all the other information the movie offers indicates that he was a loving father and a gracious man.
For me, the whole movie is about the quiet perseverance and dedication that the majority of humanity lives in. It’s a reminder that, no matter how mundane your life may be, no matter the disappointments, no matter the sorrows, a life filled with good character and gracious performance of duty is a good and noble thing. It may not make the headlines, it may not rake in the money – but those lives are what keep our culture and the world somewhat stable and sane in the midst of uncertainty and hard times.
I see the article was in the NY Slimes, Doug… And while it’s certainly your prerogative to dislike the movie, this kind of over the top criticism makes me think you should find better reading material… At least if you want to have a joyous Christmas, LOL!
December 20th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Kat,
I don’t dislike the movie, I just don’t think it has the cheery overtones that people ascribe to it.
It’s far darker than that, as the reviewer notes, and Stewart’s rage in the penultimate scene before his “wish” his granted — comparable only I think to his performance in Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” — is really quite good.
Actually, I think this makes it a far more interesting movie to watch than just thinking of it as a sappy Christmas movie, which is really isn’t.
December 20th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Well, coming from that angle, I’m more of your opinion: it’s certainly NOT a sappy movie, if watched thoughtfully. The “flashbacks” without Bailey’s influence are certainly quite painful and dismal. But I still don’t think the dark overtones are the main point – rather, they offer the needed contrast to show off all the good that “ordinary” people do in simply living life the best they can.
Although I know there will be a lot of sorrow over many of my actions – and inactions! – when I get to Heaven, one thing I’m looking forward to is seeing how one casual word or action may have actually HELPED someone when I didn’t realize it.
So, yes, the movie is quite dark – but the hope that shines out of that darkness it the real theme. The contrast makes it far more than the two dimensional movie many like to think it, and as for that one dimensional NY Slimes “blackwash” – feh!
I still think you need better reading material *snicker*
At any rate, my wishes to you and your family for the most blessed and merry Christmas, with a safe and happy New Year!
December 20th, 2008 at 10:49 am
I do agree that some parts of the review I linked to are a bit much.
The part about whether or not George would still go to prison, for example, or the part about the economic viability of Bedford Falls in the 21st Century.
December 20th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
All that may be true, but I watch it for the uncredited clip of the great Meade Lux Lewis playing a boogie-woogie number on the piano in the bar scene.
December 20th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Bah! Humbug!
But I’ll watch it differently next time….
December 21st, 2008 at 3:54 am
Yes and I’ll bet you thought old man Potter was a successful man who was your hero. Here’s some coal for your stocking. People who can see things this way should be lawyers or politicians.
December 25th, 2008 at 2:39 am
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