Movie Review: It’ s A Wonderful Life by Pietra Melo (page

It's a wonderful life

Movie Review by Pietra Melo

Of every wholesome Christmas movie out there, Frank Capra ’ s 1946 classic It’ s A Wonderful Life will always remain one of the best. Originally adapted from Philip Van Doren Stern ’ s 1943 book The Greatest Gift, this film was not very popular at the time of its release but eventually became very successful, nominated for five Academy Awards and considered one of the best films ever made. Today, it’ s beloved by all audiences. The story follows a man named George Bailey (played by James Stewart), who has always been there for the people in his community. Ever since he was a kid, George always found a way to put his own wishes second and worry about those around him. After his father unexpectedly dies, George puts aside his dreams of traveling and exploring the world to stay behind in his town of Bedford Falls, New York, to take over the family business. Having married the love of his life, Mary Hatch (played by Donna Reed), and having had four children, George considers himself a lucky man. When all seems to be going well during the holiday season, a tremendous amount of money belonging to his mortgage business goes missing. George, feeling desperate, thinks that this crisis means the world’ s end. After fighting with his workers, friends, and wife, George finds that there is no way he will ever be able to redeem himself after such a financial loss and horrible disputes. So, George decides to drive down to the town bridge on snowy Christmas Eve and jump off. As he ’ s about to end it all, another man falls off the bridge and into the cold, rushing water of the river beneath. Seeing and hearing the panic of the man, George dives in to rescue him.

After drying off in the bridge keeper ’ s shack, George asks the man how he fell into the river. Casually, the man reveals to George that he jumped into the river in order to save him. “It’ s against the law to commit suicide around here, ” the bridge keeper tells them. “It’ s against the law where I come from too, ” the man responds. “Where are you from?” the bridge keeper asks. “Heaven ” the man coolly replies. George, like any other person, refuses to believe that whatever the man says is anything less than nonsense. The man, however, reminds George that he didn ’t have the courage to end his life, but instead he jumped in to save a stranger. “Very funny, ” George coldly replies. After revealing more about himself, the man tells George that he was “ sent down ” to save him. “What are you, a mind reader?” George asks, when the man begins to tell him things about his life. The man then introduces himself as Clarence Odbody, a second-class angel. George, still refusing to believe any of this is true, asks the man why he ’d want to save someone like him; the man then reveals himself as George ’ s guardian angel, whose final task is to save him before receiving his wings. Clarence decides that telling George about his importance in life is not enough, for George believes that everyone else would be a lot better off without him ever being born. Similar to the Charles Dickens novel A Christmas Carol, Clarence has a fantastic idea: he would show George what life would be like without him ever having existed. “All right, ” Clarence tells George, “You got your wish. You ’ ve never been born. ”

A loud wind and sudden change in weather causes George to question the situation and drive down to the local bar for a drink. Having arrived at the busy, crowded bar, filled with people from town, George begins to realize that not one person there recognizes him. Even funnier, George notices that some people, including the friendly bartender, begin to develop a different attitude. Clarence, still being doubted by George, tells him that anytime he hears a bell ring, it means an angel has just received their wings. Still skeptical, George is taken through town by Clarence, to be shown what all would have looked like had he never existed.

Many parks and buildings he opened to help the community were never constructed, several neighbours and friends who once took help and advice from George now live homeless and disgraced, his family business has been lost, and all in the town seems to have fallen to shame. However, nothing seems to shake George more than the sight of his wife, Mary, now a lonely librarian. When George meets her and attempts to talk to her, and remind her of who he is, she yells for help and runs away. After being chased by the police, George finds himself back at the town bridge. Now desperate, George pleads to be alive again and begs to have his life back. When his prayers are answered, George returns home on Christmas Eve to his wife and kids, with a newfound sense of gratitude and respect for life. Neighbours, friends, and townspeople from all over come to George ’ s house with donations to save the family business. Finally, to overflow George with joy - a bell rings. It’ s A Wonderful Life will forever remain an emotional holiday classic, which is to this day remembered as a true work of art. This story, put together so greatly by screenplay writers and director/producer Frank Capra, along with an incredible cast, truly reminds us what Christmas is all about, as well as the purpose we serve in life which we should never take for granted. It’ s A Wonderful Life is a tale of sadness, hope, and prosperity, which teaches us to treat our lives with the utmost respect and remember that though we may undergo struggles and disappointments every once in a while, we must not lose sight of what’ s truly important, and should cherish the little things. We often overlook the fact that each of our actions affects someone, in some way, and makes a vital difference in each of our lives. This film resides with all audiences today due to its timeless message: remembering that the life within you is just as important as the life around you. To conclude, this film is one that all viewers will highly recommend after watching because of its powerful story filled with meaning, warmth, emotion, wisdom, Christmas spirit, and significance. It’ s A Wonderful Life is a film we will never forget!