Second of all, remember that it is Old Man Potter who steals the money, and causes all the troubles that compound in George Bailey's life in It's a Wonderful Life, and makes him contemplate suicide. He even suggests that George is better off dead from a practical point of view (given the parameter that he lives in a world where Potter exists and is such a massive A-hole). This makes Potter 1) a thief; 2) guilty of fraud; and 3) one sadistically sick exponent for the values of capitalism. Flash forward 60 years (or to 2015 when they're threatening to release a sequel) and he could follow it up with "I drink your milkshake!" (a phrase I still find more pathetic than threatening). Anyway, just to drive home the point what a vile human being Potter is.
Third, despite its latter-day reputation as a Christmas classic, it was an under-performer for RKO losing half a million dollars in its first run, competing for Holiday dollars with The Best Years of of Their Lives and Miracle on 34th Street. Its reputation was so lackluster it was allowed to slip into the public domain, where in the 1960's, small "art" theaters would show it for Christmas, and it became a Christmas annual in the 1970's. Capra was surprised by that. I see references to a Wall Street Journal interview where he talks about the phenomenon, but I haven't laid eyes on it, so I won't repeat anything that it "supposedly" says. But, every film has its "season"—upon its first release, and with wonderful second and third lives in the video market.
Fourth, this is my favorite scene—the aftermath of George Bailey being confronted, nightmarishly, with the world without him, and of how his insignificance proves to be a lynch-pin in so many lives beyond his—his begging of a suddenly vanished Clarence to return him to his life, after the vision of "Potterville" and the dire consequences on his friends and family. Dare I throw out the opinion that somewhere a "George" has died and Capra's bucolic America has turned into "Potterville," for real? Would I get any arguments?
So, a reprieve this Christmas, as George Bailey comes back to life—his life—and even his enemy gives him the best news he could ever hear: "Go on home. They're waiting for you."
The Set-Up: George Bailey (James Stewart) has had all sorts of dreams of travelling the world and leading a romantic life, but when his father dies, it's up to him to run the Bailey Brothers Building and Loan Association in the little town of Bedford Falls. Working with his Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell), he's able to keep it afloat and help out a lot of people, whose alternative is to do business with the craven Henry Potter (Lionel Barrymore). George's dreams die. But, he marries Mary (Donna Reed), have four kids, scraping by, until just before Christmas, Billy loses some money (it's lifted by Potter, who's trying to squeeze out the Bailey B&L), and George's world starts to fall apart. As Potter tells him when George goes to him for a little leniency: "You're worth more dead than alive!" George wishes he was dead, and it's up to the angel Clarence (Henry Travers) to grant him a cautionary wish; he shows him what the world would be like without him, and it's a horror story. at the last, he clobbers his cop-pal, Bert (Ward Bond) and runs out of town, back to the bridge where he first made his wish.
Action!
CLOSEUP ––
George leaning on the bridge railing, praying.
CLOSE SHOT ––
George backs away and gets set to hit Bert again.
George talks hopefully –– George touches Bert unbelievingly –– George's mouth is bleeding again.
GEORGE (cont'd) Bert, do you know me?
He practically embraces the astonished Bert, then runs at top speed toward town.
George runs away from camera yelling:
GEORGE Mary!
NIGHT CLOSE SHOT ––
EXTERIOR MAIN STREET BEDFORD FALLS ––
NIGHT CLOSE SHOT ––
He turns and runs through the falling snow up the main street of the town. As he runs, he notices that the town is back in its original appearance. He passes some late shoppers on the street:
EXTERIOR THEATRE ––
NIGHT PAN SHOT ––
As George runs by:
EXTERIOR BEDFORD FALLS EMPORIUM ––
NIGHT PAN SHOT ––
as George runs by:
EXTERIOR BUILDING AND LOAN OFICES ––
NIGHT PAN SHOT ––
As George runs by:
EXTERIOR BANK ––
NIGHT CLOSE SHOT ––
NIGHT CLOSE SHOT ––
Potter is seated working at his desk, his goon by his side. George pounds on the window.
It's a Wonderful Life
Words by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Jo Swerling, Michael Wilson. and Frank Capra
Pictures by Joseph Biroc, Joseph Walker, Victor Milner, and Frank Capra
It's a Wonderful Life is available on DVD and Blu-Ray on Republic Entertainment, Inc.
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