It's a Wonderful Life (James Stewart)

(Amazon UK link)

It’s almost eleven years since we first watched the classic film ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, and while we recalled the basic idea, which is fairly well-known, we had entirely forgotten all the details. Made in 1946, the film is black and white, but after a moment’s adjustment, we found it didn’t matter at all. James Stewart stars as George Bailey, who is a frustrated, depressed and very worried businessman.

We don’t know why he’s like that at the start of the film, however. It starts with a few prayers followed by a kind of divine conversation, with 1946-style graphics depicting a trainee angel called Clarence (Henry Travers) who doesn’t yet have his wings, and who has an hour to persuade George that his life is worth living.

Another angel then shows Clarence some snippets from George’s life, starting when he’s a boy of about eleven, sledging with some friends. There’s a near crisis which George averts, although he loses part of his hearing as a result.

The next scene from George’s life shows him working in a shop which appears to have both sweets and pharmaceuticals. The pharmacist is confused and almost makes a fatal mistake, but thankfully George is able to stop him from doing so.

The flashbacks then jump ahead to George as a young man, about to embark on a long-planned trip to Europe and elsewhere. He longs to get out of the small town where he lives, and has no wish to go into the banking and loans business which his father and uncle run. His parents are supportive...then tragedy strikes, and George puts off his travels and college plans in order to save the business.

This is a pattern for the next few years of George’s life. He has many ideas and ambitions, but cares more for other people, and continually puts their wishes ahead of his own. Not that he’s unhappy: he marries Mary (Donna Reed) who loves and supports him despite an often difficult life. They have four children by the time the story reaches the climactic incident where Clarence is called in, as a result of many people’s prayers.

The first time we watched this, I kept waiting for Clarence to appear, not understanding that his part in the film, while essential, is relatively short. Most of the story builds up a picture of George’s background and personality, so that the viewer understands entirely why he’s so depressed. We also know who is behind many of his setbacks and the final crisis that precipitates the potential tragedy.

Clarence takes action in an unexpected way, and then takes George on a tour of the town showing him what it would have been like - and which people would have been negatively affected - if George had never existed. It’s a powerful message, one that many people need to hear, even if their involvement in other people’s lives isn’t as significant as George’s.

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ is rated U, but I feel that the United States rating of PG is more appropriate. While there’s nothing explicit, there are plenty of innuendoes, and some mild violence. I don’t know that I’d class this as a family Christmas film. It certainly has its feel-good aspect, and a happy, heartwarming ending, complete with a Christmas carol. But some sections are quite disturbing, and I don’t think I’d want to show it to a child younger than about nine or ten. Indeed, as some of the banking and business conversations went right over my head, I suspect it wouldn’t be of much interest to children younger than around twelve or even older.

But as a nostalgic film for adults, it’s one of the best, in my opinion, and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing it again.

Definitely recommended.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's DVD Reviews

It's a Wonderful Life (James Stewart, Henry Travers , Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore)

(Amazon UK link)

'It's a Wonderful Life' is an American classic movie from 1946, made in black and white. I knew – vaguely – the plot: a man is in despair, then learns what his town and friends would have been like without him. It has almost become a cliché in modern life, and has been spoofed or otherwise referred to in other shows or books - but until recently, I had never seen the actual film.

I thought about it for years but for some reason this classic has been surprisingly expensive until recently, when I added it to my wishlist and was very happy to be given it. And finally, a few days after Christmas, we sat down to watch it.

I have to say, the film was not quite as I had expected it to be. James Stewart stars as the depressed George, in a fairly typical 1940s American style, and does well enough in the role. However, most of the film turns out to be a series of flashbacks to George’s life, briefly in childhood and then as a young man; then, finally, there are some glimpses of him as he grows older. It was in some ways a frustrating life, as he had to give up many of his dreams - and I wondered for quite some time just where the plot was going.

George has a guardian angel, Clarence, played by Henry Travers. I felt that Clarence was a masterpiece of casting. He’s rather a bumbling angel, but by no means a young or even attractive one. He really wants the best for George, but is rather nervous about trying it, and would really love to earn his wings…

It could easily have been over-sentimental or schmaltzy, but somehow it isn’t. I found it a bit hard to get into, partly because of the 1940s American accents, but by the time we were half way through I was totally captivated.

Definitely a feel-good film, one of the few that I expect to watch again in a few years. Very much recommended, although the DVD seems to have returned to its over-priced state on Amazon. May be worth trying a reputable Marketplace option.

Rated U in the UK, and 'not rated' in the USA, although I assume that by today's standards it would be G-rated.

Review copyright Sue's DVD Reviews