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Feature Film Friday: It’s A Wonderful Life
For many people, Christmas just isn’t Christmas until you’ve had a chance to watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” again. This classic tale of a man who underestimates his importance to others and the blessings he’s enjoyed his entire life is simply told but rich in meaning.
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About the Story
Fitting in with our week of peace, George Bailey is taken from his customary good humor to the depths of despair through the misdeeds of his bitter rival, the miserly Mr. Potter, and back to the heights of joy through the ministrations of his own personal guardian angel, Clarence.
George had definite ideas of what he wanted to do with his life, but duty and community always called him away from his intended goals. He was always content to sacrifice for the greater good until he was faced with a calamity, not of his own making. When his world comes crashing down around his ears one Christmas Eve, George considers making the ultimate sacrifice to put things right.
What George doesn’t realize is that he’s not nearly as alone as he feels. He never knew exactly how much good he has done for his family, friends and community until he’s given the opportunity to see what the world would be like without him. It’s a horrifyingly grim and tragic mess.
When he finally comes to his senses, he genuinely appreciates his place in the grand scheme of things. While he didn’t fully appreciate all the good he’d done over the years, his family, friends and neighbors certainly have. George finally has a chance to reap what he has sown and it’s one of the happiest endings in all holiday films.
About the Director
Compassion is a two way street. ~Frank Capra
Frank Capra came from Sicily at the age of 5 with his family in the steerage compartment of a steamship in 1903. He was the only member of his family to graduate college. He served in the military, teaching the mathematics necessary to operate and direct artillery. Eventually, he worked his way into the Hollywood film industry.
Through his own struggles, he was able to see the world through the lens of an idealized American perspective. Frank’s characters were rugged individuals at odds with a corrupt world. He was personally invested in the representation of the American Dream as a worthwhile perspective and goal.
After becoming a renowned director, Frank joined the Army again. He wanted to serve his country and to give hope to his fellow service members. He was appointed to a special section dedicated to boosting morale where he produced the seven-part series “Why We Fight“.
After the war, Capra founded Liberty Films with Samuel Briskin to get away from the heavy hand of studio bosses. His personal mythology of the well-meaning little guy versus the corrupt system was a large part of many of his films and his own life. He saw the sign of things to come and did his best to preserve the feel-good storylines that he had made his name on.
Although derided as “Capra-corn” in his own time by the very personalities he was protesting with his films, Frank Capra has endured as one of America’s greatest and most beloved directors. His simple vision of a world inhabited by idealistic heroes doing their best to chip away at a corrupt machine resonates for many of us today.