It’s a Wonderful Life, written by Frank Capra and others, based on a
story by Philip Van Doren Stern
A different
version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E
and
http://realini.blogspot.ro/
This is not
just one of the most magnificent films, but also a recipe for happiness, a
meaningful and successful life.
It is the
story of a Superhero, the ultimate Übermensch, a man like no other and yet so
familiar and “common”.
-
It is about George Bailey and his
second class angel, Clarence
You can
find this extraordinary, fantastic film on the list of best films as compiled
by critics, scholars and experts;
But it is
also a popular film with audiences, for very good reason and even after all
those years- the masterpiece dates from 1947:
We learn
from the start that the protagonist, George Bailey is in trouble and the Almighty
is sending an angel to help him.
In order
for this second class angel to be able to offer support he finds all there is
to know about George.
He is
portrayed with magnificence by one of the best actors of all times, James
Stewart, who brings finesse, charm and extraordinary meaning to his
performance.
George Bailey
saved his younger brother from drowning when the latter was just a child and he
was playing on thin ice.
Ever since,
George Bailey has had trouble and cannot hear with the ear that was affected by
the cold water.
As a child,
he worked in a pharmacy where he saved a man’s life again, this time it was the
pharmacist.
As he
received the terrible news of the death of his son in World War I, the man
prepared some pills, only he added poison in his distress instead of the needed
substance.
Since George
was there and he could see what happened, he did not give the deadly pills to
the patient.
He thus
saved both the sick man and the pharmacist from going to jail for a long
sentence, without getting recognition, at least in the first place when the
foolish boss kicked him around, until he realized what just happened.
George’s dream
was to travel around the world and finish his education, but generous,
altruistic as he is he remained in Bedford Falls, his small home town.
Instead of
using his opportunities, he allowed his brother to continue his education and
later become a hero.
This perfect
hero is in charge of the Building and Loan Company that changes the life of
multitudes, people who no longer have to live in slums.
Mr. Potter,
his competitor and the richest man in the county- but only in financial terms-
is set to destroy the company and George.
An opportunity
is available when Uncle Billy loses $ 8,000 and the sum ends in the hands of
Mr. Potter.
Although the
rich man knows exactly what happened, he is bent on sending George to jail,
since the latter has taken upon him all the blame.
Furthermore,
George Bailey is determined to commit suicide and allow the family to get the
insurance money.
This is
where second class angel- because he has no wings yet- Clarence enters the
stage, by jumping into a river, in…winter.
This is
comedy at its best, for especially the part where we have the angel is comical
and entertaining, as well as thought provoking and philosophical, with the
angel claiming that he jumped in to save George, while the latter is flabbergasted
by this claim, since it is he who jumped in the ice cold river to save the old
man…
When George
continues to doubt that he had any impact on the community around him, he is
presented with the “alternative reality” or “alternative facts” as they call
them at the White House and life without him is there to experience…
His brother
is dead, since he was not saved in this version, the homes and the district for
needy people has not been built and the whole community has been severely
affected by the absence of this Übermensch.
Furthermore,
many people have died, because Harry Bailey, dead at the age of ten, was not
there to save them during World War II.
In one
scene, the war hero Harry Bailey comes home to Bedford Falls and advances one
of the many magical truths of this chef d’oeuvre
-
My brother, George-The richest man
in this county
And he is
right, because money is so much less important, without significance when
compared to the wealth of this Superman.
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