Why It's A Wonderful Life is a significant film
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- Опубліковано 22 гру 2021
- Here is everything you need to know about the film It's A Wonderful Life, which recently turned 75 years old.
Watch the film for free: www.nbc.com/its-a-wonderful-life
Produced by Matt Beat. All images/video by Matt Beat, found in the public domain, or used under fair use guidelines. Music by E's Jammy Jams.
My other channel: @iammrbeat
Sources/further reading:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_...
www.democratandchronicle.com/...
www.snopes.com/fact-check/swi...
www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650
screenrant.com/its-a-wonderfu...
www.digitalspy.com/movies/a30...
www.mentalfloss.com/article/9...
www.life.com/arts-entertainme...
#itsawonderfullife #christmasmovies #filmhistory
Not only do many consider it the greatest Christmas film of all time, but many consider it one of the greatest FILMS of all time, period. Even though it debuted 75 years ago, it still holds up amazingly well. Here is everything you need to know about It’s a Wonderful Life.
November 1939
Philip Van Doren Stern begins writing a short story loosely based on the classic Charles Dickens novella A Christmas Carol. He didn’t finish it until 1943 and sent it to a bunch of publishers, none of which were interested in publishing it. So he just printed a bunch and mailed them to friends and family members instead. Well somehow, the story, called The Greatest Gift, got into the hands of David Hempstead, a film producer who worked for RKO Pictures, and he got the story to the actor Cary Grant. Well Grant loved it and said if RKO Pictures turned it into a film, he’d want to play the lead role. RKO bought the rights to turn it into a movie for $10,000.
However, RKO Pictures hesitated on moving forward, not satisfied with different scripts that different screenwriters came up with. Enter director Frank Capra, whose new production company, Liberty Films, had just entered a long-term deal with RKO. After Capra read it he immediately wanted it for his first Hollywood film. Capra hired his own team to help him write a screenplay from it. The main folks who contributed were Frances Goodrich, Albert Hacket, and Jo Swerling, although Capra apparently didn’t get along well with the team.
Though this has never been fully verified, Capra was likely inspired to model the setting for the film after Seneca Falls, New York, after he visited the town in 1945, although the original author, Stern, had Califon, New Jersey in mind.
Anyway, Cary Grant had moved on, so now Capra needed to find someone for the lead role. He found James Stewart, who had just returned home from his heroic military service during World War Two. Stewart had worked with Capra on Mr. Smith Goes to Washington before the war. Now that the war was over, Stewart was looking at returning to acting, and gladly accepted the leading role of George Bailey. Capra considered MANY actors for the rest of the roles, but ultimately went with Donna Reed to play George’s wife, Mary Bailey. He chose Lionel Barrymore to play Potter, which was kind of fitting since Barrymore had famously played Ebenezer Scrooge in radio presentations of A Christmas Carol a few years prior. The dude who Capra picked to play Mr. Gower, the drugstore owner was H.B. Warner, who actually studied medicine before going into acting. An English actor named Henry Travers played Clarence, the angel. Though he was an accomplished actor, this would easily be his most famous role.
Capra would not only direct the film, but produce the whole thing as well. Filming began on April 15, 1946 and ended on July 27th, and no, they didn’t film it in New York or New Jersey. They filmed it in California, of course, mostly on a giant set. Yep, Bedford Falls was a fake town built on four acres at the RKO Studios in Culver City, California, with additional scenes shot on their 89-acre ranch in Encino. For the snow scenes, special effects artist Russell Shearman had developed a brand new compound mixing water, soap flakes, foamite, and sugar. Before that movie snow was usually made from untoasted cornflakes, believe it or not. The famous high school dance scenes were filmed at a REAL location, at Beverly Hills High School, which you can still visit.
It’s a Wonderful Life premiered on December 20, 1946 at the Globe Theatre in New York City. It wouldn’t be released nationwide until January 7th, which probably hurt its performance. Critics were mixed about it and it actually underperformed at the box office, with RKO losing $525,000. The FBI officially didn’t like it, either, issuing a memo that said the film secretly had a pro-Communist agenda.
What is the greatest Christmas film of all time?
A Christmas Story!
@@joshbutts3143 Oh that's a good one!
The Godfather
The Polar Express and A Christmas Carol because I love the plot.
The Nativity
No worries Mr. Beat; I've watched this movie several times, and even though I know exactly how it's going to end, I can't help tearing up at the end every time!
My school showed it twice a year- before winter break/Christmas AND 2d semester final exams- as suicide prevention. The story is universal and translates well. P.S. Don’t forget the Bert & Ernie homage by Sesame Street.
That's an effective PSA . The Bert and Ernie reference is just a myth though
It does translate well. And yeah the Bert and Ernie apparently was one of those weird coincidences.
Update: as a teacher, all my administrators worked with a “juvenile delinquent” who “F”-bombed them from the school balcony, etc. Student transforms his life, going from “straight F” to straight “A” AND takes a CPR course- to then save a kid drowned in a pool! ME to admin: “You remember the scene in It’s a Wonderful Life where George saves his little brother?” [They nod, but are mystified by my apparent non sequitur.] “Did you ever stop to think that if you hadn’t saved this ‘bad hopeless teen,’ then he’s not there to save the child in the pool?”
@@JD-zd8tm Thanks, I've wondered about that for a long time thinking Henson took the names from the movie. But, it turns out it was just a coincidence.
What makes this a Christmas joy for me is also about all the wonderful character actors populating Bedford Falls. Growing up in the 60s, I saw those faces all over television in reruns and current series, and in old and new movies.
Just watched it for the first time due in a huge part to this video. You started taking about it, I stopped the video and went on to watch it. What an amazing movie, and a great review Mr. Beat
Top comment. This means a lot! So glad you enjoyed it!
My personal favorite film. Lovely analysis, my friend.
Awesome, and thank you for the kind words. :)
@@mattbeatgoeson You’re welcome.
@@mattbeatgoeson oh stop ✋️ you deserve all the praise
This will always be my favorite movie of all time ❤️
We watched it every year when my daughter was growing up.
Glad you appreciate it!
I'm of the "Greatest Film of All Time" belief. -Merry Christmas!
My annual go to Christmas movie is Home Alone 2, which funny enough features the French language version of this movie (when the MacAllister family is stuck in Florida during heavy rains).
My other favorite go to holiday movies are “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” (1983) and the Muppets musical version of Christmas Carol (starring a singing Michael Caine as Scrooge).
All good comfort film movies!
Aloha 😊🎄🤙🏼👏🏼
Actually, though, I believe it's Part One, which featured the French version (Remember the whole family's in France?). Part Two actually showed the Spanish language version (Since there's a large population of Cubans there).
I wish you made more of these videos. You are so good at them.
Well thank you Harry
Swear by the Ghost of Rochester that you will NOT display black-and-white Colorized movies again!;)
Couldn't have put it any better! Much watch every year!
They used to play this movie and Miracle on 34th Street every Christmas on New Zealand television. They have moved on to the appalling Love Actually and for some unknown reason The Shawshank Redemption.
Well The Shawshank Redemption makes up for Love Actually
Love this film. Love this channel. Thank you for these awesome mini-docs on music and film. (I also cry at the ending of this film, every time.)
I don't get why this film didn't get praise when it was initially released. It is a great film with great performances. I can't count how many times I've watched it. One of my favorite scenes is when George and Mary are together at her home and her mom is kinda antsy about it because she doesn't really like George. So to get under Mom's skin Mary yells up to her, "He's making violent love to me, Mother!" Then later they both begrudgingly realize they love each other after being on the phone with Sam Wainwright and the smoochfest begins. It is so pure and passionate. Since you are taking requests on what films to do a video on next, how about Sunset Blvd. and/or It Happened One Night.....two of my faves.
Thanks for the great comment and suggestions!
Two reasons I can think of why it wasn't praised. Marketing first: Had it been released before Christmas it probably would've had a better audience. Politics second: The Cold War was just starting and if the FBI labeled it as pink, that would've influenced both the crowds and the reviewers. I never knew it was nominated for 5 Oscars.
This movie, and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation ( chevy chase) are my two Christmas must watch movies.
when people begin pouring into the house with the money, man. gets tears from me everytime.
“a toast to my brother george… the richest man in town.” god.
Dang it, you just made me teary-eyed. I haven't seen this movie in a bit, and I'd forgotten about that line. Oof. Gets me everytime too.
Kinda funny you showed the colorized version which I don't think I've actually seen before, that sparked a whole controversy when Ted Turner started commissioning colorizations. It only really ended when he tried to colorize Citizen Kane and Orson Welles' last request was to get him to stop.
I personally think the colorizations are interesting and do add a little more dimension to black and white films, but shouldn't be the versions people see first.
I think it looks horrible when movies are colorized.
Love this movie
Glad to hear it!
Great work Mr. Beat!
Thanks!
@@mattbeatgoeson Well, you're the most creative person I've ever seen!
Why is this the first time i am learning you had a second channel????? this video poped up in my feed earlier today.... but then i spend a few hours trying to find it again.
Well thanks for being here!
You should do a brief history on the Grateful Dead
NO doubt! My fav as well:) I thought I was the only dude to ever cry at the end:) I never knew why, it's not sad it's a great ending and the tears still came. I often thought WTF:) HA!
I was tearing up just watching this review, lol. There's a Glenn Ford movie from the '50s in which his character falls in love with a geisha. At one point the tears start flowing and Glenn doesn't understand why she's crying (he may have proposed, I forget exactly) and he asks why. She answers, "I cry for happy." You, my brother, and I cry for happy.
Can anyone tell me where to find the instrumental version of 'Tis the Season to be Jolly' found here? It sounds so awesome!!
Love it!!!
Hi #The Beat Goes On. Are You gonna do brief history of these bands like soundgarden, or blink-182
I know this is a weird Question for a movie
You should do some Kubrick movies
I plan on it!
Great video
Thanks Amanda!
This is the GOAT.
I cried watching this video
pls do "The Brief History Of The Beach Boys" :)))
Can you do a video about Citizen Kane?
Absolutely
May I suggest Pavement as a future video suggestion? They did a pretty good "Schoolhouse Rock" cover.
They'll also be doing 30th anniversary concerts next year, of which I plan on attending.
@@Urlocallordandsavior Great suggestion. One of my favorite bands growing up
@@mattbeatgoeson Yeah, wished I was born in the 90s to experience the decade's music in real time :p Gonna see them live in 2022 though. Would there be any difference or are old groups largely the same from back in their heyday?
Hey, Mr. Beat. Can you please review the original Home Alone in a future video?
I'd love to!
do the godfather next
I know off this movie because it is mentioned in other populair media. But as an non American I have never seen this movie and its a very hard sell to someone who isnt brought up with it.
I doubt your verdict ;)
Well, it's streaming for free right now. I dare you to give it a chance. ;)
Please do Coldplay next time 😁
Eventually sure
@@iammrbeat That was me oops
@@iammrbeat I love your work, I have so much respect for your videos. As a person who loves Films, Music, and US History, you’re a great teacher and UA-camr. Wish you a Happy Holidays and a great 2022
I've never understood the whole National Film Registry selecting films for preservation thing, since they have many modern films that have thousands of copies out among the public. The only movies that might need preserving are from the silent film era. I'm guessing it's mostly an honorary thing, but I still find it weird.
The national film registry began as a way to keep films that are cherished by the public eye from being destroyed/ruined/forgotten. It was created because one guy bought the rights to a bunch of MGM films (including It’s a Wonderful Life if I remember), and began coloring the black and white ones. This causes a lot of backlash for various reasons. Whether you agree with those reasons or not, it still brought up the question of what else could be done to these films if they are put in the wrong hands? If someone has the rights to a beloved film, what’s stopping him/her from deleting scenes, or destroying the movies all together?
In addition, there are so so many films from all eras that we will never get to see again because no one thought to preserve them. There are many movies that exist only in peoples’ memories, and that’s not what movies were made for!
The film registry itself also only selects films that are 10+ years old, and are deemed culturally, aesthetically, or historically significant - this means these films are being preserved for more than preservation’s sake. They’re being preserved because they represent an important part of the American experience - one that we might not find anywhere except for in film. It would be a shame if these aspects are lost because we didn’t think they really need to be preserved.
@@boxbo7926 Thanks for the reply. I guess where I'm confused is what exactly changes when a film is placed on the registry. Taking your example of colorization, it's not as though black and white copies don't still exist. Are there original masters out there that are being tampered with and that's what we're trying to prevent? Is there a vault where we're keeping an original master for "preservation"? I know that, just this year, "Return of the Jedi" was placed on the list, and I also know that George Lucas himself tampered with the original for later releases. I guess I'm confused as to what the literal meaning of "preserved" is. I totally get it for older movies, I don't get it for movies made since the VCR era.
I purchased the restored Rathbone/Bruce Sherlock Holmes' series that had been restored by the UCLA Film School. The set included a really interesting disk about the need for restoration and the process involved. Most of those movies that you see uploaded here are from that set. If you ever find it and watch it, I think it'll help you understand the importance of restoring and preserving those classic films.
You should cover Pink Floyd as the next band / singer
As I said in the video, Led Zeppelin is next. However, look for Pink Floyd hopefully soon after that as well! :)
Please do led zeppelin next
As I said in the video, yep it's coming next.
@@iammrbeat Oops that was me
Just looked and I don’t see it on Peacock-just in case anyone else was looking and confused too, lol
I put a link to it in the description
I actually flatlined on the operating table for 10 minutes and saw Heaven and it really does look like it does in this video
177th like
I thought it's anti-corporate message is very ahead of it's time (or that the New Deal popular consciousness/zeitgeist died decades ago), something that leftists/reformists would take pretty well today.
Make led zeppelin
61st
12th
Too bad its public domain (the story of the film at least) status made copying of the plot by other film cliche.
Yeah, some of those remakes were beyond horrible btw
@@mattbeatgoeson Some remakes miss the point or be bad in the opposite way: doing an almost line by line and shot by shot replication.
It’s a wonderful life in color makes me wanna kms
the black and White is the only valid version. Colorization is evil.
Nah! too soapy for me.
Yesterday I watched a movie about "Florence Jenkins Foster" ... I laughed and laughed and then I laughed some more.
Ok bruh
Ahh 1946... when the FBI was still against communism