It's a Wonderful Life (1946) is NOT WHAT I THOUGHT! First Time Watching Movie Reaction & Commentary
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- Опубліковано 5 гру 2021
- Full length reaction on Patreon: / casualnerdreactions
My first time watching It's a Wonderful Life (1946) I thought I knew this movie before watching it, turns out I had no idea what I was getting into! I had an incredible time watching this Christmas Classic. I hope you enjoy my movie reaction for It's a Wonderful Life
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Hi, I'm Chris! Welcome to my channel. I react to movies & tv shows hoping to represent what it's really like to experience them for the first time. If you enjoy, you can support me by liking the video, subscribing to the channel, and letting me know your thoughts in the comments.
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Original Movie: It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
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What do you love about it's a wonderful life? I legitimately had no idea the first 2/3 of the movie existed and I actually really enjoyed this film. Check out the full length reaction at www.patreon.com/casualnerdreactions You can also find my reaction to Miracle in Cell No 7 and that movie broke me.
My personal canon is that Mr. Potter died of a heart attack that night on hearing about George's rescue and Bedford Falls lived happily ever after.
Here is the lost ending to the movie where Mr. Potter gets what he deserves. ua-cam.com/video/vw89o0afb2A/v-deo.html
@@jdnevesytrof6208 Here is the lost ending to the movie where Mr. Potter gets what he deserves. ua-cam.com/video/vw89o0afb2A/v-deo.html
Hi Chris, You really have never seen this movie before .... but it's on every Christmas!! hehe or at least it is in the UK.
Interesting to note that this film is now considered a timeless classic, but back when it was released it performed poorly at the box office, and received mixed reviews.
Best Wishes, Ian
I love how despite being labelled as a Christmas movie, it's not really about the holiday, it's more about George Bailey and how one person can make a difference.
“To my big brother George, the richest man in town”
That gets me every single time I watch it
Come to think of it, "The Richest Man in Town" would have been a good title for this film. George was always the richest man in town - he just never knew it.
Yes sir. Right along with "Every man in that transport died. Harry didn't save them because you weren't there to save Harry."
Me too
Every single time!
I manage to hold back the tears until that line...then it's 😭.
The famous kiss between Mary and George has an intense history to it. Jimmy Stewart fought in WWll and when he came home, he wanted to do something more meaningful with his life than acting. Frank Capra talked him into doing this film, saying nobody else could play it but Stewart. Jimmy Stewart was so nervous for his first on screen kiss after more than four years of war that he forgot whole pages of dialogue, just grabbed Donna Reed and kissed her. Capra loved it so much, he kept it in the movie. For the rest of his life, Jimmy Stewart had veterans come up to him and thank him for this film. It gave them hope in their darkest times.
I'd have been nervous kissing Donna..but oh how a wish I had had the opportunity!
He Flew 20 combat missions over Nazi occupied Erope, and suffered from PTSD. I think it came out in his acting. Amazing performance.
@@notjimmystewart Amazing service indeed! Distinguished Service Medal, Private to freakin' Colonel in 4 years, finally to Major General (after retiring). Legend.
It was also, as I recall, the first "passionate" kiss shown on screen post-industry censorship. It caused a lot of swooning when it was released. They had a heck of a time passing the stringent rules of the time. They finally got approval, which opened the door for other movies. (NOTE: something was covered in some retrospect of old Hollywood, not sure if it's actual fact, just old producers reminising).
Speaking of Capra, did you know Capra in Latin means Goat, hence the goat in Martini's car.
James Stewart's acting in this film is a revelation, and it's ahead of its time.
False. He had shown this ability many times over and there were many actors of this caliber in those days. It's now that we have few really good actors.
Well... He was elected to 3rd best actor of all times, if this mean anything to you. And what should I say? There were right! Rest in peace Taurus- brother...
The fact that you can relate to George - unlike the Scrooge character who is miserable right from the start of the story - is that you can see how taxing it is for him to be generous and compassionate over time. By the point where George is miserable and bitter, you not only understand it but you empathize with him - and then to see him gain a new respect for the life he already had and how much the town appreciates him is why this film towers above most. George's circumstances didn't change for him - just the way he saw himself and the world around him. "To my big brother George, the richest man in town." Just. WOW.
Truly a powerful statement.
The best line in the movie as far as I am concerned - always gets me right there.......
Mostly agreed, but we learn to empathize with Scrooge after seeing his past and understanding the circumstances that lead to him severing his toes to his fellow human beings.
@@nickmanzo8459 Yeah I get that but the way the story is structured is that you learn of it after the fact -with this film you are going through it with him so you feel the weight add up onto his shoulders, rather than small snapshots through the various ghosts - I find it more effective and powerful that way as a viewer ;)
As a fun fact did you know the guy who played Mr Potter played Scrooge a number of times on the radio, he did a great job. Also he’s a relative to Drew Barrymore.
What’s not always noted is that George Bailey is a very human man. He’s got hopes, dreams, disappointments, desires and humor. The fact that his dreams don’t turn out as he expected, but his dreams change without recognizing that is key! And, while Capra is wonderful, please give a TON of credit to the screenwriter. The cinematography is beautiful and each role is perfectly cast. And when Ellen Zcorbyvasjs for just $17.50, I LOSE it. Cue the tears!
She was played by Ellen Corby. The grandmother in the Waltons.
That part and Stewart's reaction weren't scripted. They told Ellen to ask for something more modest after the $242.00, so she came up with the $17.50 and Stewart reacted.
I think George Bailey is one of the greatest, most complex characters ever written for a movie. Hes right up there with Charles Foster Kane and Scarlett O'Hara.
On the flipside, Mary Bailey may be the greatest wife and mother ever put on film.
I didn't see this movie until college, and assumed all the hype was childhood sentimental nonsense.
Then I watched it; it wasn't.
It's an amazing movie and now I watch it every single year. American classic with something for everyone on Earth.
This movie comes on TV a lot at Christmas time. When I was in my teens and all through my 20s in the 80s, I would never want to see this movie because it seemed schmaltzy and old-timey. It wasn't until I was 40 that I actually sat down and watched it and discovered that it is an amazing movie with a timeless message that hit me pretty hard. We are often ungrateful people who don't realize what fortune they have in their own lives. Now, most of my family is gone and hearing a bell always makes me think of someone in my family getting their wings. So yeah, this is a great movie worthy of all its accolades and it puts a lump in my throat every time.
The payoff at the end is so richly deserved and heartfelt. Never ceases to bring a tear to the eye. Just one of many aspects that make this a timeless classic.
I'm 68 years old. I've watched this movie every Christmas since I was 10, it aired every Christmas on TV. I never get tired of it. Now it's a family tradition to watch it.Just to show the value a life has on so many people.
i keep it together throughout, right up until harry bailey makes the toast to his brother george, “the richest man in town .” it’s at that point that i break down bawling every single time. this movie is absolutely beautiful.
Same here 😭 It has a double meaning because not only is he rich monetarily, but even more important, rich in love, family and friendship 🤍🤍
The point of Potter getting away with stealing the $8K from George is to emphasize that in the end, it doesn’t matter. George is a far richer man.
Ironically, there was an SNL sketch where Billy figures out that he left the money with Potter, and they form a mob to go after him.
I love the fact that two Sesame Street characters, Bert and Ernie, are named after the police officer and cab driver in this movie.
Everyone is upset with George because of the mood he was in when he visited Mary. You've got to remember, it was one of the worst days of his life when he found out he couldn't leave because Harry took a job.
“”One of the worst days of your life *so far.*”
Yes indeed!
The big takeaway (at least for me) is that during his whole life George keep sacrificing his life and goals and even sometimes his own happiness to help other people. And the people around him did notice. That's why everyone is praying for him in the opening. He's done so much for everyone else, and they care about him.
Yes! This. Sometimes we feel unseen, but there are always people who care more than we know.
I was a kid when I first watched it. My parents kind of made it a Christmas staple, well, them and tv because it became an annual tv event. I'm 64 now and still don't get tired of this movie. It just a good story. A little shout out to Jim Henson for naming two of his characters after the cop and taxi driver, Bert and Ernie.
Oh, I never realized that Jim Henson did that! Cool!
"I was a kid when I first watched it. My parents kind of made it a Christmas staple, well, them and tv ... "
Yeah, I'm shocked that it was not seen by everyone. My experience was like yours and I remember seeing more and more in it each year as I grew up. Did it shape the best part of us ? That argument could be made, right Clarence ? 😃
I believe the Bert and Ernie thing is a coincidence.
@@JonathanRay77
Right! This has been discussed over and over before. Just a coincidence.
Is this real?
Notice the scene at the bar, where Jimmy Stewart is praying desperately for help... Notice his breathing, his shaking, etc.
James Stewart was Method more than a decade before Marlon Brando supposedly introduced the style to American viewers. More than any other movie star of his day, Stewart disappeared into his roles, even though his voice and physicality were immediately recognizable and unique. Amazing acting.
His acting really is impressive. Thanks for sharing!
I think George acts hostile to Mary because she is perceived as yet another reason to keep him from his dreams. But as he goes through his wish list he then says “and you…..you”, reality comes crashing in, fact is, he loves her deeply, and it outweighs his dreams, his emotions take over as he kisses her uncontrollably. What a fabulous scene, also the cast, Thomas Mitchel (Uncle Billy) and Lionel Barrymore (Drew Barrymore’s great uncle) are both titans. Donna Reed later had a very popular tv series that aired for 8 seasons. H.B. Warner, Gloria Grahame, Henry Travers, all had great careers……….
I first saw this movie as a kid on TV. Probably in the 1970s. This movie came out in 1946 and was Jimmy Stewart‘s first film after returning from active duty as a Air Force pilot in WWII. Stewart made 20 bombing runs over Germany. He was actually suffering from PTSD during filming due to seeing his friends on other bombers shot out of the sky and killed. He said later that making the film helped him work through some of it. It’s a Wonderful Life was nominated for five Oscars including: Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director but didn’t win any of them.
You can really see a difference in Stewart in this film and The Philadelphia Story (1940). The war aged Stewart.
Mr. Potter is played by Lionel Barrymore, Drew Barrymore's uncle. He was a great actor that usually played nicer guys than this. Also, if you want to see Mr. Potter get what he deserves, there's an SNL skit where George and the whole town go over to his office and beat the living shit out of him.
Great-uncle, surely…
@@BlueShadow777 yes
ua-cam.com/video/vw89o0afb2A/v-deo.html
Lionel Barrymore played Scrooge on the radio back in the 1930s and he was really good in that role, if you’re interested I’m sure you can find it on UA-cam. Look for Campbell’s Playhouse 1938 or 1939, it’s about an hour long.
_Captains Courageous_ is a great film Lionel Barrymore played an important part in.
I bawl at the end of this film every time.
Jimmy Stewart volunteered to serve in WW2. They tried to keep him out of very active service because he was already a big star at the time, but he refused. You can read all about that on Wikipedia. He was a pilot and saved a lot of people. He was in a few very heavy casualty battles. This was the first movie he made when he came back. He still had nightmares about men falling from the sky and terrible PTSD. He was grounded because of it. You can see a lot of this come through in the scenes when George is yelling at his family and on the bridge. You are actually watching an actor work through some heavy trauma. There are lots of articles about it and several "making of" videos that discuss it.
I saw a documentary made many years later of one of the hellish missions he commanded, they were interviewing many of the survivors of the raid and right in the middle of it was him with the caption reading "Group Captain James Stewart" and making no mention of his celebrity.
That’s Incredible. I have rarely had more respect for an actor. Thank you for sharing this.
Jimmy Stewart was an Officer in the 445th Bomb Group based at RAF Tibbenham, England .... At the same time my Father was! ... Both were WW II Heroes!
@@jamesalexander5623 That's amazing. My grandfather served in the American Air Force as an engineer. The war really defined that generation.
@@DanielleDeLisle a lot of actors from the greatest generation served in world war 2. Some like charles durning won the silver star and purple heart.
This movie was my dad's favorite. I watched it with him every single Christmas since I was a baby in 1976. When he passed in Feb 2003, I swore I would never watch it again. Then Christmas time came around. And my 9 year old stepson, who'd known my dad all his life, came to the computer room one day and he said to come into the living room right now. When I got there, he looked at me and he said "come on, it's about to start". On the table there was a bowl of chips, a bowl of pop corn, Coca-Cola with ice, some gummy bears etc... Like there had been every year my entire life. That's when I heard the music. My heart broke and I opened my mouth to thank this boy for his nice gesture but I wasn't going to be able to watch it this year.
Before I could say anything he sat on the couch and said "I think it's time I watched it, even though it looks boring. Don't make me watch it alone."
And the first time he heard a bell ring after he saw that movie, he smiled the biggest smile and told me "grandpa got his wings".
This boy is 28 years old now. And every year he comes over with chips, pop corn, gummy bears and cokes. And we watch it together.
One of those films, like the Wizard of Oz, completely unappreciated in its time until TV showings decades later made it an "immortal" classic. I doubt you'd find many people 5 years after it came out who even remembered it.
I love this film. This is no happy-go-lucky everything's wonderful at Christmas-time movie. George Bailey is driven right to the edge and about to end his life. Clarence is comedic, and obviously there are light moments throughout, but even as he's living on the alternate timeline that crazed terrified look in James Stewart's eyes when the camera moves around him in close up. It's just tremendous stuff. One of the all time great movies.
(PS: JUST pipped to the post in my list of favourite James Stewart's films by Harvey, my all time favourite movie.)
Notice that the cop and the cabbie are called Bert and Ernie -- same as the two best friends on Sesame Street.
Wicked Old Man Potter was played by Lionel Barrymore. Along with his brother John and sister Ethel, they were part of the great Barrymore acting dynasty, famous in Broadway Theatre, Silent films and then in the Talkies. Drew Barrymore, of "Charlie's Angels" and "E.T. the Extraterrestrial" fame, is part of the same dynasty.
To set the record straight, Mr. Potter is played by Lionel Barrymore, John Barrymore's brother. John Barrymore is Drew's paternal grandfather. Lionel is her great-uncle.
Crystal clear explanation! Now that people have mentioned the relation, I can kind of see it! Or imagine it 🤣
@@CasualNerdReactions Their sister was Ethel Barrymore who was one of the great actresses of the 20th century. When she was at the height of her stardom anything she did became a trend. There is a theater named after her in New York City. The Barrymores come from acting families, the Drews and the Barrymores, on both sides. Fun fact, the 3 siblings were only in one movie together "Rasputin and the Empress" 1932. When Lionel Barrymore died, Ethel was so broken up she could not attend the funeral. Love the Barrymores! The absolute evil of the Potter character is the contrast that emphasizes the goodness of the George Bailey character. Perfectly played by both actors! Loved your reaction!
In real life, Lionel had to get around in a wheelchair due to rheumatoid arthritis. His character in this film is probably the most tragic antagonist on the silver screen. Potter could have used his power and wealth to help people but chose not to do so.
It was important to see George's relationship with all those people to make the ending so effective. That's why so much of the movie was dedicated to his events BEFORE he realized what life would have been for them if he had never been born.
I have missed a time when Americans saw/shared more of the culture - 3 TV stations, movies at the local theater and current music on the radio. In this time of infinite choices that has fallen by the wayside. Except, from the comments, for "It's A Wonderful Life"! It's a wonderful thing that so many of us share in the joy of this great classic at Christmastime! Thank you for bringing us together with your heartfelt reaction! Of course I love UA-cam and so many choices, I just wish we could still share more. Maybe through reactions we are. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it, and best wishes all around!
You’re right, there is something powerful about shared experiences and today with so many options it really changes things. Merry Christmas!
NOW you know why I said you need to see it. It's simply the best. You missed the moment that George is back in the real world - snow is the key. It *never* snows in Pottersville, the movie cuts when Clarence takes George to the alternative world and the snow stops. You don't see it fall again until George is begging "let me live again....". Brilliant direction by Capra. The movie was actually filmed in the summer during a freak heatwave which makes the look even more remarkable. They actually invented a new technique for creating snow as the industry standard method of painted cornflakes played havoc with the sound recording. Uncle Billy's raven friend is famous. His name is Jimmy and he was insured for thousands of pounds as he'd appeared in many movies - in the Wizard of Oz he's the 'crow' that sits on the Scarecrow. I've seen this movie countless times in my 50 years and it *never* fails to make me cry - I even did watching your reaction. Jimmy Stewart is amongst my favourite actors but in particular here as it was the first movie he made after returning from his service in the war and many have speculated that a lot of the emotion he expresses when George breaks down was his own trauma over some of what he had witnessed. Everyone should see this film - and keep seeing it because it's message is as true today as it was in 1946. You may not have everything you want, you may never have - but you matter as you have touched the worlds of so many people just by being you. So glad you enjoyed it. Merry Christmas !
It really is a great message! I love the fact it never snows in pottersville . I definitely didn’t notice that, a great touch. Thanks for such a great suggestion.
Technically, it doesn’t snow in Pottersville on the /one night in human history we see it/
I am 68 years old and watched this movie every year for the last 40 years. brought to tears every time. God is good
Frank Capra made so many timeless feel good movies. My personal favourite is IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT from 1934 with Clarke Gable and Claudette Colbert.
Also, there's a movie similar to this made by Akira Kurosawa in the 50s called IKIRU or "To Live" in English. I highly recommend it. Capra's film is definitely sentimental and emotional but Kurosawa's film goes much deeper on it's themes about life.
Ikiru is such a deeply emotional, deeply moving film that shares a lot in common with It's A Wonderful Life. I'd rather not pit them against each other, but just say that they are both movies about the journey of life, in all its mistakes and joys and regrets, and what we truly mean to each other, and that multiple viewings of both films are very rewarding.
Loved it when Gable showed up at Colbert's mansion and demanded a $38 rescue fee from her father to cover his expenses. Daddy knew immediate that this was the son-in-law he wanted.
Loved this reaction! This is one of my top favorite movies of all time. It’s just so damn beautiful and well done. I always sob at the end, especially when Harry says “To my big brother George, the richest man in town!” 😭❤️ Glad you enjoyed it too!
James Stewart was a fighter pilot in WW2 and came back home with what we would now call PTS. This film was his first one since the went to war and his reactions were channeled by that, like in the scenes where he went bat crazy at Uncle Billy, and the fit he had with the children. He truly was an amazing actor
He was a bomber pilot.
I think Jimmy Stewart's performance when he is praying for God to show him the way is so raw and powerful. The vulnerability, fear, desperation, the quaver in his breaking voice, is an extraordinary scene that is still deep and meaningful today.
The real thing that ingeniously clinches this whole movie is Potter's own advisors telling him that George's way of doing things is just plainly winning local market, and Potter's cheap homes are gonna cost him bigtime down the road. George is gonna be the new big man in town and Potter's illness is gonna mean he won't be around much longer.
George's victory was foreshadowed way earlier, so the one thing deciding this is our boy persevering.
I first saw IAWL when I was a junior in high school. I was with my boyfriend at my parents home. We were channel surfing and accidentally found the movie. Rob told me that we HAD to watch it. As the credits began he started to shout “Hello, movie house” etc. I had no clue what he was talking about. These days I am a librarian and wonder why we are portrayed as dowdy, matronly spinsters. My husband doesn’t think that about me.
Spot on comment about Mary being the unsung hero. Yes, she rounded up his friends at the end, but also gave up her honeymoon to save George's business, then rather than show any disappointment, thinks up an awesome backup wedding night idea and works all day to make it happen. And did you catch the line during the war montage on how she raised 4 kids while running (yes, running!) the USO?
Old Maid my ass...men would've been having fist fights over this woman.
Yes that part of the story is a huge stretch, Mary would have had a line of suitors a mile long.
That was increíble! No doubt, if she became an old maid it was by choice. Anyone would be lucky to have her as a wife.
@@DylansPen No competition to Jimmy S.
I think it's about how a really good man can become disallusionded by bad circusstances in his life. The "Wonderful Life" is not about a happy life. It's about being a person that makes the lives of everyone around them better even when he can't
The last part of the film with Clarence is quite magical. "Please God make me live again". Many tears when I hear this. It was my mothers favorite Christmas film and I miss watching it with her since she passed. One of the best films ever made.
How George breaks down with his family is so intense. The scene on the bridge is great.
How Clarence shows George how impotant his life was to others is incredible.
What I realized watching this was how we can all make a positve difference in other lives every day!!! I watch it every Christmas!
I'm a child of the 80s and this movie was on tv every single Christmas growing up, multiple times, and I watched it several times every year. And ever since I've made sure I watch it every single Christmas season or something is missing! And of course I cry every time they bring in the big basket at the end and everybody in town just piles in to help out. The sense of community, the sense of appreciation they all have for everything George has done for the community, the powerful impact he's had on so many lives just by doing the right thing for people when they needed help... it all came to a head in that moment when he would have probably brushed it off any other time if they'd tried to help individually. All of them coming together in that moment is such a powerful statement. Also another bit of trivia -- in Alternate Reality Bedford Falls Ernie the taxi driver mentions how he lives in a shack in Potter's Field. Technically the definition of a "potters field" is a biblical term referring to a burial place for paupers and strangers!
30:28 I think at one point during the early part of the film she says she'd be an old maid if it wasn't for George, so that's her as an old maid. :-)
I think you're right! I suppose that foreshadowing helps, but I still have a hard time believing it!
@@CasualNerdReactions I know, right? Donna Reed is a knockout. But she has glasses on! That surely kept her from ever finding anyone. #movietropes
The ending only works because we spend the first couple of hours watching George increasingly hate his life. When Mr Potter says that George "hates the building and loan almost as much as I do" George doesn't contradict him. A monumental performance by Jimmy Stewart; his desperation is heartbreaking and his happiness when he gets his life back brings pure joy and many tears to the viewer. Not just the best Christmas movie but one of the best movies ever made.
The guy who opened the swimming pool was Carl Switzer, better known as Alfalfa in the Our Gang/The Little Rascals films of the 30s. He died young, at age 31, after being shot in a dispute over money.
Oh wow, that a great connection. I had no idea he died so young, that’s tragic.
He went to my high school (Hamilton High School in Los Angeles), well before my time.
Shot in the crotch no less.... ouch.
That kid playing young George was great! I feel like that part of the movie is underappreciated.
I decided to watch your UA-cam version instead of the full-length, since in a week or two I will be introducing this film to a friend who has also never seen it. Your reactions to this were so sweet and touching - I ended up getting all weepy watching you enjoy it. This movie was in the public domain for many years while I was growing up, so it was shown over and over - usually in pretty beat-up prints - on TV (that has changed since). In fact, I remember one station locally that ran it over and over for 24 hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - no wonder so many people have seen and loved it since its first unsuccessful run in 1946. The story touches me because I put myself in George's place - and I think most people do this. What would the world be like without me in it? What is my true worth to the people in my life, and what have I given them? Sometimes I feel I haven't given enough, and sometimes I feel like I have. But I think that's what makes this movie so special, and still relatable to so many millions of movie lovers. There is one shot that still haunts me - it's when George runs down the sidewalk and to the camera after his own mother doesn't recognize him, and he just stares in horror as he slowly turns his head from one side to the other. It's a dark, dark image and anyone who says Capra's films are all cornball and too sentimental obviously doesn't remember how dark this movie gets. I don't know if Stewart ever explored that side of his acting to that degree again until Vertigo. That's what makes his transformation so effective when his perspective is changed at the end. Merry Christmas!
That is a big question to ponder, for sure. Something worth even taking some time to think about.
One thing I really noticed here was how incredibly crisp and clear the image was. I had no idea it would look so good. That really helped bring me into the film.
I also didn’t realize that Jimmy Stewart is in vertigo. That may cement that film as my next Hitchcock film, because I’m enjoying his performance.
@@CasualNerdReactionsVertigo is a huge favorite of mine... you can bet I will be first in line to watch that one with you.
When I was a kid in the 70s, this movie was in the public domain so every channel in Dallas would play it multiple times every year in December. I have seen it well over 100 times, and I still cry every time. In fact, I cried just from the snippets in your reaction.
This is my favorite movie of all-time. Not just favorite Christmas movie, but favorite movie PERIOD.
I love that you love this movie so much! Thanks for watching.
The actor who played Potter, Lionel Barrymore, played the exact opposite character in "You Can't Take It with You." A heartwarming film.
I didn't see it until I was in my 20s; you are right it's better to see when you an adult.
It's one of my all time favorites. It's my brother's favorite movie and we make sure to watch together every year during the christmas season. It just warms your heart.
What a lovely tradition with your brother! I need to initiate something like that with my sister.
Frank Capra was a wonderful director. You have to watch Arsenic and Old Lace that he directed, very funny.
“mortimer!” 😏
Excellent Cary Grant movie. And one of my favorite Jimmy Stewart movies is Harvey.
"He also directed, "Meet John Doe" with Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck.
Absolutely second this. That is one of my favorite movies, and I would love for more people to react to it.
Arsenic and Old Lace was briefly chosen by one of my top tier patrons for October, but they changed their pick at the last minute. One day I’m sure they’ll pick it again.
22:40 It’s subtle and you might miss it, but George kicks a model suspension bridge. George’s dreams included not just exploring but becoming a civil or construction engineer, and this model bridge is likely a project he was working on in his off hours with his older son Tommy, trying to give him a grounding in engineering both to awaken in him a love for the subject and to allow him to pursue it later if he desired. The model was George’s proxy for lost dreams, and he destroys it in his frustration and despair. Kicking the bridge represents the final giving up of his childhood dreams.
And it’s over in one second.
That’s truly a great catch! Devastating blow.
6:24 "Sometimes having a positive attitude in the midst of frustrating circumstances can turn the whole thing around."
I think you may have just successfully summed up this legendary classic movie COMPLETELY near the start of your video!
I cannot imagine 2 films more different than this & 2001& I love them both equally. Utterly superb.
That is accurate! They are so different, but I’m so glad you enjoy them both so much!
I found your emotional reaction to this film pretty beautiful to behold. I imagine you have a heart as big as George’s.
Thank you so much.
This movie has a funny history. I don't know all the facts but somewhere along the line it's copyright wasn't renewed allowing any television station to show it. I distinctly remember maybe in the 80's it seemed like it was on EVERY TV station all the time during the Christmas season. You could literally watch it and flip the channel and it would be on that channel as well.
I learned that when I was researching its copyright. I was hoping when I edited I wouldn’t have to worry about It, lol. But I did. Amazing story!
@@CasualNerdReactions I just saw that "It's A Wonderful Life" was recently a category on Jeopardy (ua-cam.com/video/PzhFDy3FuPc/v-deo.html ) and one of the questions addressed the copyright issue: "In 1974 a copyright renewal failure let "Life" lapse into this 2-word "area"; royalty-free, it aired repeatedly & popularity soared."
If Potter's offer was made in 1930, he was dangling $330,000 a year in front of George, plus travel. He desperately wanted that Building and Loan gone.
Wow! Thanks for including those inflation numbers. That would have been very hard to turn down.
lol... Potter acted like a female orgasm. Who not came on the right time...
I have watched this movie my whole life, and I Still cry every single time!
I love that! True classics never grow old, only Increase in meaning.
@@CasualNerdReactions And by the way, this was an amazing reaction! 👍🏻😊
Aww thank you so much, Heather! I appreciate the support and encouragement!
I've been binging classic movie reactions to distract myself from a bad day, and I got into a rabbithole of watching yours because you're so genuine and naturally non-snarky. Thanks for wearing your heart on your sleeve; it was a whole emotional journey just watching you feel your feelings! :)
sorry yesterday was a tough day for you. I hope todays a little brighter.
Jimmy Stewart just had returned from being a pilot flying bombing missions over Europe during the war and he suffered from PTSD. The scene of him crying at the bar was him actually losing it and Frank Capra used the scene and Zimmer into his face in post.
Saw it in 1970s. PBS would show it on Christmas eve. I watched it every year since
I have watched this movie every year (usually on Christmas Eve) since I was in my early 20s. I envy you watching for the first time. I cried at the same times in your video as I do when I watch the full length movie. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Yes, and Mr. Potter gets away with robbery! What happened to the Hayes Code?
The pay-off after all the set-ups in this film are so well executed and the stellar cast are brilliant. I first saw it as a teenager and it has been a beacon of light to me all these years. Whenever it screens at my local cinema I always make a point of seeing it on the big screen. It's a truly great motion picture, one of the greatest ever made.
I adore this movie. About the only part that hits weird for me today is the “Mary is an unmarried librarian” thing. I have more than one unmarried library worker friend and it doesn’t seem like the fate worse than death the movie makes it out to be! But I understand the context of the time, and it’s more about she never found love. I’m glad you enjoyed the movie!
Yeah, it does seem odd that a lovely girl like Mary would become an "old maid" just because George was never born. Talk about an alternate universe!
Unmarried women were pitied as 'old maids'. Women could work up to a certain point determined by society as nurses, teachers, secretaries, or similar jobs but if they hadn't found a man and got married past that point, then they were stigmatized. Some women would chance it and try to hold out for a better man but, if they played their cards wrong, they would miss their chance and become marriageable.
That's one of the biggest differences between now and then. Today, it's 'strong, independent, career woman;. Back then, it was 'old maid'.
I think that in the parallel world Mary would get married to Sam Wainwright.
Honestly, though, many women who are still single late in life regret it when the youthful "strong independent career woman" stuff gives way to lonely old age.
The only other thing they could have shown was her married to someone else, so it was an obvious choice, especially door those times, just stick to the simple observations that point out how your bad choices effected others. I don't therefore think its weird, because some people actually believe thee is but on soulmate for everyone else on earth. So, I don't get the bad vibe, this was considered a dark film when it came out.
I think this movie is the first to address suicide in film & Christmas. People don't realize how many struggle with depression& stress at this time of year. Love this movie!!!!
That’s a good point! It may very well be the first. You’re right this year can be very challenging for many.
This is one of the best Christmas movies ever made and with each passing year it only gets better. In George we see ourselves; a youg dreamer whose path in life is forced to take many detours because of his selfless sacrifices for family and community. Our hearts break for him at the 35 minute mark when he is overcome by feeling of regret, anger and frustration over the life he has verses the one he imagined for himself. We've all been there. We are equally saddened when he begins to see his his beloved town without him in it; Mr. Gower, his brother Harry, Uncle Billy.... all tragically impacted by a world without George. This is a great story and very entertaining. They don't make them like this anymore.
Frank Capra realized that modern society was riddled with greed and corruption but never lost his belief in the fundamental decency of the average human. His best known films were about one good person standing against a tide of adversity before being rescued by a groundswell of love and support. They didn't make too many films like his even in his era, and we probably need his type of film more than ever now.
I completely agree, JD. That is a powerful story type and is definitely important.
Probably only Spielberg would touch such a project these days. Some of the independents might, but they'd think they'd have to add lots of dirty language so they wouldn't get the dreaded "G" rating.
I absolutely love this movie! My husband and I watch it every Yule Eve, cuddled up with tissues, hot chocolate, and cookies.
That’s beautiful! What a wonderful tradition.
The kid who was jilted at the dance by Mary is Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer from the Our Gang series. Mr. Potter is Lionel Barrymore of the Barrymore family of actors and is the granduncle of Drew Barrymore. The woman who asked for $17.50 is Ellen Corby, better known as Grandma Walton from the series "The Waltons".
"Who does Mr. Potter think he is?" He thinks he is the Mr. Bezos of his day. More than a Christmas movie - this is a movie about evil bankers who harm the working class.
Yes, and Potter gets away with it unpunished, because that’s what happens to rich men in real life, sadly. There have always been plenty of real life Potters, and they rarely have to face the consequences of their actions.
Also the Hays code meant movies couldn't be seen to be anti-capitalist.
Your kidding, right? This movie is about a charismatic banker (and before him, his father), who is running a sub-prime mortgage scheme, has run his business and loan into the ground, so much so that an $8000 loss (when they probably have hundreds of thousands to millions at least out in loans) makes them completely insolvent. One of his stock holders, who for years has tried to get the savings and loan to make better business decisions only to be bad mouthed and slandered to all the towns people, offers to save the business by buying the massively overpriced stock for a generous 50 cents on the dollar. Instead the banker is able to con all the suckers in town to keep their money tied up in his financially insolvent confidence game and to continue to live in homes they can't afford rather than move to more reasonably priced homes that are rented out by the stock holder.
Or wait, I get it, you are saying that George is the evil banker. Good call.
@@WarfareElders George had nothing to do with the disappearance of the $8,000. His Uncle Billy placed the deposit slip between the pages of a newspaper. Potter ended up with money. Due to prayers for George his friend Clarence the Angel got his wings and the town gathered in his living room (George) with Mr. Martini's cash from his "juka" box. George and Mary's rich friend wired them saying to give him up to $20,000 cash. The bookkeeper from The Baily Building and loan is running the adding machine tallying up the $'s. Mary yells, "Hey, Mr. Martin, how about some wine!? Brother Harry then says the line,, "No man is a failure who has friends."
George nor his father were bad people.
@@denicesanders4586 I didn't say he had anything to do with the $8000 loss. I was saying that if a S&L that has hundreds of thousands of dollars out in loans only has $8000 of working capital, then that business is severely overleveraged (with very risky loans no less) and badly run.
He is extending what we would now call subprime loans to the townspeople so they end up buying homes they can't afford while badmouthing the more affordable housing of his competitor. I'm fairly certain the modern bankers who engineered the 2008 housing crisis didn't believe they were bad people either.
Then, when his bad business decisions come back to haunt him, and the people of the town come to him to get their money back, he cons them into continuing to support his failing business.
So while George, his angel, and you may not believe George to be a bad person, to me, his actions prove otherwise.
As someone who spends way too much time metaphorically looking down from the bridge into that river, this movie always gives me hope enough to make it to another day.
I'm 53 and I probably first saw this movie in a way that really touched my heart when I was in my early teens. It became one of my favorite movies overall as well as my favorite Christmas movie. I still tear up and cry so much throughout this movie, and I'm not ashamed of that either. I just hope I've had the positive impact on people that George did. And this movie can still give me that little spark of hope alive that gets me through until tomorrow.
That is beautiful. Hope is so important t and when a movie can inspire that it’s worth holding on to. I believe we impact more people that we will ever know.
@@CasualNerdReactions Truth. I just hope I still impact someone positively. Doesn't feel like it though. 😕
Enjoying your channel so far. :-) Keep up the good work!
I didn't care for it as a kid - the adult themes went over my head. As a teenager, I was rather stunned by its daring and James Stewart's legendary performance. Now, after many times watching it over the years, it just makes perfect sense.
I totally get that, if I had seen this when I was younger I likely wouldn’t have even paid attention, let alone enjoyed it. It means something different now, though.
Yes sir, as teenagers we're not very interested in the life of a guy who had big plans to travel the world and & build ultramodern transport systems and then, one day after another, he doesn't achieve any of his lofty material goals.
This is , by far, the best Christmas movie ever. Maybe the best movie ever. We need a message of hope and we need to see that sometimes are blessings are right in front of us and we miss it. LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!
Potter is the perfect example of the world and the way it sucks you in.
I grew up in this era (I'm 82 now). This was a simpler time when people were more sentimental. Few people had tv sets, most had radios and phonographs. Though we had less, we appreciated what we had more. I often wish it were possible to return to those times.
Capra captured a moment in time in small town America with this film. It's main intent, however, was to show the importance of each person's life and its effect on others.
It may be a bit idealistic but so were we. It was A WONDERFUL TIME TO BE ALIVE!👍😇
This is hands down my favourite Christmas movie. I cry at the ending, I even cried while watching this video.
Okay, I have to make a couple quick comments. This sadly didn't do well when it was originally released, so crazy. The cops are named Burt and Ernie, and yes Sesame Street did take those names from here. The story about his brother saving the men on his ship might be based on a real-life event involving John F. Kennedy (Not certain on that) You mentioned that shot of the bridge after they jump in the water. I'm pretty sure that was a model effects shot, and a really great one. The film is a masterpiece and I'm so glad you experienced it.
Burt is the cop, Ernie is the taxi driver.
I suspected that Sesame Street borrowed those names from here! That’s pretty cool. Great trivia as well, thanks!
I don't know if the story of PT 109 inspired the story of George Bailey's brother but it seems likely. It took place in 1943 and was widely reported at the time. It later became a staple of JFKs political campaigning. I didn't know that about Burt and Ernie!
@@CasualNerdReactions Nope. They didn't, the Henson Company, early writers and producers have always said it's pure co-incidence.
The fact that she's wearing glasses in the alternate reality means that Mary is probably walking around with poor, uncorrected vision in the original timeline!
I think the glasses are reflective of the time she spends reading. There was a time people overuse of the eyes in reading or doing close detailed work led to near-sightedness and a need for corrective lenses. Recall the Twilight Zone episode "Time Enough At Last", where the only human being to survive a nuclear attack was happy to be alone to read all he wants without interruption until he breaks his glasses; POV shows he is nearly blind with myopia.
It's almost impossible to imagine how director Frank Capra was able to bring all the elements together to actually put this film on the screen...from the screenwriters on down. An amazing accomplishment. There are a few books available that really lay it all out. I first saw the film in 1979; the UHF station in Chicago ran it 4 days in a row right before Christmas, and I was so stunned that I watched 'em all. Over the years, of course, like anything else, it faded in importance, but watching you and others on YT experience it "fresh" really helps me connect with "Wonderful Life" again, since you all validate its emotional power and profound beauty. Thanks.
I discovered this movie back in the 70s when it was in the public domain, as an earlier commenter noted. I did a lot of babysitting and I'd watch it whenever it was on. I introduced my family to it, and it became a family favorite at Christmas time. Oddly, although my parents were movie fans, and knew a lot of older movies, and the actors, they did not know this one. They knew all of the cast, Stewart, Reed, Mitchell, but also Beulah Bondi, and Henry Travers, and others. It surprised them that they'd never seen it. Years later I read that although it became a cult classic, due to it's exposure when the rights were lost, and it was in the public domain, when it hit the theaters it flopped! I couldn't understand it! How could people be indifferent to the message of this movie? Well, imagine - you've been through a war - you lost friends, maybe a husband, a son. People were still hurting from the terrible toll of WWII. Their son didn't come home a war hero! Their sweetheart was lost, or changed forever. Their friends were suffering from PTSD. It didn't seem a realistic to them that the people in this town would hale a guy who was 4F as a hero of any sort. Their lost loved ones were their heroes, and rightly so. As I've aged, I've realized that.
I love a little insight into why it flopped. It’s amazing that so many years later it became a such a cultural icon.
That was really well thought out. The other thing I've heard is the the movie was pretty therapeutic for Jimmy Stewart also who had some ptsd going on himself. I never went through the pain my parents of that greatest generation suffered through, but I can empathize with this story, good vs evil , trying do the right thing, and ultimate redemption for Jimmy Stewarts character!
Jimmy Stewart had just returned from WW 2, having survived as a bomber pilot. At the end of the movie, when he was praying on the bridge, he said he was really crying, and the director only did one take it was so realistic.
I first saw this movie when I was a teenager, and your hunch was a good one. I didn't have anywhere near the appreciation for it that I do now. The older I get, the more relevant it is to me. As a teenager, I had no notion of how hard the struggle can be, to make your way in the world. I had no idea how discouraged you can get or how alone you can feel, even when you're surrounded by people who care about you. I think all of us who have had significant life struggles can relate to George.
This movie gets me in the feels every time now.
Donna Reed wrote back to many Iowan WWII soldiers who sent her letters. She co-chaired the Anti-Vietnam War Another Mother for Peace.
That’s honestly incredible. I imagine many celebrities today wouldn’t even respond to online messages.
Absolutely beautiful reaction to one of the all time Christmas classics! 🎄 When you kept tearing up, I thought “…dude, pace yourself!” The ending ALWAYS gets me, and continues to every year. Enjoyed this so much!! 🥲
I try to pace myself, I just never know what’s gonna hit, lol.Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed this!
One of my favorite scenes is the telephone scene between George and Mary. He has feelings towards her but he's frustrated and in misery about his life. He's feeling trapped and so although he is drawn to her he let's her know how tortured he is first before showing her how much he cares about her. It's such a complex scene and so well handled by Capra. It's full of nuance which is why you didn't know what to think about it. In today's TV and film, nuance is sorely lacking. Which is why I prefer watching South Korean dramas. They handle complex themes really well and have lots of nuance.
You explained this brilliantly. It is definitely not a common choice to show it that way, but it is true to life that many times things are complicated as we do have competing desires and frustrations.
The fact that little Zuzu quotes Mrs. Welch (The teacher George yelled at on the phone and subsequently got him punched). So "Every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings" is a Mrs. Welch quote and Mr. Welch rang George's bell.
Is Mr. Welch an angel? I believe that the Zuzu/Mrs. Welch connection is maybe a fan fiction that could be explored.
That’s a really clever observation! There’s something to it.
The young man who turned the key to open the floor at the gym was the same fellow who played 'Alfalfa' in the old 'Little Rascals' films. This was Jimmy Stewart's first movie after his service in the armed forces after the second world war. In the scene where George and Mary finally 'get together' Stewart went completely off script and almost 2 pages of dialogue were skipped. But Kafka loved it and kept it instead of re-shooting.
I love a lot of Christmas movies, but this is my favorite. No question. It is in my top 10 list.
Keep exploring the classics! There's so many great black and white films!
I will definitely be including some from time to time. I’ve loved them all so far.
If this movie doesn't make you cry, you aren't human.
I passed the human check. 😅 although I just watched a movie after this that made me cry more than ever before 😳
@@CasualNerdReactions oh boy! Do we get to know what it was or do we have to wait? Also, if you are an animal lover, this is your warning. Don't ever watch Homeward Bound. 😓
I grew up with homeward bound! Although as an adult I think it would hit differently. The movie was Miracle in Cell No. 7 🥺
@@CasualNerdReactions oh, never heard of that one! Looking forward to your reaction! Regarding HB; So you are aware then...nuff said.
Or you're a Mr. Potter !
Everyone forgets about the holiday season film "I'll Be Seeing You" (1944) which was far more popular on release because it dealt with contemporary issues rather than those of previous decades.
That just be true, since I’ve never heard of it. Going to look it up!
I *love* this movie. I cry every time. lol The thing is, George got most of his wishes: he became an architect, built meaningful structures, and changed the world. Potter was going under, and with the Savings and Loan secure, ultimately Potter will lose his influence. In a few short years, George will be doing very well, and with his kids growing older, he'll be able to fulfill that final wish and go on those trips, with his beautiful wife by his side. He didn't exactly lose his dreams, they just didn't come about in the way he expected them to. I'm so glad you watched this, and so happy you enjoyed it. Thank you!
A bit of trivia for you: The Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie were named for the police man and cab driver in this movie, the duo who hung travel posters (in the rain) over the windows of George and Mary's new house on their wedding night.
The "old actor" nailing his part was Lionel Barrymore part of the Barrymore family of actors including his great-niece, Drew Barrymore.
I was a teenager in the late 1970s and it was 11:30 at night in December. I wanted to go to bed, but my mother begged me to stay up and watch this movie. I didn't want to, but gave in because she wouldn't let up. I'm so glad I did!
Two things to point out. One, Sam Wainwright wasn't the arrogant jerk he seemed to be during most of the movie. He DID offer to let George in on the groundfloor in the plastics business, which would have made George quite wealthy. In addition, he asked George and Mary to join him and his girlfriend when they were going on vacation. And Sam was ready at the end to turn over 25K to George as easily if he was buying the Bailey family a pizza dinner. 25K was several times what the average person made in a year back then. Let's give Sam credit. Also, for all the talk about George not achieving his dream of traveling and planning modern cities, the fact is that George really DID do what he wanted. The Building and Loan and the people of Bedford Falls meant more to George than he knew. His refusal to let them down every time he was tested proved. Similar to the way Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind gets told by Ashley Wilkes that there's something she loves better than him though she may not know it - Tara. And Ashley was right.
I first saw this movie at 16. I was contemplating Suicide and by chance, a teacher brought this movie in just before Xmas break. Little did she know it prevented me from going through with what I planned that evening. As I watched I realized I was selfish and if I went through with what I planned I would hurt so many people.
Ever since then, I watch this movie every Xmas Eve as a reminder of my dark days and that 1 person can touch so many lives. That life is precious and no man is a failure who has friends.
Truly a remarkable story. I am so glad she showed that movie in class and that you’re still here. Thank you for sharing.
Love Capra movies - a few of my favourite Jimmy Stewart movies are "Harvey" , "The Cheyenne Social Club", The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence", and of course with Doris Day in "The Man Who Knew Too Much"
I love Harvey!
I also highly recommend The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, it's an incredible film, the only flick John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart ever co-starred in, and it somehow manages to be both a classic cliche good vs evil cowboy picture and one of the first of the new realistic, morally ambiguous, revisionist Westerns.
His Hitchcock Films are Pretty Damn Great too!
Restaurant scene , "That was my steak liberty , you pick it up" The man who shot liberty Valance.. classic.
(Takes off his hat) “Excuse me, ma’am, could you direct me to the Cheyenne Social Club?”
(Outraged shock) “How DARE you?!” (Decks him)
(Buddy Ebsen calls over his friend’s prone form to a construction worker across the street) “Hey, can you tell me where’s the Cheyenne Social Club?”
“Sure! Just go down this rode to the end of town. Ya can’t miss it!”
Some people don't get the phone scene, but to me that is the most romantic scene ever filmed. I am a sucker for movies from 1935-1980ish, Hollywood has fallen off quite a bit tbh since then, some are still great, but those directors in the old era knew how to move peoples souls.
I get half of it. I thought the scene with them on the phone was Incredibly effective. I felt the chemistry stronger than usual. I WAS thrown off by George’s COMMENTS just before the actual kiss. I definitely didn’t get that part.
@@CasualNerdReactions That was his frustrations at all of his shattered dreams coming out. "I don't want to be married, tied down, etc. etc. etc". He was jaded at that point in time.
FYI: The pool under the floor of the gym was not a studio set. It actually exists at Beverly Hill High, where that scene was filmed. It is apparently still in use to this day.
Really? That’s amazing! I had no idea such a thing existed, really cool.
I'm so glad you shared your first time watching this. Your candor is heartwarming! Merry Christmas!
I discovered this movie as a kid, after reading the novelisation of the TV show "Red Dwarf". "It's a Wonderful Life" was the favourite movie of the character Dave Lister, Scouse uber slob and the last living human being in the universe. I sought out this movie on VHS and instantly and unironically fell in love with it. That was the beginning of my love affair with classic B&W comedies ("Arsenic and Old Lace" just might be my favourite movie of all time!)
Michael I am a big classic movie buff. One of my favorites is "People Will Talk starring Cary Grant and Jeanne Crain. It touched on some social issues that were not very popular but with compassion and humor. Cary Grant's character says so many prophetic things about medicine that are true today and the ending was a complete surprise.
@@brendaclark8344 Hi, I dont want to overstate my experience of classic movies. Most of the ones I've seen I bought at my local stationary store in the mid-late '90s (as an adjunct to my usual movie diet of sci if and action.) I haven't actually seen "People Will Talk" but I love pretty much everything I've seen with Cary in it so I will definitely take your recommendation! Do you happen to know if it is available on any streaming services?
-- Donna Reed, the pride of Denton, Iowa. Won an Oscar for From Here to Eternity,.
-- Lionel Barrymore is Mr. Potter. A legend both himself and his family, which includes Drew Barrymore. Another movie he is in that I highly recommend is Captains Courageous.
-- The one most dated thing about this movie is that it makes a big deal of Mary being an "old maid" librarian, as if that;s the worst thing that could happen to a woman.
-- There's a bike shop in our town called Zuzu's Pedals.
This show how one life can impact so many lives in a positive way. I watch it every Christmas, it is so positive and uplifting.