It’s A Wonderful Life Synopsis: An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.
(This review contains spoilers)
George Bailey is a man who has consistently sacrificed his own future and desires for the good of other people. When he finally reaches the end of his rope, he considers committing suicide, but then an angel comes to his rescue, and George is faced with a glimpse of what the world would be like had he never been born.
It’s A Wonderful Life has endured for decades as one of the most inspirational holiday classics. It’s also a wonderfully written movie with some fantastic performances from its cast. Jimmy Stewart has never been better than his role as George Bailey. He portrays George as a patient man full of love for his family. He has impressive comedic timing and delivery but shines when he’s acting with his eyes and expressions.
We see his repressed pain and how the weight of his sacrifices affects him. His exhaustion and resignation when he realizes the ultimate sacrifice may save his family from scandal. Stewart was nominated for an Oscar for his role as George Bailey, and some of his finest acting in the history of his lauded career takes place in the final act of this film.
Part of what makes It’s A Wonderful Life so wonderful is Stewart’s chemistry with Donna Reed. It’s instant from the moment George sees a now grown-up Mary across the dance floor, and their eyes meet. It’s years before the two finally come together, but when they do, oh boy, is it electric.
Probably tame by today’s measures, the scene between George and Mary sharing a phone while they talk to Mary’s suitor Sam, who is in New York, is a masterclass in sexual tension. They inch closer and closer, George overcome by Mary’s presence until he angrily tells her he doesn’t want to get married to anyone, Mary tearfully protesting. What follows is a passionate embrace because they both know George is lying. It’s one of my favorite movie scenes of all time, and even after countless viewings, it never loses its effectiveness.
George and Mary’s relationship drives the movie. Mary is the glue that holds George together as his brother and friends find success and happiness outside of Bedford Falls, fulfilling life dreams he used to have. While George has always been a decent man, perhaps the only one capable of standing up to the wealthy old miser, Mister Potter (a delightfully cynical and cold Lionel Barrymore), every man has his limits. George is finally driven to his knees, but at this moment, he can be shown what things would be like without him.
I’m not a religious person at all, but It’s A Wonderful Life takes what could have been an incredibly schmaltzy premise and creates something sentimental and bittersweet. It handles the presence of heavenly angels simply, allowing us to hear them but not see them… at least not until Clarence (Henry Travers) comes to Earth to save George from jumping off that bridge. It’s effective, and George’s skepticism and dry wit with innocent, sweet-natured Clarence help to keep the last act from completely derailing the rest of the movie.
One of the most iconic scenes is the end, where the town of Bedford Falls comes together to help one of their own, someone who has been there for them for his entire life and has never asked for anything in return. We know George will never be as wealthy as old man Potter, but when his brother Harry toasts George as “the richest man in town,” we know it’s true. As Clarence says, “No man is a failure who has friends,” and George has an abundance of them.
It’s hard not to be moved by It’s a Wonderful Life. If you ever need to restore your faith in humanity, this is the movie to watch.
Watched: 12/24/2019
Notable Song: Buffalo Gals
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