Watch It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)!
It’s the perfect Christmas movie
Photo courtesy 1946 RKO Radio Pictures Inc/Wikimedia Commons
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) may be an old movie, but it has aged very well, and still holds up to this day.
Every year in my household the week before Christmas, my family gets together to watch It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). I cannot say that everyone in my family is as dedicated to or as passionate about this tradition as I am—usually it is just my dad and I attached to the TV screen. As much as I would like to, I can’t really blame them; we have all seen the movie so many times that at this point nothing comes as a surprise, and whole scenes are memorized line by line. Still, there is something about this movie that grabs my attention every time I see it. Each time I watch it, I gain a new insight or find another avenue of self-reflection.
For those of you who have never seen the movie, first of all: fix that. Watch it immediately. Assuming you have not seen it, though, there are a few things you need to know.
George Bailey is the realest, most relatable character ever. He is someone who feels like nothing ever goes to plan. He has a lot of unrealized ambitions and wants nothing more than to escape the small town he resides in–the fictional town of Bedford Falls, which was actually inspired by Seneca Falls, New York. He is troubled by financial difficulties, and does not have the resources to fulfill his ultimate dream—traveling the world. While watching the movie, you can’t help but empathize with him and his struggles, and root for him against the challenges and challenging people he encounters.
He is also an incredibly cool person who conducts a moral fight against the evil, ultra-capitalist, and exploitative banker Mr. Potter. In one particularly awesome scene, Mr. Potter is attempting to take over the bank George’s father ran, the Building and Loan, since his father just passed away. George is supposed to be on his way out to college, but stops long enough to verbally obliterate Mr. Potter, who is disparaging the middle- and lower-class members of the community. You should watch the whole scene, but for reference, one of George’s last lines to Mr. Potter is, “Is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him. But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well in my book, my father died a much richer man than you'll ever be!” Mic dropped.
So, the audience loves—or at least should love—George Bailey. George, however, becomes increasingly frustrated with his life as the movie progresses, and when one particularly pivotal scene seems to threaten his whole livelihood, he is tempted to give up entirely. When George comes dangerously close to committing suicide, he is instead thwarted by a comical angel named Clarence Odbody, who shows George what the world would be like if he had never been born. Though the remainder of the movie is infused with hilarity due to Clarence’s oddities, it is also full of moving moments wherein George and the audience see the ways in which he has positively influenced the world around him. He comes to understand that his life matters, and that truly, he has much to be thankful for.
The end of the movie brings everything together with Christmas cheer and a strong, supportive, and generous community rallying to financially help George Bailey, who has consistently given so much to them.
This movie is an emotional rollercoaster, but one that leaves you feeling incredibly touched and inspired. You can not watch without being filled with a renewed sense of appreciation for your life and an awareness of the ways in which you are called to be an active and giving member of your community. The movie embodies the true Christmas spirit of generosity, community, and determined joy despite the things that threaten to plunge us into despair.