Every time I go through the emotional, romantic, heart-warming and at times uncomfortable roller coaster that is It's a Wonderful Life, something new always seems to stick out to me.
It is always impressive for a film of this length that so much is packed into it. Within minutes we are fully enveloped in this story and every sequence gives further insight into these characters. There is hardly ever a wasted moment, because there is significance in each scene. Pointing us to the nature of George Bailey.
Furthermore, it is easy to forget the darkness that this film submerges itself in, because it reaches such a jubilant crescendo. However, this is a story that covers the years including The Great Depression and World War II. Its protagonist sinks into a state of wretchedness complete with angry outbursts, negative feelings and drunkenness. George Bailey loses all hope and his perspective is so completely distorted. For all intent and purposes his life looks like it's over and it takes a frightening alternate reality to shake him out of his disillusionment. Put in this framework it makes sense why it was a commercial flop when you juxtapose it with the big winner that year The Best Years of Our Lives. They both deal with post-war reality but with very different lenses.
That's the benefit of hindsight and a new context because we do not usually see It's a Wonderful Life as a gloomy post-war tale but a more positive parable that is universal in its impact. The first part of this story feels a bit like a Job story of hardship and the second act is reminiscent to Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but that's the most simplest of observations. There is a lot more to be parsed through.
The romance of George and Mary is what many of aspire to and want and it causes us to really empathize with their young love that weathers the good and bad breaks they receive. It's the fairy tale love story we want with the rock hard reality we are used to in our own lives. Some favorite moments in their life together would be the splash they make during the Charleston dance off, singing Buffalo Gals together, embracing on the telephone, sharing a makeshift honeymoon together and embracing after George gets his new perspective on life.
There are a fair number of close-ups utilized in this film, but they are usually used at crucial points in the narrative and they tell us a great deal about both George and Mary.
The first key moment comes during a freeze frame of grown up George with hand outstretched giving us our first look at the man we will be following from there on out. The next big moment occurs when George learns that Potter will gain control and the Building and Loan will be disbanded if he leaves. He realizes in an instant that he must give up his plans. Then, he waits excitedly for Harry with Uncle Billy and it is a happy moment, but George learns his younger brother might have another job. The camera follows his worried face as he goes to follow his new sister-in-law. Never thinking of himself; he realizes that Harry has a chance for better things and that leaves George still working the Building and Loan.
After their tiff, the scene where George and Mary are talking on the phone with Sam Wainwright is a solidifying moment of their relationship. There are so many underlying emotions and unspoken feelings that they are having trouble figuring out and reconciling. And yet their is that violent epiphany when their eyes link. The tears and anger are quickly traded for passionate kisses reflecting the often complicated facts about romance.
One of the final close-ups that finally hits home occurs when the now non-existent George stumbles away from the front door of his mother, who now has no concept of him. There is sweat on his brow (maybe from the 90 degree summer heatwave) and desperate bewilderment in his eyes. This is the lowest point he could have imagined. His own mother does not know who he is. His wife has grown old and lonely in an existence of exile. Stewart's face is so expressive and earnest suggesting that George knows just how important human companionship is. Humanity was made to be in fellowship with each other. Lack of money means very little in comparison to our friendships and family ties. This is essentially what George finally comprehends and what Clarence reminds him. George understandably lost sight of his wife and his children and his friends. They were a gift not to be taken lightly.
Aside from these close-ups, it is also evident that a great deal of effort was put into creating this world from the characters and their back stories to the town itself which was constructed on the RKO lot. Everything from the building facades, to stray dogs and snow make the drama more atmospheric. It's one of those films that reveals the beauty of using real props inhabited by seemingly real people. That's why I sometimes am disillusioned by CGI. Although it can allow us to create amazing spectacles, oftentimes it creates a world that feels altogether fake and alien. It's not relatable and it lacks the humanity that makes up our existence each and every day. In other words it has very little of what makes It's a Wonderful Life so compelling to me.
Perhaps there are more impressive or greater films but their are few with greater heart and there is something to be said for that.
5/5 Stars
