George Bailey, in a stellar performance by Jimmy Stewart, is a dreamer with big plans who has his whole wonderful life planned out. But, as usual, things don’t go according to plan. His father dies and he is all that stands between the whole town being held in monopoly by the wicked Mr. Potter. Taking on the weight of the world, he makes the best of it, investing in people rather than large returns at the Bailey family-run Savings & Loan. When the stock market crashes on the day he is to leave for his honeymoon, Bailey and his new wife (Donna Reed) use their honeymoon money to keep the S&L open. Everything seems perfect – until his forgetful uncle loses the company’s large bank deposit. Despicable Potter moves to have George arrested for embezzlement. At the end of his rope, he decides that everyone is better off with him dead.
As he stands at the local bridge, working up the nerve to jump, his guardian angel Clarence makes the leap. Bailey’s good nature takes over and he jumps in to save the drowning Clarence. But Clarence (Henry Travers) tells George that he jumped in to save George, not the other way around. After a little convincing, George tells Clarence that people are better off if he’d never been born. Clarence grants his wish. George never existed.
Frank Capra’s movie masterpiece follows all the people in George’s life, from the pharmacist who George wasn’t there to prevent accidentally poisoning a child to his now-spinster wife. This is definitely Stewart’s finest performance, so chock full of emotion that each and every one of us can connect and identify with him. It’s a beautiful picture of how so many of us who don’t achieve what the world sees as greatness really do affect those around us. And it’s a reminder that actions do have consequences, both positive and negative.
In an age where an individual’s life is so often poorly-valued, Wonderful Life shows us that, yes, one person does make a difference.
We watch this movie every Christmas. It usually ends with some teary eyes and a lot of “I love you”s. It ought to be a part of child’s memory, and every adult’s fond recollection.
Julie’s Rating: 5 stars
MPAA Rating: G
Cautions: Bar scene, attempted suicide (jumping off a bridge)
Appropriate for: Everyone
Make sure and read Libby’s 10 Fun Facts about this movie!
