"It's A Wonderful Life"--revisited

[Conservativesux]

Sacramento News & Review

It's A Wonderful Life--revisited

Dec 22, 2005

"It's a Wonderful Life", that superb movie from 1946, is like a time capsule of American values once held dear. George Bailey, the hero, is a man who puts civic responsibility ahead of greed. Everything he does is tied to his deep sense of responsibility--to his country, to his community and to his family. His savings-and-loan business struggles because his “business model” allows too much room for simple human decency.

Pitted against George Bailey in the richly imagined town of Bedford Falls is Mr. Potter, a nasty specimen who embodies values easily recognizable in many within our current breed of politicians. He cares about nothing but the bottom line. He measures success by the size of his mansion, and by the way people kowtow to him.

A world dominated by the likes of Mr. Potter is not an easy world for people like George Bailey, and poor George is driven to the point of suicide as a misguided last-ditch way out. He leaps into an icy river to end it all but is saved by a dithering apprentice angel. It is the angel’s job to convince George that his life has made a difference.

And what a difference it has made. Without the George Baileys of this world, life would be far from wonderful. In a vision of what Bedford Falls would have been if George had never been born, the movie audience sees a world divided harshly between the poor and the rich who prey on them. It is a town without pity, where life is “nasty, brutish and short.”


More at:

http://www.newsreview.com/issues/sacto/2005-12-22/editorial.asp

[SharonAnn]

1. Bailey is a liberal capitalist, Potter is a conservative one.

That's the difference between liberals and conservatives.

These two are both capitalists. One uses it to earn a living by helping other people earn a living and build capital, the other uses it to steal everything he can from everyone.

[ticapnews]

2. I always preferred the Saturday Night Live version of that movie

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/86/86hlife.phtml

(snip)
Harry Bailey: Thanks, Merry Christmas, George! (to the crowd) Now wait a minute, everybody! I got a telegram here I wanna read--from London! (reads) "Dear George. Stop. Mr Gower cables you need cash. Stop. My office instructed to advance you up to $8000. Stop. (crowd reacts) Hee-haw and Merry Christmas! Sam Wainwright"!!!

(crowd cheers and everyone breaks into a joyous rendition of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing".)

Crowd: (singing)
"Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King
Peace on earth and mercy...."

(Uncle Billy is heard offstage, screaming--"George! George!", before finally bursting into the room. He has a string tied around his finger)

Uncle Billy: Quiet everyone! I remembered! I remembered what I did with the money--the $8000!

George Bailey: Why that's great, Uncle Billy! What did you do with it?

Uncle Billy: (frantic) I was in the bank--I had it in a newspaper--I remember giving it to someone!

George Bailey: Well, who? Who'd you give it to?

Uncle Billy: No, wait! I just called Clarence at the bank. He told me that Old man Potter deposited $8000 right after I left! IT WAS HIM!!!

(crowd is outraged)

George Bailey: Well--what're we waitin' for? Let's go get him!

Crowd: Yeah!!!

(background music changes from bright and Christmas-y to dark and ominous, as the bloodthirsty citizens of Bedford Falls make thier way to Potter's office.)

(cut to Potter's office. Potter looks out his window to see the baseball bat and crowbar-wielding mob arriving at his door--which they proceed to batter to pieces with thier weapons. An angry George appears in the doorway)

Mr. Potter: Stay where you are, George Bailey, you're in enough trouble already...

George Bailey: You made one mistake, Mr. Potter: you double-crossed me and you left me alive!

Mr. Potter: Now, wait just a second--I'll give you the money back!

George Bailey: I don't want the money--I want a piece of you, Potter! (tips Potter's wheelchair over, spilling him onto the floor. George then begins kicking him ferociously) You think the whole world revolves around you and your money--well it doesn't, Mr. Potter! In the whole vast configuration of things, you're nothing but a scurvy little spider!

(The mob gasps in amazement as Potter pulls himself off the floor and onto his feet)

George Bailey: Why, you're nothing but a fraud! You're not even a cripple!
(snip)