BY KYLE LOVERN
My wife and I have a tradition around Christmas that we watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” – a movie that we both loved even before we got together.
The film was made back in 1946 and is an American Christmas classic. The film stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his personal dreams in order to help others in his community and whose thoughts of suicide on Christmas Eve bring about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody, played by Henry Travers.
Donna Reed plays Mary Hatch, his future wife who has loved George since childhood.
The movie has a great plot and shows a man what would have happened to his family, friends and town if he had not been born.
The story is about a passionate and quickly developing love with dark quandaries that engulf a family man, George Bailey. The movie starts with an angel in the sky needing to earn his wings and given the task of saving Bailey from taking his own life after his family’s saving and loans, which has helped so many in Bedford Falls, is about to go bankrupt because of something that George had no control over.
Of course there is a villain, the town’s rich, greedy and unhappy “Scrooge-like” businessman Henry Potter, played by Lionel Barrymore.
There is a great cast of characters following George and Mary, his future wife, when they are young into young adulthood. George has always dreamed of going to college and traveling the world, but things don’t work out the way he wants,
The movie has so many iconic lines. Some of our favorites are:
“Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” -Clarence
“Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends.” -Clarence
“I’ll love you till the day I die.” -Mary
“Dear Father in heaven, I’m not a praying man, but if you’re up there and you can hear me, show me the way… show me the way.” -George
“You see, George, you’ve really had a wonderful life. Don’t you see what a mistake it would be to just throw it away?” -Clarence
There are many memorable quotes and lines from the movie, just too many to pick them all out.
One of our favorites is young Violet talking to young Mary at the drugstore.
Little Violet: “I like him.”
Little Mary: “You like every boy.”
Little Violet: “What’s wrong with that?”
The movie has so many wonderful characters, some with small parts, but they are necessary and make a difference in the film’s storyline and plot.
It makes you count your blessings and realize things happen in life. But there is always a brighter future if you have great faith, a loving family and good friends.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” is considered to be one of the greatest films of all time and among the best Christmas films ever produced. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and has been recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best films ever made.
I’m sure most of you have seen the movie throughout the years. But if you haven’t, take the time to sit down with your family and watch it. I think the younger generation would like the inspirational story if they would give it a chance. It always brings tears to my eyes, but I’m an old sentimental sap when it comes to these types of movies and iconic holiday stories.
Vicki and I have it saved on our Tivo. Somewhere we have it on VHS, a Christmas present I bought her years ago. It is usually shown every Christmas Eve. We noticed it was already on one channel the day after Thanksgiving so we saved it and can view it at our convenience.
I don’t want to play spoiler, but it could have a happy ending. You’ll just have to watch it and see what happens.
I think you’ll be glad you did.
(Kyle Lovern is a longtime journalist in the Tug Valley. He is now a retired freelance writer and columnist.)