It's a Wonderful Life film on t.v. this afternoon

[WinterBerry40]

I've never watched it . It's on most years so will record to my satellite box and give it ago sometime over the next few days .
Made in 1946 , and in b&w with James Stewart starring.
Is it worth watching ? Also whilst I've your attention what other classics usually on this time of year are worth considering ?
How about White Christmas if it's on ?
I have even watched Jason and the Argonauts a few times over the years . Yes I know that's not christmassy but in my defence it's usually on at this time of year.

First time I've ever watched it (not a fan of black and white). It was soul destroying 🤦‍♀️ So negative and he was only happy for the 10 minutes at the beginning and the 10 minutes at the end. I can understand why people liked it, but it was far too depressing for me.

It's a wonderful film , James Stewart was such a great actor , we love it .

I guess it's a Christmas film in the same way Die Hard is a Christmas film. Although at least you get full on action in Die Hard.

IAWL is essentially about a man wanting to kill himself. I understand the message in making him realise what he has to live for but 90% of the film is bloody depressing.

I love it, definately in my top 3 christmas films.
’to my big brother George, the richest man in town!’
gets me everytime.

It’s a wonderful life is fantastic definitely watch it !

I love his acting in it! I don't think it's hammy at all.

I really like it as a film. Yes, it's old-fashioned but it is really well made.

If any of you are near London, the Prince Charles Cinema near Leicester Square shows it every Christmas and it is a far better film on the big screen. It's makes a surprising amount of difference to the experience. Well worth it if you're in London just before Christmas any time!

I saw that for the first time today. I enjoyed the humour. Films from that time period always remind me of my auntie, who was probably in her late teens then. Explains a lot about what she was like, she was very old fashioned in her views of men, and the need to get yourself one who'd provide for you, always being immaculately turned out for them, looking after their needs, being a good housewife etc. She never had any children of her own so was a bit stuck in the 50s. She could have been any one of those "gotta catch me a good - and preferably rich - man" women in those 40s and 50s films.

I enjoy seeing the change in social norms since those times. They always seemed to be drinking. They're always pouring a sherry, whisky or brandy for visitors to the house or celebrating with something alcoholic. Or at a hotel bar ordering something, or taking something from a tray that a waitress or waiter is bringing round at a party. And the smoking, of course. The men always with a cigar, or a pipe.

Loads of places show it annually. I've been a couple of times now to the Philharmonic Hall in Liveerpool to watch it with family, after a lovely lunch out. There's an organist playing a few Christmas songs first, usually, and a bit of a singalong beforehand, it's a lovely wholesome atmosphere!

It’s a wonderful life is a classic and my favourite Christmas film, I always cry at the end.

Yes, and it's just such a pretty visual feast to watch - not least the loveliness of Grace Kelly, and all the gorgeous fashions and sumptuous sets.

I must admit I've never been able to watch It's a Wonderful Life. It was DH1's favourite movie, and moved him to tears, because I think he felt his life was useless and the message of the film (I think??!?!?) is that your life ultimately means more to others than you think it does. At some point, after years of running around after him, I got fed up of propping him up, and withdrew my support, thus confirming that his life did not contribute meaningfully to mine at all... and since then (decades ago), he does not seem to have found happiness in life. (I did, eventually.) So to me it's a really depressing film that I'd rather not watch because I wish everyone could just enjoy life, and some people just can't, and there's nothing you can do about that.

I’ll admit that I find it too long and boring.

We took our kids to see it at the cinema as they’d never seen it. We told them it’s a classic, as it is. Nice thing to do, but I don’t think they’d want to watch it more than once.

Meet me in St Louis is on at some point this week, possibly Christmas Eve. If you haven’t seen it, I would certainly recommend it, I watch it every Christmas. I really like It’s a Wonderful Life, but it’s not to everyone’s taste!

I’m in Dublin. An old cinema was restored back to its former glory a few years ago. They show old movies every Friday and It’s a Wonderful Life is a huge hit every year.

Wonderful Life is one of those films that I just can't watch - ham acting, dreary, with every stereotype under the sun in there. I've tried to love it because I feel I should, especially with James Stewart in it, but nope.

Great post. It's my favourite Christmas film. I think it's worth remembering the political context.

When it was made in 1946 the US had not that long before had to contend with the Great Depression which President Roosevelt tackled in the 1930s with the New Deal, pumping huge amounts of government money into projects that would create jobs, give welfare support to the poor and turn the economy around.

Then came World War II and when the US entered the war there had to be a lot of government intervention and central control of the economy to ensure that industry focussed on supporting the war effort.

For a country founded on capitalism and libertarianism, these were revolutionary changes. After the war there was a strong reaction to all of that, fuelled by the Cold War and fear of what was going on in the USSR, China and several other parts of the world, where Communists were in control. US Communists had enthusiastically supported the war effort because they were on the same side as Stalin but once the war was over obviously the US and the USSR were effectively at war against each other.

A great many people working in Hollywood had come to the US from Europe and had brought their left-of-centre political views with them. Some were or had been paid up Communists, others were fellow travellers. They were going to suffer very badly in the post-war years when there was a witch hunt against Communists which destroyed many careers. The House Un-American Activities Committee started its hearings looking into Communist infiltration in Hollywood in 1947, the year after It's A Wonderful Life was released.

The director, Frank Capra, was not a Communist, or even close to one. He was born in Italy, brought up a Catholic and voted Republican once in the US. He opposed the New Deal. However, he seems to have been a lot more tolerant of diverse political and social views than many of his fellow Republicans. When It's a Wonderful Life was first released some people thought it was subversive, including the FBI. (Link below to interesting article about the FBI's view of the film.)

The rich man, i.e. a successful capitalist, is the baddie. He cares about nobody but himself and has no redeeming features. Nobody likes or loves him, everybody is afraid of him except the Bailey family. The good guys are the Bailey family, turning their backs on get rich quick schemes and trying to redistribute wealth, support people who are struggling and improve social mobility. Everybody loves and admires them.

(I think that falls down as soon as you think about Harry, who is doing very well in his father-in-law's business. George and the rest of the family are very proud of him. Mr Potter is loathsome not because he is a successful businessman but because of his moral failings. Mind you, there's another way of looking at Harry: https://patch.com/new-jersey/westfield/bp--its-a-wonderful-lifeif-youre-harry-bailey-thoughtbe5cf8386d )

Also, more subtly, the hero is not happy living a quintessential American life in a small town. Apparently the FBI thought attempts to show how suffocating small town life could be were Communist-inspired attempts to undermine US society and values.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/weird-story-fbi-and-its-wonderful-life-180967587/

Bit of an essay!

Still haven't watched it yet , still have that to catch up .
In my defence ( ! ) another I've not watched until now is White Christmas ( what have I been up to at Christmas ! ! ) but just started it .
Merry Christmas .

I've just rewatched it on Prime. Well, when I say 'rewatched' I mean having it on in the background while faffing about preparing the main course for tomorrow.

And although I've seen it so many times, I was still close to tears at the end. 'To my brother George Baily, the richest man in town'. Despite, or even because of, all the bleakness, it really is a celebration of family, community and finding meaning through helping others.

I'm currently in where he jumped into the river to save a man / guardian angel , they are just chatting in the watchmans hut .

That's it all done . It was good , I didn't cry , glad I've watched it but don't feel it needs to become a must see every Christmas .
Maybe I have a heart of stone !

It’s a lovely film, and family friendly if you’re watching it with kids.

Now onto 1950s black & white 'Christmas Carol' for me!

Now your talking , I think ive watched every one every made . I like to read the book this time of the year as well . Enjoy .

Just watched IAWL. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Very much of its age, and very much lovely.