Saturday Night Cinema:
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

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It's A Wonderful Life is a wonderful movie and one of the most popular and endearing films ever made by director Frank Capra. Frank Capra considered this film his own personal favorite — as did James Stewart.

What can be said about this priceless Capra film that hasn't already been said? From the moment the symbolic "Liberty Films" (who knew?) appears on the screen, it is pure magic and goodness, a national treasure. It is one of the greatest films of the twentieth century.

Want to know how great and good and moral it is? The left hates it. Salon went so far as calling it "the most terrifying film ever made." Nuff said.

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Davida
Davida
13 years ago

Since I was a young girl, I have always loved this movie. My one hope is that some studio does not attempt to remake it. As for Rich Cohen, the author of the Salon piece, you definitely have to be put on heavy duty meds, as you certainly sound suicidal to me. What a sad, miserable life you must have.

dee dee
dee dee
13 years ago

The Salon author makes reference to George Bailey’s “Night Journey” is this
a veiled reference to the RoP?

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000126754326
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000126754326
13 years ago

Love this movie, no surprise the left hates it….

Mac-101
Mac-101
13 years ago

When gOOD becomes EVIL and EVIL becomes GOOd ya know the end is a commin!

ibrahim sapien
ibrahim sapien
13 years ago

I’m no ally of yours. I dislike pretty much everything you stand for, and believe that you’re a Muslim hating bigot.
That said, I think there’s a cause which would be in your interest to take up as you have some ability to stir attention from the Right.
Look up “Asia Bibi”. She’s a Pakistani Christian spending this Christmas in prison, as she’s spent the last year and half. She’s sentenced to die. Why? Because she said something. She “blasphemed” against Muhammad. The Pakistani government had considered reviewing the blasphemy laws, but under pressure from the Islamic parties, they’ve decided to keep them. It isn’t even known if she actually said anything about Muhammad – that is the allegation of some other people who happen to be Muslim, and her witness counts for squat against their allegations.
This deserves to be as big an issue as the one you made of the community center near ground zero. This deserves people rallying, it deserves people throwing things at the Pakistani embassy; especially given the billions the US government has given to Pakistan and how we call them an “ally”. If she dies, the Pakistani embassy in the US should be removed and all diplomatic relations with Pakistan should end. Not that such a thing would happen.

jaybear
jaybear
13 years ago

well, no surprise that these people hate such a redeeming movie as this. Remember, they are also the ones that see the the birth of a new child as a disaster for the planet.

Doug
Doug
13 years ago

The comments after the Salon piece is what interests me the most. Atheism and ignorance go hand-in-hand in it’s continual quest to build the Marxist utopia. All truth must be crushed in order to make a repulsive dream become reality.
Going off subject for a couple of sentences.
“ibrahim sapien” I’m no fan of yours either. I dislike pretty much everything you stand for, and believe that you’re a Christian hating bigot. Furthermore Big Mo’ was a pedophile and a murderer. I eagerly await your knock at my door because I blasphemed Mo-Hammy.

silverdog
silverdog
13 years ago

This sounds like a case of “The Enemy of My Enemy is My friend”.
What you are admitting is that you have no power over your own religion.
You may be a moderate Muslim…but you cannot act upon that moderation.
So you reach out to your enemies for help in righting a wrong.
You don’t even ask nicely. You brood over your dilemma. You hate yourself for asking.
As I thought, this is the state of Muslims who are sick of their religion
but know that they cannot fight it without dire consequences befalling them…and others.
Like family. And friends.
It must be heel to live like that.
And I have no answer for you…except to stick your head between your legs and pray.

AuntieMadder
AuntieMadder
13 years ago

Look up Asia Bibi yourself, asshole, and you’ll find that Geller is not only well aware of Asia Bibi, she’s also been working to make others aware of her, too.
http://b1ff5939f6.nxcli.net/pakistan-pakistan-doctor-arrested-for-blasphemy-accused-of-throwing-away-a-business-card-with-the-wo
http://b1ff5939f6.nxcli.net/live-panel-international-human-rights-day-what-the-west-needs-to-know-geller-spencer-hamid-sekulow-m
It takes some humongous balls to go onto a woman’s blog, not at all informed of her or what she knows and who she supports, insult her and then ask a favor of her. How about you turn those giant danglers in the direction of Islam, starting with the Imam of the mosque you attend, and make some demands on behalf of Asia Bibi. Or are your balls really just tiny, shriveled up ol’ things when confronting another man? (or, in other words, are you really a complete pussy?)
Finally, it’s not up to you to decide for others what is and what isn’t important, or what’s more important. 3000 of MY PEOPLE died at the hands of YOUR PEOPLE at Ground Zero. I feel for Asia Bibi. Multiply what I feel for her by 3000 and that’s what I feel for the victims of 9/11. Therefore, I feel no shame in telling you that keeping you fuckers from building a mosque at the site of their death and that still holds their remains is more important to me than Asia Bibi.

AuntieMadder
AuntieMadder
13 years ago

PS: You insulted the US as well as Geller. For what it’s worth, this country didn’t suck a fraction as much until a fucking Muslim was put in the White House. In just short of two years, he’s done a sucktacular job of taking this country to her knees. Leave it to a Muslim to fuck up a good thing, even the greatest country this planet has ever known. Ponder on that for a while, asshole.

Boycott
Boycott
13 years ago

BOYCOTT AMERICAN WOMEN
Why American men should boycott American women
http://boycottamericanwomen.blogspot.com/
I am an American man, and I have decided to boycott American women. In a nutshell, American women are the most likely to cheat on you, to divorce you, to get fat, to steal half of your money in the divorce courts, don’t know how to cook or clean, don’t want to have children, etc. Therefore, what intelligent man would want to get involved with American women?
American women are generally immature, selfish, extremely arrogant and self-centered, mentally unstable, irresponsible, and highly unchaste. The behavior of most American women is utterly disgusting, to say the least.
This blog is my attempt to explain why I feel American women are inferior to foreign women (non-American women), and why American men should boycott American women, and date/marry only foreign (non-American) women.
BOYCOTT AMERICAN WOMEN!

Steve
Steve
13 years ago

All the more reason to LOVE this movie!
Thanks for posting!!
Steve
Common Cents
http://www.commoncts.blogspot.com

AuntieMadder
AuntieMadder
13 years ago

“This blog is my attempt to explain…”
“This blog?” This blog? You mean, this comment you posted at this (an American woman’s) blog? You have no blog here, idiot.
You’re an example of the reason that I long ago decided to BOYCOTT IDIOTS!
BOYCOTT IDIOTS!

Kim Bruce
Kim Bruce
13 years ago

I think “Salon” missed the whole point.
“It’s a Good Life” is about corporate greed, the kind we’ve seen happening in the US today.
The banks, who, after receiving bailout money from the taxpayers, gave themselves big fat bonuses, it’s about the little American business guy getting taken to the cleaners by the corporate “fat cats”.
It’s about communal life, where the people in a small Judeo-Christian town, in the spirit of Judeo-Christian values and generosity, come together to help the poor guy i.e. they all pooled their resources together to bail him out of trouble.
It is actually a Christian communist (meaning- Christianity + communal) ideology. This communal spirit still exists in Mennonite and Amish communities where they are united in self-sufficiency by co-operation.
The “kibbutzim” idea, in Israel, was actually a communist ideology within a democracy.
Kibbutzim is a, perhaps utopian, collective community that all contribute to the whole for survival of the community.
Bedford Falls was not much different as the Townspeople came together to save George Bailey’s Credit Union, another “Collective” idea.
The spirit of co-operation thrives in Judaism and Christianity. Co-operation, generosity, and love of fellow man, is necessary for Christian and Jewish survival. It is however, not political, but from the heart and based on Judeo-Christian morals and not on Marxist/Leninist philosophy.
America was living on those morals up until recently. Now, rather than generously donating of our time and money for worthy causes, the government takes over and forces distribution of wealth via taxation.
Potter, represents any Machiavellian or Leninist or Nietzscheian dictator.
I happen to love the movie. It always manages to cause my eyes to leak.

ronmorgen
ronmorgen
13 years ago

Quote Kim Bruce, “a Christian communist (meaning- Christianity + communal) ideology.”
What kind of BS is this? Communism isn’t voluntary, Christian communities are. Communism doesn’t acknowledge God, Christian communities are about God. How dare you draw a moral equivalence between the two.

Madeleine
Madeleine
13 years ago

You cannot view this movie without getting the message. It’s impossible.
For the good and the bad alike this movie has an impact. Some people live
their life to be selfish, hard, cold, manipulative,nasty,incensitive,
poisonous toxins while others live their life to be a source of healing,
love, light, protection, care, support, comfort, that flows from them
naturally like life giving water.
Those that are dark, always lurking about,pursuing empty avenues for
the sake of greed, money, power, earth bound things, there is one
truth, at the end of their life, they cannot count a single friend.
They have no loyal friends, no devoted family members, no real
confidants.
Those that give of themselves, share what they have, whether rich or
poor, devote themselves to causes greater than they, who have human
compassion, who actually walk the walk, not just talk the talk, those
people will always have friends, never be alone and will
be spoken well of for years and years long after they are off this
earth, it’s why George Baily was called the richest man on earth,
because he had so many friends who pulled through for him
because his kindness and his humanity pulled through for them.
Negative people don’t like that concept,you know, they don’t like
to have to think about, or admit, that the evil they toil about
doing, about the screwed up ways they stabbed someone in the back,
the manipulative ways they treated a family member or friend for
selfish gain, they don’t like to accept the concept of how
they negatively impact the world, the universe really.
When you are a good person, you sew good seeds and you can rest knowing
that you left the world in a better state than before you went to bed
but bad people, evil people, the people who commented on Salon.com
blog, they live in denial of that universal law. They can’t admit
that this law is cause and effect, they won’t because then they
would have to change their ways, they would have to turn their back
on superficial aspirations and desires, and care about good things
instead and everyone knows money and power and greed, combine as
one of the seven deadly sins.
Great movie, love it, love life, love God, love my fellow man and
my greatest most treasured possessions are my precious children and
spouse. I am blessed!

goddessoftheclassroom
goddessoftheclassroom
13 years ago

George Bailey lived to honor his commitments to others first; he put his own desires last. He accepted responsibility. Would that more people strove to emulate him.

Greywolf
Greywolf
13 years ago

I finally had the opportunity to watch this film without commercial interruptions. What a treat! Thank you, Pamela. The film has a wonderful continuity when viewed as a single piece, as Capra intended.
I feel the single, simple message of the film is: “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” In truth, there would go all of mankind as well.
Capra shows us what humanity would become were it not for our service to (and sympathy toward) others, and the blessings of having the same returned to us through our fellow man.
May the Lord watch over his flock, always.

Madeleine
Madeleine
13 years ago

Well, I am sorry to hear about your problem. As an American woman, devoted mother of
five children, hard working wife, stay at home mom, completely self sacrificing,
great cook, great baker, traditional to the very core, smart as heck, I can’t relate.
My mother raised six of us girls and six boys as well. All of us are hard working,
all of us have great morals, a healthy faith, traditional values, all married,
live clean lifestyles and have blessed my parents with 43 grandchildren.
Men can be very superficial. I know when my husband married me, part of his
attraction to me was because of my looks, and as judge Judy always says, looks
fade, but stupid is forever. He’ll admit it, but I had far more deeper
attributes that he knew were invaluable to a life long committment.
So if you are one of those guys who needed to get
eye candy to impress the guys,and to satisfy your urges, but figured
that in time you might be able to teach
certain behaviors to your girlfriend eye candy, it’s your own fault.
You didn’t do your homework. Woman like that were taught by
hollywood and magazines and idiot role models to be this way.
Parents dropped the ball on how to raise a good child, girl or boy.
So your role in it is that you wanted both things, beauty and brains
talent in the bed, kitchen and a womb that would pop out babies
at your demand, I suspect.
Find a good woman at your local church, volunteer center, hospital
soup kitchen, veterans admin. helping our injured vets. Decent
people don’t spend their lives pursuing careers alone, they
are found in places that give their lives meaning and
if you want someone with quality attributes, start there, not
with looks, although usually you find good looks because
these people are beautiful souls inside and out.

Rhinestone Suderman
Rhinestone Suderman
13 years ago

Boycott, you are being a fool.
You are going to wind up married to some Russian Mail-order “bride”, who will exploit you, as no American woman ever would, ripping off your bank account, stealing your credit cards \, threatening you and finally introducing you to her Russian Mafia boyfriend.
And you will deserve it, because you want a slave, not a wife.

Rhinestone Suderman
Rhinestone Suderman
13 years ago

And, with all due respect to Aunti Madder, boycott, please don’t find a good woman at a local church, or community center—such women deserve a better man than you, and don’t deserve to have their lives made miserable.

AuntieMadder
AuntieMadder
13 years ago

I think you mean to express due respect to Madeleine, who was kind enough to suggest to Boycott that he look for nice ladies at his local church or community center. I’m the mean ol’ woman who would suggest to those nice ladies that they BOYCOTT IDIOTS, Boycott included.

ibrahim sapien
ibrahim sapien
13 years ago

No, I’m not a moderate Muslim, I’m not Muslim at all. I’m an atheist. I have nothing against criticism of religion, but when you cross from criticism towards trying to isolate a religious community, that crosses a line in my opinion. That’s what Geller does.
But Geller’s been on all the major news networks and has access to many fellow anti-Islam activists, I figured she’s got to have the means to make this case bigger than what it currently is. Yes, it’s a case of “enemy of my enemy”. That’s a strategy used by the US government and all intelligent strategists all the time. I have no need for your answer.

ibrahim sapien
ibrahim sapien
13 years ago

I don’t read Geller’s blog, nor am I asking her to simply muse on the issue on her typepad website. She’s got close contacts with conservative think tanks, Republican politicians, and Fox News. I’m urging her to use them to pressure the US government to take a stand on this issue. I’m making the same request to liberal writers as well. Anyone who cares about human rights should/could use this as a stepping stone to address the issue of how radical islamists are being given support to do their worst by the US government.
BTW, when I say US government, I don’t just mean the Obama administration. The very worst supporter for Islamist terrorists was Ronald Reagan. Iran, Iraq, the Mujahideen in Afghanistan.
The terrorists weren’t “my people”. And your people killed over 100,000 Iraqis who had nothing to do with 9-11. Christians in Iraq were actually safe through Saddam’s years leading the country. It wasn’t until the US “saved” Iraq that Christians have become targets of bombings, and now the Iraqi Christian population is half what it used to be. How much longer will you use 9-11 as a pretext for stupid policies?
The reason Asia Bibi should be particularly significant is that Pakistan is dependent on US foreign aid. That’s US taxpayer money being used to fund a government that sentenced a Christian woman to DIE for just saying something. Why hasn’t Fox News made this a bigger issue? They’re so good at highlighting the trivial fears of the Muslim community, and now that there’s something real going on, they’re almost silent.

ibrahim sapien
ibrahim sapien
13 years ago

Atheism doesn’t go “hand in hand” with anything. Atheism is merely the acknowledgment that there is no God. That all religions are human fantasies. An atheist can be a capitalist, an atheist, a neocon or a liberal hippy.
I do hate Christianity. It’s a stupid religion. As are all religions.
And you’re quite the moron. The entirety of my reason for posting here is my strong objection to “blasphemy” laws.

Mac-101
Mac-101
13 years ago

Ibrahim, the Muslims like elsewhere in the world have killed your 100,000 Iraqis. There is a suicide bombin or two daily. Of course if they kill Christians who cares! It’s what the Religion of Peace does. I will know you through your works!

ann
ann
13 years ago

It really is a Wonferful Life- We are blessed to still live in this Great Land and Live where for right now we are still free, We do touch each other in so many ways, we each do have a place in life, may we place our country man first in the our hearts and help us, then go forth to help others, I love this movie and watch it every year!

madmath1
madmath1
13 years ago

Hummmm, why would the left hate this movie? First of all, the Savings and Loan didn’t take a bail out from the evil Mr. Potter (The TARP Act). George Baily believed in the individual and had them work themselves out of the proverty that Potter had them in paying the rent for this slums (Section Eight Housing). Foils his attempts to monopolized the markets in Bradford Falls (take over of GM and Financial institutions). Mary, who was college educated, marrys George who had no college education but is a good man with humble means (The anti-thisis of the faminazis aka NOW) and even dared to *gasp* have 4 children with him. George saves his Brother who was a crack fighter pilot that dared save the lives of American Service Men instead of the Imperial Japanese Military (Their Anti-Military stance). Worse of all, it was God sending an angel to see the good that he’s done and how his life wasn’t a waste but a great blessing for him and those that know him (The left hate God and Christians). Let’s not forget it has Merry Christmas. Most likely the theme that irks them the most, one man stood up to evil and defeat it since the left enbraces everything that’s evil and preverse. What could the left find in such an lifting movie that’s rank in the top 3 all time that supports their evil and stupid views?

madmath1
madmath1
13 years ago

I’ll play devils avocate here, I married American first and she raped my bank account and ruined my credit (as well her second husband as well) and had threatened my family with our children, while my current wife, who’s Filipino, has stuck with me through and through dispite being laid off and took me two years to find work with humble means. Before you assume all men, though with boycott I think he gives us men in general a bad name, who marry foreign are slave drivers. BTW, I agree with you on the Russian women, but look where they come from, socialist country where everything is an entitlement. OH wait, I jus described this Administration.

madmath1
madmath1
13 years ago

Don’t American women (the norm of them anyways) view ALL men as idiots? If so, you just suggested that they all be spinsters.

madmath1
madmath1
13 years ago

Amen to that.

madmath1
madmath1
13 years ago

Hence why the left hates this film. If we all strive to be like George Baily, they would lose all power as they rely on people being brain dead depending on the government for thier survival.

madmath1
madmath1
13 years ago

Dude, I’m not sure you watched the same movie. What collectivism saved the Savings and Loan? It was George’s own money that did. People pooling resources to earn a return was why they had money in that Saving’s and Loan (and nearly lost when Potter used the bank that loaned the money they needed at the time defaulted). We have the same type of financiing brewing with Peer to Peer lending where people pool their money in an investment to another individual to gain a return for risking their money. It’s having faith in your fellow man to be responsible and to work to enrich his/her own means. That isn’t collectivism where resources are pooled where everyone gains an equal share of the community’s wealth (which Potter had a norm share of) which if you get down to it, is just a theory as it’s never realized as the government or those in power like warlords keep a norm of that wealth for themselves. So your view of Christian collectivism makes little sense here.

madmath1
madmath1
13 years ago

Wow, impressive critique.

swmnguy
swmnguy
13 years ago

“The Left” doesn’t hate this movie. I know plenty of Leftists and I’ve never heard anyone say they hate “It’s A Wonderful Life.” The Salon review cited doesn’t hate this movie, either. The review stretches a bit to find an underlying current of deep fear running through the movie. Really, why does George Bailey resist Potter so intensely, and stick to his responsibility despite his resentment and sense of being trapped? Because he fears that if he doesn’t do everything he can to keep the Building and Loan running, Bedford Falls will become Pottersville. To fear that Bedford Falls is never safe from, nor too far from, being Pottersville is not to “hate” the movie. To fear that America is never safe from, nor too far from, its own ugly undercurrents is hardly to hate America. It is in fact to take citizenship seriously and to try to view the world as it is, rather than idealistic elites would have us view it.

Call me Lennie
Call me Lennie
13 years ago

It’a Wonderful Life is a scary movie. They should post that one on the observation deck of the Ministry of Truth right along with “Slavery is Freedom”, “Ignorance is Strenght” and “Islam is Peace”

David
David
13 years ago

I don’t hate muslims; rather I consider them to be misguided victims of a perverse, malignant ideology. I do hate islam and all that it stands for.

Mary Esterhammer-Fic
Mary Esterhammer-Fic
13 years ago

I love “It’s a Wonderful Life”…but I don’t know why it’s so vilified by the Left. You would think they would embrace it along with “Grapes of Wrath.” For all its merits, it does paint a picture of a successful capitalist (Potter) as a greedy predator. And Karl Marx could have written the scene where George explains to the panicked S & L customers how their savings are distributed to others less fortunate…and that little woman who asks for, like, a dollar or something, because she’s shamed into retrieving from her account only what she NEEDS. As much as I enjoy the actors, the characters, the humor, and corniness of it all, I have to admit that it is a bit heavy-handed in its MONEY=BAD, WEALTH=CORRUPTION theme. Even George’s wildly successful buddy is protrayed as an obnoxious, if loveable, goofball.

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