Blogging By Cinema-light: Don't Make a Scene: It's a Wonderful Life

The Story: First off, Merry Christmas!

I knew I wanted to do something from It's a Wonderful Life this time—the "Don't Make a Scene" features fall on Sunday as does the Yuletide this year—I just didn't know which one. There are so many, and I've already done a few (which you can find here and here—Jiminy Christmas, why don't you just watch the movie? Again!) But I was having a difficult time deciding which.

But, the answer is so obvious (once it comes to you): the ending. One of the great happy endings in all of movie-dom. But, it is a happy ending that is earned, by the protagonist George Bailey and, frankly, the audience. Director Frank Capra and his screen-writers (and there were many—heck, Dalton Trumbo and Clifford Odets worked on the early drafts and Dorothy Parker did a "polish" of it and they're not even credited!) put poor George through a veritable Hell on Earth due to his un-doing (suicidal on Christmas Eve, he briefly wishes he'd never been born, and an angel grants his wish). That cold dash of unreality is better than jumping off a snowy bridge to slap him with some perspective, and realizes what he's got and that it's good. Wonderful, in fact.

It's a tough film to watch for anyone who has suffered depression or hardship or...anything. And one is reminded that one should merely get some perspective (Heavenly or other kind) to get back on your feet. It does get better. And it can get pretty darn good.

So, take a cup of kindness...or better yet, give one to someone on a rocky road.

It is a wonderful life.

The Set-Up: George Bailey (James Stewart), the manager of the local Bedford Falls Savings and Loan, has had a turn of fortune on Christmas Eve. Contemplating suicide, he is rescued by an angel-in-training, Clarence (Henry Travers), who shows him what his life would have been like if he'd never been born. And it's a nightmare. One that George begs to have reversed. He is granted his wish and he returns home to find everything is as it was, and the town of Bedford Falls gather to help him out of his immediate financial troubles.

Action.

As various members of the family bring out a punch bowl and glasses,

Janie sits down at the piano and strikes a chord. She starts playing "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,"

...and the entire crowd joins in the singing.

Hark! the herald

angels sing,

"Glory to

the newborn King:

We see a SERIES OF SHOTS of the various groups singing the hymn, and some people are still coming in and dropping their money on the table.

peace on earth, and mercy mild,

Carter, the bank examiner, makes a donation;

God and sinners

reconciled!"

Joyful, all

the sheriff sheepishly looks at George

ye nations, rise, join

and tears his warrant in small pieces.

the triumph of

the skies;

with th'angelic hosts proclaim,

"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

In the midst of this scene, Harry, in Naval uniform, enters, accompanied by Bert, the cop.
SOMEONE SHOUTS Harry Bailey!

Hark! the herald angels sing,

HARRY Hello, George, how are you?

GEORGE Harry... Harry...

HARRY (as he sees the money) Mary – looks like I got here too late.

BERT Mary, I got him here from the airport as quickly as I could. The fool flew all the way up here in a blizzard.

Mrs. Bailey enters scene.

MRS. BAILEY Harry, how about...

MRS. BAILEY ...your banquet in New York?

HARRY Oh, I left right in the middle of it as soon as I got Mary's telegram.

Ernie hands Harry a glass of wine.

HARRY Good idea, Ernie.

HARRY A toast...

HARRY ...to my big brother, George. The richest man in town!

Once more the crowd breaks into cheering and applause. Janie at the piano and Bert on his accordion start playing "Auld Lang syne,"

Should old

and everyone joins in.

acquaintance be forgot, and

CLOSE SHOT George, still holding Zuzu in his arms, glances down at the pile of money on the table.

His eye catches something on top of the pile, and he reaches down for it.

never brought to mind?

It is Clarence's copy of "Tom Sawyer."

George opens it and finds an inscription written in it:

Should old

"Dear George, remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings, Love Clarence."

acquaintance be forgot, and days of auld lang syne?

MARY (looking at book) What's that?

GEORGE That's a Christmas present from a very dear friend of mine.

For auld lang syne, my dear,

At this moment, perhaps because of the jostling of some of the people on the other side of the tree, a little silver bell on the Christmas tree swings to and fro with a silvery tinkle.

Zuzu closes the cover of the book, and points to the bell.