Frank Capra’s masterpiece, “It’s a
Wonderful Life,” has become one of the most popular films of all time.
Nevertheless, film critics seem obligated to dismiss it as an exercise in
sentimentality. They overlook the fact that most “sentimental” films of that or
any era are almost impossible to watch today. Critics rarely discuss the film
on its merits as a film and tend to overlook Capra’s mastery of the film
medium.
Even the most hard hearted critic
will be hard pressed to keep the tears from flowing especially at the finale.
Why can’t they recognize that it’s not just sentimentality but that it takes a
real craftsman to elicit such a universal response? Capra regarded this as the
greatest work of his illustrious career, and so too did its star, Jimmy
Stewart.
Both Capra and Stewart had
returned to Hollywood right after the end of World War II after distinguished
service in the military. Stewart had piloted many bombing missions, and Capra
had been responsible for making the famous “Why We Fight “ documentaries for
the Army. “It’s a Wonderful Life” was the first film venture for each of them
on their return to civilian life.
It is well known that before the
war Frank Capra had become Hollywood’s most famous and acclaimed director
despite the fact that he had come to America as a young Sicilian boy who could
not speak a word of English. His family migrated to California to provide for
themselves by farming. The young Frank worked to help the family but somehow
managed to become the only one in the family to get a college degree.
After a brief and uneventful stint
in the Army in the waning days of World War I, he found himself out of work and
with no prospects. In his autobiography he described how quite by accident he
stumbled into a fledgling movie studio and began his career. He was in
Hollywood almost at the inception and proceeded to learn the craft of
filmmaking from the ground up.
All the things he learned during
this apprenticeship are evident in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” In the first place,
he learned to make pictures that were really moving. His characters never just
stand around just talking. Either they are moving or the camera is moving.
Unlike many other films, Capra’s never grind to a standstill.
Just visualize the scene right
after the marriage of George and Mary.
Ernie, the cab driver, is driving them to the train station as they
embark on their honeymoon. They are joking with Ernie but through the back window the camera
shows men running in the street. We jump immediately
into the scene of the run on the banks without any pause or introduction.
Speaking of George and Mary their
earlier love scene where they both talk on the same telephone is perhaps the
best and most famous in all of film history. No love scene in Casablanca, an
equally sentimental film but a favorite of critics, can compare to this one for
realism and emotion.
Capra was a pioneer practitioner
of many of the techniques that we take for granted in films today. He began the
film with a flashback and narrator. He used stop action to introduce the adult
George Bailey. No film noir director ever used light and dark to greater effect
than Capra. At the film’s finale the entire cast is artfully brought back as if to take their bows. The camera
goes from face to face in one of the most moving scenes ever shot.
Speaking of the cast, Jimmy
Stewart regarded this film as his greatest performance. “The Best Years of Our
Lives,” a saga of returning war veterans, swept the Academy Awards in 1946 but
it was a real travesty when Frederic March won the Best Actor award for his
relatively wooden portrayal of a hard drinking banker. He wasn’t even the best
actor in “Best Years.” In addition to the classic telephone love scene, I remember
especially Stewart’s reaction to the news that his college-hero brother will
not be returning to take over the running of the Bailey Building and Loan. In
that brief scene his face goes through a whole gamut of emotions. That scene
prepared us for the angry Stewart who berates his own children on Christmas
Eve. Jimmy Stewart really grew up in this film.
The rest of the cast could have
won an award for best ensemble. Capra had a knack of bringing out the best in
his reservoir of great character actors. Was Donna Reed ever better? Capra
introduced a young Gloria Grahame into this film and she was a stunning
success. Who can ever forget her reaction to Stewart’s compliment on her dress?
“Oh, this old thing. I only wear this when I don’t care how I look!" Of the
others it will just be sufficient to notice Beulah Bondi’s transformation from
a loving mother to a haggard old landlady.
Every scene in this great film was
planned and directed by Frank Capra. It is a true work of art. Who can bear to
watch any of the remakes? It takes great skill to make a “sentimental” film
watchable and believable. During the harrowing twenty minutes after George
Bailey’s suicide attempt, who doesn’t believe that Henry Travers is a real
angel?
Years ago I remember an episode of
“Cheers” where the regulars were standing around the bar on Christmas Eve
watching “It’s a Wonderful Life.” At that time no one owned the rights to the
film and so it could be seen on practically every local channel all during the
day and night. Characteristically, they were casting sarcastic jokes. At the
end of the film they were all crying uncontrollably.###
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