Dec 24, 2012 10:13 PM
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The best way to make someone realize the value of something important is to make him/her devoid of it. If you hate your life or feel like it’s not worth living and wish you had never been born, well, just imagine the world without yourself - things you have done for others, roles you have played in others life, love you have showered on your loved ones - and then you will feel how worthy your life is. ‘It’s a Wonder Life’ is the story of a man named, George Bailey, who wishes on similar lines to have never been born and guess what, his wish gets fulfilled, only to make him realize how wonderful his life had been.
MOVIE DETAILS: ‘It’s a Wonder Life’ is a 1946’s Christmas Drama film, based on a short story ‘The Greatest Gift’ (by Philip Van Doren Stern). Directed by legendary director Frank Capra, it has James Stewart playing the protagonist ‘George Bailey’. It’s a black and white movie with a total duration of 2 hours and 15 minutes. Considered to be one of the most inspirational movies of all time, it ranks 11th in the list of 100 great movies of all times. Its lead character ‘George Bailey’ and Villain ‘Mr. Potter’ have their names in the list of 100 heroes and Villain of all times respectively.
ABOUT THE PLOT: On Christmas Eve, when lots of prayers are received in Heaven, for one
particular man on Earth, George Bailey (James Stewart), who is about to end his life, the Gods send his Guardian angel Clarence (Henry Travers) to protect and stop him from committing suicide.
Now, George is a man, who right from childhood has been very ambitious and had big dreams of doing well in life and roam all over the world. But George is a victim of circumstances, who has to give up on his dream, time after time, all through his life, in order to helps others. Then there is Mr. Potter, a rich business man, who right from the beginning, is trying to get rein of the whole town, Belford Falls, in his hands but George always succeed in spoiling his plans by helping the people with Loans to build their own houses etc. All of Mr. Potter’s effort to get rid of George fails.
On the Christmas Eve, however, something happens that turns the tide in favor of Mr. Potter and George is in big financial crisis and that’s when he decides to commit suicide. His Guardian Angel, Clarence, tries to convince him about how good his life has been but in vain. When George wishes to have never been born, an idea strikes in the mind of Clarence, and he blesses George with the wish.
Then Clarence takes George back into town and shows him the changed world, the world as it would’ve been had George never been born. Looking the changed face of town, with no one even recognizing George; Mr. Potter has taken over the entire town and all his loved ones living miserably – his mother living poorly; his wife not so happy and his brother, whom he had saved in childhood, dead. George realizes what a great part he has played in the lives of almost all the people of town, apprehending his mistake he begs Clarence to return him back to his life which Clarence grants.
Soon George finds himself back in his own world, overwhelmingly happy George returns to his home, wife and kids and hug them with feelings of immense love. To his surprise he finds his goodness paying, when everyone from the town gets together and contributes to help him raise the money to overcome the financial crisis.
ABOUT THE CAST: Most of the movies that I have seen of James Stewart were from 1960’s; in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ he is looks very young and energetic, whole movie revolves around him and he has given one of his best performances here. Henry Travers as Clarence, the Angel, looks funny. Lionel Barrymore as Mr. Potter, the villain, comes out impressive as mean fellow. Donna Reed as Mary, George’s wife, looks beautiful and perfect wife. It’s really a collective effort with all in the cast having done really well to make it a classic movie. ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ is the first movie by Great Frank Capra that I have seen and I found his direction really impressive.
FINAL WORDS: ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ is a very well made movie and radiates lot of positive energy. It's good movie to watch - more so when someone is feeling down and unhappy with life and the world around - to get inspired, to understand the value of life. It’s a feel good movie that reminds one of good parts of life and is a worth watch any number of times and there can't be better time to watch this movie, then Christmas, to realize the greatest gift that God has given us all : Life.
Wishing You All a Very Very Merry Merry Christmas !!!
