It's a Wonderful Life (Liberty Films 1946)

Finally! FINALLY! ECM finally has a Jimmy Stewart movie on the blog and what better one to post than It's a Wonderful Life!

Now most everyone has seen the film, but some might not realize the conservative themes that go with it too! The movie talks about faith in God, country, family, friends, and doing the right thing when it matters the most... no matter how much it hurts...

George Bailey (Stewart) has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. He has always longed to travel but never had the opportunity in order to prevent rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town. All that prevents him from doing so is George's modest building and loan company, which was founded by his generous father.

But on Christmas Eve, George's Uncle Billy loses the business's $8,000 while intending to deposit it in the bank. Potter finds the misplaced money and hides it from Billy. When the bank examiner discovers the shortage later that night, George realizes that he will be held responsible and sent to jail and the company will collapse, finally allowing Potter to take over the town. Thinking of his wife, their young children, and others he loves will be better off with him dead, he contemplates suicide.

But the prayers of his loved ones result in a gentle angel named Clarence coming to earth to help George, with the promise of earning his wings. He shows George what things would have been like if he had never been born. In a nightmarish vision in which the Potter-controlled town is sunk in sex and sin, those George loves are either dead, ruined, or miserable. He realizes that he has touched many people in a positive way and that his life has truly been a wonderful one.

Basically it's like this folks, if you have never seen this movie before you might be a member of the Communist party.

Here's the trailer from the film.




The lost original ending...

The Best Years of Our Lives (MGM 1946)

A friend of mine suggested that I rent this movie and I had one hell of a time finding it! We have 2 Blockbusters where I live and neither one had a copy! "We don't carry old films no one's heard of," some pimply face kid at Blockbuster told me. Finally I found the DVD at our local Hollywood Video and on the front it says "Oscar Winner for Best Picture 1946." Well, I thought, someone must have heard of this film and trust me when I say it didn't disappoint! Great flick! Again here is a synopsis from Internet Movie Database.

At the end of World War II, a soldier, a sailor and an airman return to their home town of Boone City and must re-adjust to the society they had left several years before. Al Stephenson was a banker before joining up. He is older than your average war veteran and gets home to find that his children have grown up and faces the difficult task of re-establishing an intimate relationship with his loving wife. At work, Al is promoted but now finds it difficult to be the hardhearted banker he seemingly once was. Fred Derry was an Air Force Officer and Bombadier but realizes on his return that he has no marketable skills and finds himself in his old job at the pharmacy working as a soda jerk. He also finds that he had married in haste and that his wife, whom he'd only known for a few weeks when they married during his flight training, isn't quite as enamored with him now that he's out of uniform. Lastly, there is Homer Parrish who lost both of his hands in a shipboard fire. He's become quite adept at using the prosthetics the Navy has provided him but resents the pity he sees in others eyes. He had hoped to marry his childhood sweetheart but is no longer sure he can burden her with his own physical limitations. All three men become fast friends and with Fred Derry's marriage falling apart, he finds himself falling in love with Al's daughter, Peggy. In the end, all three finds ways to move forward with their lives.

I have to admit I take freedom for granted way too much. I have the freedom now to sit here and update my blog to be seen by millions of visitors each and everyday (I wish). And this is all made possible by the sacrifices of men and women right now and days before. There is a strong conservative message with The Best Years of Our Lives...take care of the people who take care of you! How? Click these links to do your part! The Fisher House and My Soldier

Great scene!



And another!