It’s a Wonderful Life

What did you think of It’s a Wonderful Life?

This movie runs 130 minutes, 100 of which I thought deserved the “wonderful” title. I was taken in by the well-drawn, organic character drama presented in the first hour and a half. Jimmy Stuart and Donna Reed make a fabulous lead pair that sell the audience on their all-American family dream. This normally hokey suburban fantasy works here because, for much of the movie, it’s NOT what George Bailey wants; it’s what he’s settling for. He wants to travel the world, then become an architect. He shows so much promise, too, smartly redesigning his high-school’s gymnasium. Every time his ship comes in, though, someone else needs the ticket: his brother, his father, his hometown, his family. This tug of war between a young person’s desires and responsibilities is timelessly appealing. At first, I thought this would play out like an Arthur Miller play (We all live lives of quiet tragedy). Only when George’s run-of-the-mill life ALSO vanishes before his eyes does he realize what he stands to lose. From Mary’s perspective, she works hard to make her picket-fence fantasy come true. She foregoes her honeymoon, improves a rundown mansion, and raises four children. When George finally lets life’s misfortunes get to him, the audience both grieves with him and cheers when Mary stands up for herself. Their mutual love yet conflicting desires make for crackling drama.

Likewise, the climax rings true near 80 years later because the Bailey family doesn’t get a perfectly happy ending, but rather a realistic one that they’ve earned. I was left with misty-eyed joy for the Bailey family, and I was satisfied with the cathartic ending. I especially like that not all evildoers are punished just as not all of George and Mary’s problems are solved. George has simply reached a point in his life where he can be proud of what he, his wife, and his hometown have accomplished. He can also be thankful for the gifts he has, rather than the opportunities that he’s missed.

This leaves the remaining half hour: Clarence’s screen time. As someone who only knew about the self-harm, Christmas, and supernatural elements of this movie, I had no idea they were confined to so small a section. The word Christmas isn’t even uttered until over halfway through the runtime! Angels don’t even appear until the 100-minute mark. The entire structure feels wonky, and, had I gone into this movie blindly, the Christmas angle (and angel) would’ve seemed out of left field. Honestly, calling It’s a Wonderful Life a Christmas movie would be like saying the original Star Wars trilogy stars Jabba the Hutt. He’s in it, sure, but he’s far from top billing.

The movie would’ve been much more effective had it either gone all in on the Christmas season or cut it out entirely. In the first scenario, just have these life events happen around Christmas. That way, there’d at least be more cohesion. In the second version, make Clarence a more enigmatic figure that never identifies what he is. Making Clarence a mysterious manifestation of Bedford Falls’ thankfulness for all that George has given the town would add artistic depth and lessen the jarring, literal dues-ex machina effect of the film’s third act. Going either direction would’ve made for a leaner film, and a stronger viewing experience. Ironically, scrubbing Christmas from the movie would rob it of its holiday viewing status. Giving it the full Christmas treatment, conversely, would’ve made for better word of mouth, making the film too expensive to be shown on television in the first place. At the end of the day, I guess I should be happy with the movie that is rather than the movie that could’ve been.