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It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
296 Plays3 years ago
In this episode, Satsunami and Adam take on Frank Capra's iconic 1946 classic It's a Wonderful Life. From it's themes of mental health to the power of kindness, join us as we discuss this holiday classic.
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Transcript
Festive Special Kickoff with Humorous Banter
00:00:05
Speaker
Welcome to Chatsunami.
00:00:17
Speaker
Hello ho ho everybody and welcome to a very special episode of Chad Tsunami. I'm Sad Tsunami and joining me for this very very festive and wonderful episode is my very good friend Adam. Adam welcome back. Hello hello good to be back and you know what they say every time a bell rings a sandwich gets another layer. Couldn't have said it better myself.
00:00:44
Speaker
Oh, how are you doing in this festive period? I'm doing good, I'm doing good. We've had a lot of mist today. It's been rather misty, so trying not to lose myself out there. But apart from that, all good. Oh yeah, it definitely is looking very Silent Hilly out there.
00:01:01
Speaker
Yeah, the ghost of my dead wife seems to be manifesting a lot, but apart from that, you know. Yeah, there's a lot of Victorian ghosts out there, you know, the usual, you know. Victorians have got nothing better to do but haunt people through the mist, you know. It's true. Well, either that or pyramid heads, but you know, they sold out a long time ago.
00:01:22
Speaker
That is surprisingly a lot of Sean Beans. I was surprised when I was trying to do my shopping and I just heard boredom here, you know, run by me in the crisp aisle. I was going to make a funny joke, but I feel as if I should move on. Any more Sean Bean jokes to go through? I've got pages of material here. Nah, they would have died off long ago. As you can see, I'm very sharp on this Sean Bean.
Discussing 'It's a Wonderful Life' and Its Impact
00:01:49
Speaker
Right okay, this isn't about Sean Bean in this episode. One day, one day we'll get round to him. But yeah, today we are going to be talking about a, for once we're going to be talking about a very good film.
00:02:04
Speaker
You know, that of course being It's a Wonderful Life, which, where do we begin with this? Because last year, you and I did a top five Christmas films list and this ranked number one rightfully so. Indeed, rightfully so. Where it belongs? I have good ass, before we jump in and we start talking about how amazing this film is, which it feels weird because I don't feel like, I don't feel as grungy because when
00:02:29
Speaker
You know, it's like when they talk about jingle all the way, you know, my heart kind of shrivels and everything. You're like, oh, that capitalism coming true. As soon as this film comes into the light, you know, everybody's heart grows like three times the size. Maybe you should see a doctor. I don't know. But the main thing is, we're all filled with that Christmas cheer. Before we start,
00:02:49
Speaker
When was the first time you actually saw this film? Because don't get me wrong, this film was released in 1946, which, I mean, we're old, but we're not that old.
00:02:59
Speaker
It's all even for us. Yeah, even for us. This is a black and white age, long before we decided to critique films and games etc. But yeah, when was the first time you saw this film? So I didn't see this film as a kid, which I know a lot of people, this is the first kind of interaction with this film, wasn't childhood. I don't ever recall seeing it when I was young. I can't remember exactly how old I was. I guess I was either in my late teens or early
00:03:28
Speaker
20s. I think when I first watched this film, I went through a phase for a while, in my early 20s, late teens, where I was trying to watch as many classic films as I could. This is one of the most cited films on these top 100 lists of films.
00:03:46
Speaker
So I watched it at that then. I can't remember what, I said I can't remember how old I was at all but that's when I first came
Personal Experiences with 'It's a Wonderful Life'
00:03:51
Speaker
into contact with it. You know I'm in the same boat for once because I actually saw this film and this is gonna make me sound old but I swear to god when I say in the cinema it was a rerun, okay? It was not the other children.
00:04:06
Speaker
Get off my lawn, you damn sandwich! To give a bit of context, there is a fantastic theatre in Glasgow called the GFT, which is like, I mean correct me if I'm wrong, Adam, but it shows like indie films usually doesn't it? And kind of like specialised screenings of films?
00:04:25
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, that's his main fare. I mean, it's also notable for being the first place that Sat Tsunami and I met, however many years ago that was now, but it also shares that distinction. That is true. Adam and I actually shared a screening of, it was Terminator 1 and 2. Indeed. I know, you are an absolute fan of that series, and we do need to get a retrospective going for the Terminator franchise. One of these days. Don't you worry, I'll tie a lasso round my collection and I'll
00:04:55
Speaker
Yeah, if that actually was the first time we met, which, you know, if that didn't happen, you know, it's kind of ironic we're talking a bit. It's a wonderful life in that particular thing. Because if it wasn't for that moment in going out, we wouldn't have obviously met when we started the podcast. So it's got the fuzzy feelings going, you know? Think about
Plot and Core Message of 'It's a Wonderful Life'
00:05:13
Speaker
it. If you hadn't met me, you'd have an even more successful podcast right now. Well, nah, nah. I would have sold out by now. I would have been saying this is sponsored by Raid Shadow.
00:05:29
Speaker
And I'm just like, no, no, I want to go home, Clarence. I want to go home. So yeah, sorry, that's it. I first saw It's a Wonderful Life in the GFT with my family because every Christmas, although obviously due to circumstances both last year and this year, I don't know if they still do it, but
00:05:47
Speaker
I remember a couple of years ago they showed the Muppets Christmas Carol. Absolutely fantastic film as well. You should definitely go see that if you haven't. 4. It's a Wonderful Life. I went to see it with my family. Now I knew nothing about this film except for the parodies of it. Or not the parodies but you know kind of the general outline. It's like the film basically centers around a man who you know he
00:06:08
Speaker
He does everything for his community and then one day he decides, oh no, I wish I was never born and everything. And I'm giving the Bear Basics somebody here, because we all go into what this film's about, but that's all I knew about it. It was about a man who didn't want to live anymore. He wished he was never born and he saw the world for what would happen if he was never born. At the end of it he kind of says, oh no, I want to be born again.
00:06:34
Speaker
he gets brought back into the world, it's all happy. I have seen so many parodies, so many films that just rip off this idea because it's a bit like a Christmas carol in a way. It's one of those kind of core films that a lot of other films copy off of. I've even seen a film similar to this where William Shatner is like the angel, quote unquote.
00:06:56
Speaker
driving that carriage through Central Park. It gets really weird. It's the same with the Simpsons as well. They've done it in the words of South Park. Simpsons did it. This story's been parodied to hell and back.
00:07:11
Speaker
And I always thought, okay, how good can this film be, you know? It's an old one, I'm sure it'll be good, or you know. I remember sitting down and then I came out of the film and, my god, I was blown away. And that's not something that usually happens, because a lot of these old films, they're long, they're drawn out, they're a product of their time, let's just say. But
00:07:33
Speaker
it's a wonderful life. It just absolutely captivated me like from start to finish. I did not feel like, well just over two hours, I did not feel like that. I was just captivated about the story of this man going to desperate lengths and yeah just basically coming
Historical Context and Production Insights
00:07:49
Speaker
through not unscathed but learning a valuable lesson and honestly like it was fantastic and it still remains one of my favourites. I mean I've got lots of favourite films
00:07:59
Speaker
But especially for Christmas films, this is by far my favourite. And before we actually talk about why we love this film so much, would you, Adam, being the chief sandwich here, would you like to give a kind of brief synopsis about this film? I shall do my best. This is perhaps the most nerve-wracking because usually when I do these, I feel like it's, you know, like it's bad films or whatever. It doesn't really matter if I mangle it or it's unimportant stories. This one is the complete opposite of that. So with trepidation, I will try my best. Godspeed.
00:08:29
Speaker
So it's a wonderful life, focuses on the tale of a man called George Bailey, who lives in a small town in America called Bedford Falls, which I think is in the state of New York, if I remember rightly, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. And basically the film opens and George Bailey is down on his luck. He's hit rock bottom and he is contemplating committing suicide. Basically we then ascend to the heavens where we
00:08:53
Speaker
we learn a little bit about heaven's bureaucracy and it is decided that heaven's going to send an angel down to earth to try and prevent George Bailey from you know from taking his own life and this angel Clarence comes down and basically Clarence sets out to show it kind of almost almost akin in a way to A Christmas Carol. Clarence sets out to show George Bailey what life in Bedford Falls would be like and what life would be like for those
00:09:19
Speaker
if he had never been born. And so that's kind of the premise of the story. We learn a lot about George Bailey's backstory, his life, his upbringing, the kind of trials, tribulations he's gone through, his family, his friends, the town itself. And it all kind of culminates in this uplifting tale about what each life is worth and the intrinsic value of life. And it ends
00:09:43
Speaker
No man is a failure who has friends, which I hope to God I got that quote right. I have a horrible feeling now I've mangled it, but did I get it right? Yeah, I'm sure it is, yeah. No man who is... Who is it? No man who is... No man is a failure who has friends. God, this is not worth panicking myself. Let's just say I got it right. Yeah, top marks, yeah. I have to know what I'll get a text to speech then just to go over and be like... I'll just cut the... Oh no, they don't speak like that. Never mind.
00:10:14
Speaker
that was actually a surprise. I thought that was, it is a quote from the film but no one actually says it. It's in the book at the end. Is it Mark Twain, I think? Oh, is that where it's from? No, it's like the, that's what Clarence writes in it. He writes like in the book of Mark Twain. But we are skipping ahead of ourselves. So yeah, but any further ado, let's just jump right into it. And yeah, as always, before we do, here are some festive messages.
00:10:37
Speaker
Welcome to Chatsunami, a variety podcast that talks about topics from gaming and films to streaming in general interest. Previously on Chatsunami, we discussed Game of the Decade, Deadly Premonition, the romantic thriller, Birdemic, and listen to us get all sappy as we discuss our top five Christmas films. If that sounds like your cup of tea, then you can find us an anchor, Spotify, YouTube, and all good podcast apps. As always, stay safe, stay awesome, and most importantly, stay hydrated.
00:11:08
Speaker
We are Beer and Chill Podcast. Podcast where we review TV shows, games, movies and whatever else takes our fancy. So what are you waiting for? If you're a cool kid like us, you're gonna listen to the Beer and Chill Podcast. You can get it anywhere from Spotify all the way to your grandma's radio. My name is Jan. And I'm Craig Yisi. And we are Beer and Chill.
00:11:43
Speaker
Wow, those are some holy-jolly messages, aren't they? Indeed, the most festive of messages. So, yeah, let's begin. Well, I suppose from the beginning, and let's just discuss how this film actually came to be. Do you know the story
Character Analysis of George Bailey
00:11:57
Speaker
behind this? I know some of the details behind it, but I'm looking forward to getting the full picture.
00:12:01
Speaker
From what I know, there was a man called Philip Van Doren Stern. If I butchered that name, I apologise sincerely. As far as I remember, I think he was a historian, and he wrote a story called The Greatest Gift. And it was basically the, I don't know, I can't say for certain it was, you know, like plot for plot point, but you know, it was the general gist of it. And after years of him like unsuccessfully sending it to publishers, which
00:12:30
Speaker
I can imagine how crushing that must have been, writing something that you really believe in and then publishers are saying, nah, nah, nah, we are not touching this, how dare you. So instead, Van Dern decided to gift, this is actually really strange and fascinating,
00:12:47
Speaker
instead of you know trying again and again which he did, he decided to put his story on a Christmas card to which he sent it to his closest friends during the holidays on the Christmas card and I honestly thought that was like the strangest but quite
00:13:03
Speaker
nice ways that somehow through a Christmas miracle, I mean it is literally a Christmas miracle because one of his copies actually reached the, well I suppose the post box of David Hempstead who was a producer at Archeo Pictures. He read it, he loved it and according to my source, now I could be wrong but according to my source, he purchased the movie rights for $10,000 which must have been a hell of a lot back then.
00:13:32
Speaker
Yeah, so for $10,000, thank God. Imagine all the Christmas cards you could buy for that. I'm gonna be rude. And then that's kind of how it came to fruition. And of course, the film is directed by Frank Capra, who, let's face it, he did a fantastic job on this film. Oh, absolutely. This is his... I mean, he did a lot of good films throughout his life, but I think this is without a doubt his masterpiece.
00:13:55
Speaker
I mean there are like kind of contentions because I have read several sources that say on the one hand him and the lead actor James Stewart said this was their favourite film and then there's some others that say oh it was their second favourite but it is safe to say that in both these men's minds you know
00:14:14
Speaker
this film was held in high esteem with them. It is safe to say, like, apparently James Stewart was quoted saying that George Bailey was one of his favourite characters to actually act as. You can see why. I mean, as you said before, and honestly, it was a great summary. James Stewart plays George Bailey, who is this? He's an investment banker, isn't he? Or a loan?
00:14:40
Speaker
Yeah he runs like a building society I guess which you know like they still exist now although I think they're a bit more like banks now than perhaps they were in the 1940s I don't want to speak to us I don't really know all like the ins and outs of what exactly buildings how a building size differs from a bank but yeah that's kind of he's the owner of that so I don't know
00:15:02
Speaker
The majority of the film is quite tragic, or not tragic as in, oh, it's like a sad one, but there are some heavy hitting moments because throughout the film George Bailey is this man who is very, you know, he's the everyday man, he's the, oh, swell, and gee, Will occurs, and in her mid-40s slang year, which apparently this film had a lot of censorship.
00:15:24
Speaker
Obviously, it was things that were quite tame by today's standards, like saying things like, oh, they couldn't drink on camera and they couldn't do this and that. Although there are scenes where they do drink on camera, so I don't know how they got around that.
00:15:38
Speaker
just orange juice folks. It's just crazy the amount of things that were just like, no, you can't do this or that, which in today's standards we would be like, really? You can't say that? Because I think one of the female actresses had a line that said like,
00:15:56
Speaker
oh I was out all night or something like that and the studio didn't want that in because it was too suggestive or something. Is he compared to what you get away with nowadays? It's like yeah that is that is like small potatoes in comparison. But yeah George Bailey is this man who throughout his entire life from age I think
00:16:15
Speaker
21. He's like late 30s. That's what it says that he's... I think that's the age range. We see him. We do see him as a young boy but throughout his kind of formative years as a young adult and to like mainly adulthood which is scary because that's where we're approaching him.
00:16:30
Speaker
as I'm recording this episode. He is just this person who's always willing to help out, but he's got bigger dreams of escaping this small town of Bedford Falls, and he really wants to get out. He wants to travel the world. He wants to take his loved one and just experience life. But throughout the film, he's always been dragged back because of either family deaths or because of certain Mr.
00:16:59
Speaker
and he's always putting himself first and he gets to like a point that he just breaks, doesn't he? Yeah, I mean that's kind of like where we chronologically like in the film we kind of meet him at that point.
00:17:14
Speaker
where he is basically a broken man who's hit rock bottom. Would you say that he is a very relatable character? I definitely think so, because this is kind of the story of growing up. We do basically see George Bailey through his whole entire life.
00:17:29
Speaker
As much as perhaps we can't relate to every single thing that happens to him, I think there's a lot that we can relate to, especially that idea of having dreams. Of having dreams when you're young, you know, of the things that you want to do and things you want to accomplish and what you want to become. And then, you know, a lot of the time life intervenes and forces you to change that and forces you to go down different roads and perhaps ones that you thought you were going to go down or you wanted to go down. So in that respect, I think he's an incredibly relatable character.
00:17:54
Speaker
No, I totally agree though. I do think that he definitely represents, or rather he does a great job of demonstrating someone who is, yeah, just trying to live his own life. And yeah, as you said, it's like, because I mean, you and I have both been through that, where it's like you go to do one thing. Fortunately, it wasn't the Terminator 1 and 2 showing. Yeah, exactly.
00:18:18
Speaker
we've all had, whether it's big or small, we've all had experiences where we've gone to do something and you know because of life it's kind of prevented us from actually experiencing that and you kind of like you know not get obsessed but you kind of think of like the what ifs and what if I did this, what if I did that and let's face it this film is genuinely just one big massive what if
00:18:42
Speaker
Yeah, that's it. That's the whole conceit of it, isn't it, I guess? I mean, I don't want to, like, reduce it, you know, and be like, oh, it's a big what? And scene, that's it, you know. And I don't know if you know this, but have you heard the stories about the production of this film? I mean, I know there was a lot of trouble in pre-production, particularly
00:19:05
Speaker
the easiest man to work with. I know he had a lot of conflicts with the script writers, I think there was quite a large turnover of the writing team before it. I mean as well I understand that the set of Bedford Falls, or the town where the film is set, that was one of the largest film sets to ever be created.
00:19:21
Speaker
at the time. And I understand that the special effects department for this film invented a new form of fake snow to add an extra layer of authenticity. It was a chemical solution they invented. Well, apparently the usual format before them was to take cornflakes and paint them white. I guess you get that crunch when you stand on it, if I had to guess. So there are some interesting things.
00:19:43
Speaker
I was actually really surprised about the Snow Thing, but I think actually what took me by surprise more was the fact that it was all a set. I know that's how stupid considering it's a film, but I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't expect the whole Bedford Falls was.
00:19:58
Speaker
a set, if you know what I mean. And I know that sounds silly to say, because I know the high school that they rehearsed – not rehearsing, but the high school that they dance in actually is a real-life high school, which still has that swimming pool. Which I think, my god, that's fancier than our high schools. That's right, rather my high school. I don't know if yours had an extendable swimming pool.
00:20:22
Speaker
I remember
Character Dynamics and Societal Themes
00:20:23
Speaker
we got stories years ago. They told us that when our school was built, we had a choice between a swimming pool or a theatre. Yes, spoilers, they did not choose a swimming pool. Well, at least unless it was hidden under a stage or something. I don't know, maybe. A retractable theatre. Yeah, as if you don't like It's A Wonderful Life, it just like, extends. And then that's like a bond dealing trap or something.
00:20:45
Speaker
Ah, Mr Sitzo, welcome. The amount of care and attention put to this film, and I do agree with what you're saying, the writing staff, I've read that as well, it was not easy working with them. I think they said it was quite condescending.
00:21:04
Speaker
like I can't personally I can't vouch for anybody in this film because you know as we've like pointed out we were not born nor were we part of the making of this going back to like the production the acting in this is absolutely phenomenal oh yeah like it's completely on point like the cast I think is basically
00:21:21
Speaker
perfect. I can't think of, I mean if you think there's anybody please say that, I can't think of anybody who stands out as being like bad or like relatively poor. I think everybody like even the kind of minor characters actually like you know play their parts well and it all comes together and it feels like, I think that's the thing, it feels like a real community and it feels like a real kind of town and that also goes to the set like I think that's one reason like I totally agree with you like that it's so impressive that they've actually built this whole
00:21:48
Speaker
If you look at it, apparently the film company borrowed heavily to finance this and you can see why and unfortunately it led to their demise not long afterwards as this film did not make its money back. I think that's part of the charm of these older films. Something for me anyway is the fact that this was a time before you could have your computer generated effects and everything like that. And there is something which is just so amazing about seeing real life sets, especially ones like this built on such. And granted this isn't like Cleopatra or anything with giant triumphal arches
00:22:18
Speaker
thing but like just the fact that this whole town was basically like largely created I think it's such an impressive feat and it really grounds the story and then once you add in like the acting and just that this feels like a real kind of community it just adds so much to it and just makes it that much more endearing. It's the fact though it feels so you know lived in but did you get that impression?
00:22:36
Speaker
Yeah, that's why I guess it's such a surprise to find out it's a set. It feels like a town, doesn't it? It looks like how you'd imagine one of these old 40s small American towns. It's such an impressive way that they actually created what feels like a living, breathing
00:22:52
Speaker
community. Honestly for those listening to this thinking, oh it can't get any crazier than this, like genuinely go and look at like the behind the scenes stuff for the song because it is fascinating. It's a fascinating read. You can have us on in the background if you're reading it. One of the other things that really surprised me was the fact that this was not filmed during the winter. This was actually filmed in like I think
00:23:13
Speaker
April to July, roughly, so it was kind of mostly this summer. I think it was mainly in June, July that they did most of it, and it was sweltering heats in California, which, oh my god, I know we complain about the rare spike of weather here in Scotland. Yeah, we do get sun sometimes, but I can't imagine being in full, you know, like the big fur coat and everything and pretending
00:23:41
Speaker
That's actually, I was watching a video talking about that particular point and they're saying like on the bridge scene when they stand in there you can visibly see like the beads of sweat coming down his like James Stewart's face and it's like oh wow he's acting really good and it's like no he's just cooking.
00:23:57
Speaker
I mean the fact that he pulled it off is just incredible and it just breathes such a lot of life into the film and they say it because my god it must have been hard to breathe.
00:24:12
Speaker
And that's it. You know, oh, all clammy. Imagine the smell. Anyway, it's just so impressive. And especially for films nowadays, which as you said, it's not. For a film that's so huge, as it were, like for a Christmas carol, you know, you've obviously got the Victorian streets, you've got the Victorian factories, you've got the three ghosts that you have to pull in and everything. But for that's a wonderful life. It's a kind of quintessential Christmas story. It is dialed back
00:24:42
Speaker
significantly into this quite intimate story of a man who just wants to live his life but he keeps getting pulled back to Bedford Falls. It is honestly such a shame because I think it's like he wants to go away and the town just keeps getting hit over and over again and it's kind of up to George to become like this. Is it right to say superhero?
00:25:03
Speaker
basically is like superhero or patron saint are the two things I think he basically the two roles that he fulfills in that like for the town number one for the town but also for like the people in his life his family and everything like he sacrifices so that you know his brother can can go off to college you know and everything and as you say like as well the town always seems to be like falls into like you know near collapse at times when he tries to get away it is it is it is in many ways like the millstone like around his neck you know he can he can never shake the weight of it
00:25:33
Speaker
I honestly can't believe that this film didn't do well when it came out. It's a surprise, I think. Again, it's one of these difficult things to put yourself in a time. But I think if you look at it from the perspective, as you said, this came out in 1946, is it? Yeah, 1946. So this is a year after World War II ended. And this was a time when I think audiences in America wanted to go and see, well, there was a great uptick in espionage films.
00:26:00
Speaker
things like that but also as well like if they weren't going to see if audiences weren't going to see that they wanted to see like very like kind of optimistic kind of schmaltzy like kind of overly optimistic films yeah so if they weren't enough to see things like espionage pictures they wanted to go see like kind of schmaltzy feel-good films because you know this this was post warrior this was you know like having you know been through you know so many years of war and like you know not as bad as some other countries but some of the privations and obviously you know families had lost you know lost sons and fathers and
00:26:28
Speaker
and brothers and everything so there was a chance they wanted to kind of put that behind them you know and they wanted films that you know did give them might make them feel good to see it and as much as like the ending of It's a Wonderful Life it is is like perhaps the ultimate kind of feel good moment a lot of this film is really not like this film like you know we talked last time about it's a jingle all the way having a very dark core to it this this wonderful life has an incredibly dark core to it
00:26:52
Speaker
as well. I mean, the whole premise is a man who wants to end his life. As much as George Bailey is, you know, like the saviour of the town and everything and like just an all-round good guy, like there are moments as well where he turns into like a very unpleasant like person, you know, where he's one bit where he absolutely snaps at his family and he's very young kids and he's yelling and you know, like he's absolutely terrifying them everything. He's not always like a, he's not always a positive figure. But I think that's also again, another thing that makes him relatable because you know, nobody is, nobody's 100% with
00:27:20
Speaker
perfect all the time. You know, we do have moments where, you know, we fly off the handle and we snap, we get angry. You know, that's what, that's one reason that makes him such a relatable character is that he is a real human being. But I think it was just that
Film's Timeless Appeal and Holiday Significance
00:27:31
Speaker
sort of, it just, it just didn't strike a chord. It didn't strike a chord with audiences at the time. Again, it feels weird to say that now because it's become so ingrained into our like, into our like culture, you know, into our, into our consciousness and everything. But it just, I think it's just wrong, wrong place, wrong time. When it was first released,
00:27:47
Speaker
Because that is the thing though, isn't it? See, when you think about this film, you never really think about all the things that happen in between, do you? When you think about the song, you think about the happy ending, you think every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings, you think of them all singing around the thing. And obviously that is one of the main or the final kind of image you're left with.
00:28:09
Speaker
But I see what you mean, you know, it does seem like one of those films that definitely, again, I can't really paraphrase because what you said was perfect, you know? Wrong place, wrong time. Which is a shame because I would say it was criminally underrated, but I think it's kind of like risen up again. It's not like one of those films that, oh, it's a cult classic, you know? It's not jingle all the way, you know?
00:28:32
Speaker
or like The Grinch or something where it's like, oh it's just a silly comedy, it's a cult classic as it were. This is like beloved by millions and dare I say maybe billions? I don't know. But that's the weird thing as well because although it is a very American-centric story, it's about this joke guy who's trying to get his high school sweetheart and he's gonna take her all over the world and they're gonna have a milkshake and everything. And there's a very tender moment as well when it's like he
00:29:02
Speaker
and this is one we've been kind of joking about but it's like when he grabs her and he's asking her what she wants and he's basically saying that he'll give everything to her by saying like I'll throw a lasso around the moon and I'll pull it down and it shows that he is like a very caring man. It's not like he's
00:29:20
Speaker
It's not like he's a stereotype, which is something I really appreciate. It's something that, as you said before, like everybody can kind of relate to, even though it's set in America, even though none of us are investment bankers. It's exactly what you said. It's a story about a man who is just trying to get by in life and do his best and he just reaches that breaking point, which obviously we've all done. We've all hit that moment in our lives where we've been at our lowest and
00:29:48
Speaker
It is just devastating when you hit that point and for George to take that one step further in trying to abandon everything he's kind of built up. Yes, it's just tragic. And as you said, I think that's what everybody who hasn't seen the film comes away with. You know, the happy ending, the oh, hi, everything's great. But if you actually sit down and watch the film, it is.
00:30:10
Speaker
dark at times. And I don't mean like, you know, oh it's grim themes, well technically it is but it is just that very serious kind of thing of human nature. And this is something as well that I found interesting because I heard like at the time a lot of people did complain
00:30:26
Speaker
and say that although it was too happy and things. But if you look at it, it's not kind of like your traditional film because—and this is leading me on to the villain of the piece, Mr. Porter, who is someone we do reference quite a lot, but Mr. Porter is the quote-unquote antagonist. He's the
00:30:42
Speaker
that greedy banker who is stealing everybody's money, wants to build, very… I'm laughing because in the scenes where George isn't there, like when he doesn't exist, the whole of Bedford Falls turns into Potter's will, and it's like all casinos and just all this degeneracy and things. It's things that are probably very scandalous for the 1940s.
00:31:05
Speaker
you know that way where it's like oh no gambling and smoking and all it's it's terrible you know george does his best to kind of fight back against him which he does successfully until his uncle loses the money that he actually needs to stay open it's goddamn uncle
00:31:21
Speaker
There's actually a funny scene with his uncle. Have you ever heard of this, like, behind the scenes thing? I can't remember when it is exactly, but there's a scene in the film where George Bailey, like, he brings out his uncle, and the uncle walks off camera, and then what happens is, off camera, one of the crew members drops one of these, like, things of equipment, and it makes this
00:31:41
Speaker
crashing sound and the uncle or the actor who played the uncle it is like quick thinking just yells back off screen don't worry i'm fine as if he just like stumbled into something because it sounds as if he stumbled into like you know trash cans or something it's like don't worry i'm fine
00:31:59
Speaker
was just like a mistake, but Frank Capra loved that so much that he kept it in the film. And I think that's amazing. Honestly, I thought that was such a job. Although it was a small part, it did make such a good piece of the film.
00:32:15
Speaker
Potter's probably the most stereotypical of characters as far as the film goes. What's your take on Mr Potter? I totally agree. Ebenezer Scrooge, who never gets visited by the ghosts, that's what he is basically. He is a very one-dimensional character. It kind of feels like that classic big business versus
00:32:39
Speaker
the small kind of man, you know, like the small man with his small business, trying to eke it out on his big business basis, trying to crush them and take over, which in itself is kind of a metaphor for American economy at the time, you know, as this big business continues to grow.
00:32:55
Speaker
So he is a very one-dimensional character. I think what's maybe most fascinating about Mr. Potter in this film, for me, is that basically, there's no comeuppance for him, basically, at all. I mean, in front of the film, there's nothing like... It's not like he isn't like everybody's discrete. He doesn't redeem himself. He doesn't have a change of heart. Nothing bad happens to him. He doesn't lose.
00:33:16
Speaker
his business or anything like that. So he basically just stays the same throughout. I mean, I suppose he's not able to take over George Bailey's loans and savings society. Apart from that, nothing else happens. I mean, it's kind of that way that, again, makes the film that much more realistic, because a lot of life's, quote unquote, villains don't really suffer any kind of commitments.
00:33:37
Speaker
what they're doing. And that's the kind of point I was going to make, because it is like, it's the standard formula for problems, isn't it? It's like
Enduring Legacy and Emotional Core of the Film
00:33:45
Speaker
the hero is at his lowest point, he bounces back up and then the villain gets his comeuppance. But you're right, Mr Potter never does. And I feel as if like a lot of people who look at the positive ending and say, oh it's just a happy, you know, film, it's like,
00:34:00
Speaker
No! Did you not just watch the rest of the film? Because it's a bit like, you know the Godfather or more appropriately, a Christmas carol where people know the cliff notes on it. Yeah, three ghosts. Evil man, evil man turns good, saves tiny Tim, who's a tiny Tim, you know. Of course, his head in the bed. Exactly. Like Turkey. Yep, again, that's very important.
00:34:24
Speaker
I begin to think these cliff notes were written by a very hungry Satsu. But yeah, it's similar to that. It's like man doesn't want to live, gets shown his life if he didn't live, changes his mind, gets happy ending. And I feel as if that does such a disservice to the film because there's so much between the dialogue, between the character interactions, especially between George and the whole town.
00:34:49
Speaker
this is something as well, it's almost kind of twin peat, well not in this term of like you know surrealism, but you know in terms of like twin peatness where it's like every character in this small American town interacts with one another and they've all got their own relationships, they've got their own you know interactions and things and for George Bailey he definitely, he absolutely steals the show in Bedford
00:35:13
Speaker
by that of course I mean he you know he's always helping them he's giving out money to the extent and this is one of the scenes that really gets me every time but there's a scene where him and his wife are going away for a honeymoon and they actually give up their money I think it's $2,000 which is no like small money at that time and he offers to give that money to the people of the town just so if they don't have to go to mr. Potter and I have to admit that always riles me up
00:35:43
Speaker
you know the guy I'm talking about, don't you? I know, I know. Where he basically says to everyone, just take what you need. The first guy takes, like, I can't even remember, but it's... It's always money. Yeah, it's always money. It's like, are you sure you don't just want to take, you know, what you need rather than all of your money? He's like, no, take it all. And you're like, oh, you absolute rube.
00:36:03
Speaker
Yeah, apparently, fun fact about that scene as well. Apparently, see the actress after that that says 1750? You know the scene where he leans over and kisses her? So apparently, there's two improvisations in that. Frank Capra told the actress to say 1750 instead of $17, which James Stewart didn't expect. And to kind of like respond to that, he like dove over the desk and kissed her on the cheek. And that wasn't scripted.
00:36:31
Speaker
I think they both are the most surprised. So he just jumped over and he's like, oh, I can kiss you and everything. I can't do a good James Stewart impression. I do have a good one in the shower. It's difficult to do. He's got a very distinctive voice, doesn't he? Yeah, yeah, without a doubt.
00:36:47
Speaker
But that's what I think is so great about the film as well, all these little moments that flesh out characters as well, because obviously you mentioned the one with his uncle and everything. But there's another one as well that I found out today, like right at the beginning of the film. So the film starts with George Bailey saying his prayer to the heavens basically, and at the end of it he actually breaks down.
00:37:06
Speaker
and cries. Now that apparently, the prayer was in the script and stuff, but James Shaw's reaction after that was improvised. And actually, I say it was improvised, it was actually just what happened to him, he actually did just break down and cry. At the end of it he said he felt like the weight of those words and he could feel the weight of, you know,
00:37:24
Speaker
of somebody in that situation. And so that was his reaction. But it just adds this extra layer of authenticity, you know, to these characters and really flushes it out into the fact that you feel this is kind of like an actual living breathing community, Bedford Falls. And I think maybe that's as well part of this film's charm nowadays, in that like, this kind of small town, like I say quote unquote, like American small town, you know, where everybody kind of knows each other, you know, and everybody gets along, that is kind
00:37:50
Speaker
kind of vanished from our world. I mean, I'm sure it exists in some places, but it's not the norm. Now, we're far more likely to live in big faceless urban centres now. We barely know the people around us. It's not like I go down the high street of where I live and I pop into the local bank and go greet the bank manager and everything. That kind of world has disappeared now. So I think there is a kind of charm to that kind of
00:38:13
Speaker
quaint, small town vibe that just really doesn't exist in the world that we live in now. No, I completely agree with that. I can tell you half of my neighbours. Any of my neighbours makes sense, I don't think.
00:38:25
Speaker
It's definitely, well, rather society has kind of evolved into that, hasn't it? It's like, as you say, kind of like faceless urban centers, where it's like, you know, people living in the cities and all again. And again, like, I'm gonna mirror your point and just say that maybe there are some communities still like that. Like, I know, especially when Scotland, the more remote you go, that's
00:38:46
Speaker
For example, just a couple of months ago, I went up to Orkney. If you don't know Scottish Geography, Orkney is just like an island located just off the north of Scotland. Beautiful island, by the way. If you're looking for a place that's really remote and a terrible internet connection, go to Orkney.
00:39:02
Speaker
Bring us that nav as well. Trust me, you're gonna need it. Yeah, it is a beautiful place. I remember we went to an island called West Stray. Now, I don't want to, like, I doubt anybody from West Stray is listening to this. If they are, hello there. Nice to meet you.
00:39:20
Speaker
I'm just breaking up as I listen. But yeah, as we went there to visit the island, there's not a lot on it, I have to say. But then we came back, and a couple of days later when we were on the main island of Orkney, we went into this shop where this woman actually made all of the, like all of the tartan lampshade covers, like tartan phone covers, things like that. It is absolutely fantastic.
00:39:44
Speaker
it's in, it's in a town called Kirkwall. I keep saying to Adam that it's a city. A thriving metropolis of Kirkwall. It's got a cathedral. Does that count? Well, very much. I retract my sarcasm there. But as we went into this shop, we actually found out that the owner of that shop, I think she said her sister worked in West Strait. It was just so strange to see how so interconnected everyone's lives were.
00:40:14
Speaker
in Orkney to see compared to, as you said, if you're going to the bank here, like I genuinely don't know anybody. You know, you go there, you meet somebody who, you meet a complete stranger and that isn't like the way it used to be. And apologies for that kind of long-winded explanation. But I do agree, it's definitely a kind of, would you say it's like a bygone, not a bygone either, but a bygone time?
00:40:36
Speaker
It definitely is. I think it's as appropriate as well. I mean, because in itself, like when the film came out, this was also a thing that was disappearing. You know, America was like Americans urban urban centers were like growing exponentially during World War Two and in the aftermath as well. You know, this in itself, like this small town of Bedford Falls was like a remnant of the past as the film was being released. And
00:40:57
Speaker
even now it's even more so. Something that we can only mostly look back on doesn't exist now. Yep, no George Bailey's here, sadly. Not yet, anyway. Then again, maybe we haven't just found a right George Bailey to come along. No shortage of Mr. Potters, though.
00:41:14
Speaker
Oh yes, Mr Potter's a plentiful. I will admit, you make a very good point, Adam. Why don't we just dive into the meat of this film? I feel as if there's one particular segment of the film that we really need to dive into. So as we said, most of the film focuses on the life of George Bailey, as told by the angels. Yeah, like the kind of angels who like whatever level of bureaucracy in heaven that receives these prayer requests.
00:41:40
Speaker
We follow him, you know, as a young boy, he saves his brother, you know, he goes through high school, he falls in love, he has a family, he helps the town and then that of course leads us to his lowest point, that of course being on the bridge and looking down at the icy water. I say icy water but now I know it's like Californian water, like hell it can't have been that cold boiling hot water.
00:42:04
Speaker
Yeah, if you look closely you can see it sizzling, you know? But yeah, this is where we are introduced to Cladence, who is the angel that's assigned to him. And he's quite a dotty figure, isn't he? Oh yeah, definitely. He feels like you're kind of stereotypical, like, kind of old, old man in some ways. Yeah. She's able to do sort of a doddering and stuff, and yeah.
00:42:25
Speaker
And he's, of course, trying to earn his wings, which George, of course, says, why haven't you got wings? He's like, oh, I'm just trying to earn them and things, which, again, I feel when he's tried this before, it's not really worked. Well, he's covered as having the intelligence of a rabbit, I think, is one of the lines I use at the beginning of it, when they're kind of senior angels are discussing him to send him down.
00:42:50
Speaker
I don't know if that says more about what they think of George or what they think of Clarence. They're like, oh yeah, just think, Clarence. I think that's what they say. They're like, oh, just think, Clarence. George was not their number one customer. Was that a jingle all the way? That was a jingle.
00:43:09
Speaker
Of course it was. Ah, what a film. Anyway, listen to our last episode if you want to hear our opinions on that. But yeah, I think one of the dickish moves I have to say, and this is the only time I'll say that, is when they actually throw Clarence down to Earth, but they throw him into the river.
00:43:25
Speaker
They don't even like, is that right? They don't like plop him next to George, or do they? No, I think, is it Clarence's decision? Is it not Clarence like, does this like a desperation? Because he knows that like, he knows that this will trigger like, you know, the good nature of George Bailey will like, forget what he's about to do. And he has to like, I need to say, you know, I need to save that person. I might be wrong because, but I think that's why I think he chooses to do it. Like as a kind of desperate,
00:43:54
Speaker
I have to admit, I do love that about his character, the fact that even though he's at his lowest point in his will and just to throw himself off that bridge, he actually dives off to save Clarence. And although he's obviously peeved about having to do that, it just shows his kind of automatic instinct
00:44:14
Speaker
isn't just to say, ah, well, okay, I'll jump in this way, I'll go do it together. He actively tries to save this man he's never met, has no idea who Clarence is, of course, until he reveals he's an angel. One of my favourite lines, and that is when he says, oh yeah, trust them having to give me an angel like you or something like that.
00:44:32
Speaker
And it's like, yeah, poor, poor Clarence. He does pull through and he gets his wings, but this of course leads to the very iconic segment of when he says, oh, I don't want to live anymore. I wish I was never born. And this, for me personally, and I'm wondering how you feel about this. For me, it's the most powerful moment of the film. Like, would you agree with that? Oh, without a doubt. I mean, because it's that way of like, what the film I think is great at showing is that like, everybody's life has a purpose.
00:45:02
Speaker
you know, it's just, it's perhaps it's that the purpose is not like what you thought it was going to be, you know, and it kind of shows us that like, you need to make the best of what we can make the best of what we have and to be thankful that those kind of things that we often take for granted. So without a doubt, this is this is by far the most powerful, you know, scene. It's a relatable, it's such a relatable, like, state of mind to be in, I think, because, you know, we might maybe have not been that, you know, that desperate in your life. And hopefully people haven't been that desperate in their life. I think everybody has had moments where, you know,
00:45:30
Speaker
You question yourself and you question your worth and what you're doing and what you're adding to the world in many ways. The film really touches that kind of nerve. I think that's why the goodness is the film that remains so popular and so beloved.
00:45:54
Speaker
You might have been through it already or you will probably likely go through it maybe several times in your life. So it really does speak to that kind of human condition. As you said, it is such a relatable issue, even though you might not have been
00:46:07
Speaker
you know like got into that stage of desperation of thinking yeah would the world have been better if I wasn't here and so forth. I mean I have to admit like obviously not to that extent but for some things I've done I know for me personally I've thought like for example you're like either if I've been creating something or if I've been like on a course or something in work or something you know that way where it's something that in the grand scheme of things seems quite minimal but when the pressure's all put in one person you kind of think oh
00:46:37
Speaker
what happens you know like as I was saying like at the beginning of this episode just like that huge question of what if like what if I had done this what if I wasn't part of like this person's life what if I was this or that you know like a lots of things that are completely out of our control but it's all of this kind of mounting up into
00:46:58
Speaker
You know that way, it's like mounting up into just this one single breaking point. And it is, it gets like, I wouldn't say unmanageable. Well, no, probably. Would you say that's right? Like unmanageable? Oh, so I think for George really, it feels that way, doesn't it? It feels that way that he can't, he can't handle and he can't manage events that are happening to him. You know, that's why he gets into that such a desperate state.
00:47:20
Speaker
and of course he gets his wish granted to him, or I say wish not really more of a nightmare, where he wishes he didn't exist which causes like this huge butterfly effect where you know because he didn't exist he didn't save his brother from drowning in a lake and because of that during the Second World War his brother wasn't there to save the people in his platoon and everything and because of that like a young boy died because the pharmacist he used to work for
00:47:50
Speaker
gave out poison instead of the right medicine and things like that. It's all these small moments, and this is something I adore about this film, it's all these small moments that in daily life maybe you might think there's no significance of this action. You might pass by someone and do something nice for them, or you might wave to them and say hello, and it might be something so insignificant that
00:48:14
Speaker
you know, you don't really realise how much of an impact you've made. And, I mean, obviously in this case it's a bit grander. It's like him literally saving lives almost at the beginning. As I said, like a superhero. Because of that, of course, he never meets his wife Mary. He never has his children. I think that's devastating, that scene. You know, the one where he goes into the house and before he, like, has his mental breakdown, he, like, goes into his house and these children are playing and these, I think,
00:48:41
Speaker
is it Zuzu who's the one who's real. She gives him some flower petals that she found and he had them in his pocket but because he doesn't exist in that world neither does Zuzu so he doesn't have the petals anymore and it's just devastating you know it's that kind of domino effect of because of this man not existing you know Bedford Falls becomes Pottersville which is what we're talking about earlier. It is just like a hive of degeneracy
00:49:08
Speaker
Yeah, basically, I think that's what is maybe so fascinating about this bit is that without the character of George Bailey, everybody seems to kind of give in to the more negative aspects of their characters and stuff. And people do come up with a lot meaner, and there isn't that sense of community that seems to exist in Bedford Falls.
00:49:29
Speaker
part of it, that all disappears with him. So I think that's maybe one of the most powerful things as well is that like as you say it's almost like it's kind of like that Jenga Tower isn't it? Like you just take out that one block and the whole thing just collapses. And it is amazing how much of a difference he did make. I mean that kind of one moment where when he saved his brother and you could easily attribute that to like oh it's two kids you know fooling around he would have pulled himself out and it's like it's basically him underrating himself isn't it?
00:49:58
Speaker
a lot of the time. We can't see and we can't know as well the results of all our actions. So it is so easy to overlook these things and to forget about them and just store them away and you forget how important they go. You don't realize how important they actually were.
00:50:13
Speaker
I mean it is amazing as well the fact that George Bailey was like almost the heart of the community wasn't he? It was pumping out all that kindness that good feelings and energy and things everyone felt that most people accept that are so you know took all his money instead of what he needed.
00:50:30
Speaker
You know, he pumped out all of that positivity and everybody kind of, you know, they felt it. And after a minute, like, see the ending of this film, it makes me cry every time, I'm going to be honest. It's like, it's genuinely see acts of human kindness. I don't know what it is. It just, I guess the old tear ducts going.
00:50:48
Speaker
you in the field. Yeah, but it's literally like he goes through this hellish experience of, I mean I can't remember if I cried in the cinema or not, but it is like that moment of when he goes through the hellish experience of nobody knows him, they're all just brittle and just
00:51:05
Speaker
really horrid, horrid people. And that's because of the lack of George Bailey, of course. You know, like, without his positive influence, nobody else feels positive. They're instead being drawn to Mr. Potter, who, again, he... This is actually something I find quite interesting, just in a quick side tangent before I go on about the ending. Even though he gets away scot-free and he's, like, up, like, $2,000, is it?
00:51:27
Speaker
Oh yeah, how much the bumbley uncle loses. Even though he's up like $2,000, he's pretty much alone. That's true. And that is quite, don't get me wrong, it's not like anywhere near as, you know, like satisfying as seeing someone like drag him out the house and give the $2,000 to George.
00:51:45
Speaker
know at the end you see like George run back home and you know the police are looking for him and everything and the first thing he does is embrace his family. He just kind of says, hidden or wonderful it's Christmas you know just these reporters and the police and everything and they're all obviously confused and he just goes he doesn't care he just runs up and embraces his family.
00:52:06
Speaker
Although something I did find quite funny, and this is kind of like a personal note, but do you remember when he's running up the stairs and he hits the wooden knob on the handrail? Oh yeah. What's going on? I had a very, not like a grand staircase like that, but I had a similar thing.
00:52:22
Speaker
where the wooden, I don't know what you call it, be like the wooden fixture on top. Yeah, like that would fall off as well, like when I was growing up. So after a minute, I found that very funny. I was like, oh, it's just like, oh, not a big house like that by any means, because, you know, we don't live in America.
00:52:41
Speaker
don't live in a big fancy house. But yeah, what ends up happening is he runs up, he embraces his family, he's so relieved to have them. And then this is where the Waterworks come in, where everybody in town comes and gives them money to help him. And they all just rally under this one banner of
00:53:02
Speaker
trying to help George after all the help he's given them and honestly it's just like such a poignant scene. I don't honestly like there's few scenes that I've seen like that that would make me tear up like that but this scene just absolutely strikes a chord and you know you know that image online where it's the guy saying step one lie down step two try not to cry step three cry even harder
00:53:26
Speaker
that's like me and that scene because I'm like don't cry don't cry don't cry and then where you've got the quote from Clarence that says no man with friends is a failure and you know like how he's touched so many lives and then of course his brother has to come in and cut the onion by saying to George Bailey the richest man in town is like oh you bastard
00:53:44
Speaker
I was like, stand his brothers. I was like, how dare you? How dare you make me sob. But I'm quite curious. What was your initial impression of the ending when you first saw it? Do you remember? I can't really, I have to. Again, I have a feeling this is one of these films that I grew to appreciate so much more in repeated viewings. So I watched it by myself when I first saw it. I don't think, I think subsequently I've always watched it with somebody else. And I think it is one of these films that benefits
00:54:22
Speaker
perhaps the ultimate feel-good ending in that way. I think there's a reason why that kind of warm feeling is attributed to this film is because that ending is so memorable. As you say, we kind of forget the dark journey that we've had to get there, because there is just such a great sense of joy and hope that comes through from this scene, because as you say, the community is rallying behind him and everything, and we see that he's not going to end his life and everything, and it is that great relief and just overwhelming joy.
00:54:35
Speaker
it's just like one person or whether it's
00:54:50
Speaker
It's an ending that I can totally see why it gets you every time, because it gets me every time as well, because it remains as powerful the hundredth time you watch this film as it was the first time you watch it, because it is a triumph of the human spirit.
00:55:06
Speaker
I suppose in a way. If you haven't seen this film, get the hankies out, because even when you look up this film on YouTube or things like that, just for that scene, everybody, there's loads of comments saying things like, yes soon as George's brother says that, I'm in tears, as soon as Clarence gets his wings, because that's another iconic line where I
00:55:26
Speaker
think it's Zuzu, I could be wrong, but it's like one of the children then James shoots arms where she hears a bell going off and she says, look dad, every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings. That's something I did find quite interesting. Like when we are introduced to Clarence and George, you know, talking with
00:55:46
Speaker
one another. Every time Clarence hears a bell, he says the exact same line, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings. George is very dismissive of this notion, and I find that quite interesting because just before that, the entire light film before that, he is portrayed as a very positive, upbeat
00:56:05
Speaker
you know kind of figure and it could have been very easy for them just to go into that stereotype territory and be like well gee willikers mister you know and all of this but no like as soon as that hits he almost becomes like a different man yeah lately you know like devoid of any joy of any hope or anything and
00:56:23
Speaker
Yeah, no, by the end of it, obviously, it's like, woo, bells! And it's kind of hard not to think of this film without the iconic ending, because even, as I said before, shows like The Simpsons have parodied this to absolute hell and back.
00:56:39
Speaker
there's actually one particular scene, I was really surprised at, where it's Mary, George's wife, in this. Do you know she does that weird thing where it's like she clasps her hands together and does the kind of, oh wow, it's a miracle. The Simpsons did a similar thing where, for those of you Simpsons fans listening, there's an episode where Ned Flanders opens a left-handed shop called the Left-todium, and it's a very similar situation where, because of some kind of
00:57:07
Speaker
bad financial choices the business goes under and at the end, spoilers, Homer like ends up saving him by telling everybody in town that you're always in trouble and you're because he's made such a positive impact in that community. Not a relation at all but because he's made such an impact in that community everyone comes to help him out and there's a scene like where most Flanders class a hands together and does exactly, it's almost like frame by frame,
00:57:33
Speaker
the same pose as me he does in that poem. And I always remember watching that thinking, okay, I know it is flawed, but like, why does she act so, you know, you watch the actual film, you're like, ah, okay. I mean… No, I get it. Yeah, you get it. But it is honestly just such a… I mean…
00:57:48
Speaker
According to and again this could be outdated but I think it was the American Film Institute in about 2006 I want to say. It was ranked as like the number one most inspirational movie of all time. Would you say today that still holds true? I obviously there's been many films. I mean you're totally right there will be other films that I'm I'm afraid I'm completely blanking on the minute but there are there's no there's no I've said there's no shortage but there certainly are like there are a good few like inspiration
00:58:19
Speaker
deserves that title of being the most inspirational because I think it's such a relatable story. This was a theme of Frank Capra's work. He liked to create films that were about every man, mostly every man whose lives were then turned upside down for whatever particular reason for good or for bad, their lives completely changed. So I think the fact that George Bailey is such an everyman,
00:58:40
Speaker
and his story is so relatable, I do think this probably does deserve to, its title is the most inspirational, you know, and that's, that's no, like, no, not trying to throw shade at any other, because I know there are probably good, like, you know, examples out there, but for me, certainly, I think just because it is such a relatable film. I mean, like, Jen got all the way. Oh, I mean, well, that's true. That's true. That's inspirational in it.
00:58:59
Speaker
in a completely different way. Don't become a postman. I mean like, oh god I forgot about that. Jokes aside there's a lot of films out there that are inspirational but it's like they're not bound by like it being like a Christmas film because I mean technically you could watch this at any time but I don't know what it is about watching it at Christmas. You know obviously it is a Christmas film but like would you say watching it at Christmas is a better viewing experience?
00:59:27
Speaker
I think so. And do you know what I think it is? Because you're completely right. Because I think this, like as much on the surface, it looks like Christmas. I don't, Christmas is a very small part of this film. Like, in many ways, it's much more a film about the human condition, I think, than like, you know, a quote unquote Christmas film. But I think it is amplified, its effects are amplified by watching it at Christmas. And I think it's the visuals. You can not think of it's wonderful life and not think of that snow.
00:59:51
Speaker
That for me, if I'm thinking about it, I'm thinking of George Bailey covered in the snow, running through the town and everything. That image is burned into my brain. It's indelible. And that's what represents the film. And I think that's why it's one of these things it's become.
01:00:06
Speaker
that and like the fact that when this film really gained popularity it was in the 1970s when its copyright ran out and it wasn't renewed by the film studio so basically American TV channels were able to pick it up for dirt cheap and you know because they were desperate for any kind of programming like they this is when this film started to get rerun and rerun and rerun especially around Christmas time but that's what allowed people to go back and like re-watch it and actually like appreciate its brilliance you know so I think like
01:00:31
Speaker
things but it's just the visuals like you just can't you can't not think of it's a wonderful life and not think of the snow and not think of like George Bailey like holding Zuzu in front of the Christmas tree it's just burned into the brain. I mean don't forget the iconic Merry Christmas everyone when you're running through the snow. Exactly exactly that's what you think of isn't it that's what you think of when you think of that film you don't think of like you know you don't always think of like the kind of moments that are in summer like you know when him and his wife are gonna go off to you know the honeymoon and everything you think of exactly those moments the Merry Christmas you know and everything
01:01:00
Speaker
Because I honestly can't remember if it was an advert for Disney+, or if it was one of these streaming services and it cuts all these Christmas films together, and that was one of the scenes where it's George Bailey running through yelling, Merry Christmas, everyone! And you're like, ahh, okay, okay, I see what you did there. But you're right, there's just so much more to this film. I mean, let's face it, I would say probably two-thirds of it isn't Christmas-y.
01:01:27
Speaker
maybe exactly like maybe like i could be totally wrong in that feel free to call me out but like don't call me outside of that so yeah i'm gonna wake up tomorrow and you're just got a diss track ready for it
01:01:42
Speaker
going to get flamed. I'm going to get Clarence'd. One more thing I do want to point out, and I actually forgot about this until I am, I'm convinced it was you that told me this quote, or not quote, but this fact about the FBI. Oh yeah.
01:01:58
Speaker
I genuinely forgot about this. I'm just looking at the notes I've got down here. Yeah, the FBI apparently in 1947 said that this was a communist picture. This is a quote from IMDB. The quote says that basically in 1947 an FBI analyst said that this was a communist infiltration of the motion picture industry because of the films. This is in quotes obvious
01:02:24
Speaker
attempt to discredit bankers, which is a common trick. Who's my communist? How? I get, like, you know.
01:02:32
Speaker
obviously why they said it because, you know, the red, is it red panic? Yeah, the red terror, red fear. Red terror, red fear, yeah. Everything red was, you know, Santa was a communist, you know, Coca-Cola was on thin ice, you know. It was a terrible time for the colour red, it was just looking at it nowadays, like in hindsight. It's just ridiculous, that statement. Because again, it's like what you said, it's not a film about, I mean, don't get me wrong, it doesn't help bankers.
01:03:02
Speaker
with my supporters' portrayal. It's not one of those films that I think, let me rephrase that, I don't think that's the central focus of the film. As you said perfectly, it's a film about the human condition and even though it's set in America, even though it's set during the 1940s, late 1940s at that, it's a film about human nature, about the man behind a town that
01:03:27
Speaker
let's face it, without him probably would have. In fact no, it would have crumbled long ago. For me personally, I would say it's near enough and near perfect film. It does drag in some bits, don't get me wrong, it's an old film though but I wouldn't say it drags to the detriment. There is just such a lot. Because as you said, it does begin, doesn't it, on the bridge.
01:03:51
Speaker
and then it flashes back. And I remember seeing that and being like, okay, when do we get to the bit that, you know, the famous bit where he says, I don't want to live anymore. And it's like, oh, you don't mean that, how I mean it. And you have to go back and forth. But it's worth it because it's such a great build up to kind of give you a profile. Almost is like an FBI profile, isn't it?
01:04:12
Speaker
It's like you hear that, Zach? Let's go back to the beginning. And you get this image of George Bailey, who he is and things. I don't know if you get to know his wife and things. I know I haven't really talked much about his wife, but his wife is a good character, but she's not the focus same with Bear.
01:04:30
Speaker
Everybody else and the uncle, I suppose by extension, Mr. Potter. George is the central character and he has just this perfect, almost near perfect representation of how just like that one bad moment can just, you know, send you spiraling into this really dark place. And the fact that he manages to come out of it after, you know, a divine intervention, literally divine intervention, is just such like a moving piece. And yeah,
01:04:58
Speaker
I honestly, if you haven't seen this film, and I know technically we've spoiled it but come on it's 1947 or 46 sorry I mean come on it's 1946 this film came out but if you haven't seen it and you know you might think a little bit you've spoiled it and everything that honestly doesn't matter
01:05:14
Speaker
does not matter at all, because it's a bit like The Godfather. I know I keep bringing it up. Citizen Kane as well. We all know the twists and turns and things. We all know the points, except for Citizen Kane. I still need to watch that, but don't tell Adam. Oh no. That'll probably be the very first episode of 2020.
01:05:34
Speaker
Citizen Kane, a retrospect. But jokes aside, definitely go check out this film. It is absolutely, it's stellar. It is. I mean, don't let the fact that it's a black and white film put you off. Like, would you say, kind of as a closing point, but would you say that that might put people off the fact it is so old? Because there is a coloured version of it, apparently.
01:05:56
Speaker
but don't watch it. It's supposed to be bad. Well, like when people say it's just point like, why, like what's the point? Like, you know, I mean, sorry, sorry to answer your original question. Like, Oh, definitely. I mean, on the surface level, like I think it can offer and there, there is quite old, like there are some kind of old
01:06:14
Speaker
their style filming techniques in here as well that might be off-putting. Films have, films, this is a very obvious statement, but films have changed over time. There's a lot like, with a lot of older films, there's a lot less happening sometimes in scenes. It's a lot more pared back, which I quite like to an extent, but I can see some of these, you know, some that might not chime with like, you know, people now. But like, so on the surface that I put you off, I think there's just so much in this film to like draw you in.
01:06:40
Speaker
you know and there's so much to like to love about this film and I think as well like just to like wrap up my kind of my kind of thoughts on it I think in one respect this film was like so ahead of its time and you might argue actually to an extent still is quite like very progressive and that's in the issue of looking at male mental health if you consider like for this being 1940-48 and this film revolves around revolves around a man who said having a mental breakdown the weight the weight of the world has just got too much
01:07:10
Speaker
and he just can't take it anymore. And that's such a progressive topic for a late 1940s film, especially at a time when there was a lot of men who returned from war and everything who were dealing with, including Jimmy Stewart as one of them, dealing with lots of things they'd seen and things that happened to them and everything, but a society that
01:07:31
Speaker
encourage repression of those kind of, you know, of your thoughts and your emotion and everything. So to have a film that actually explores that is so progressive and I think as much as thankfully now we live in a time where this is an issue that's become a mental health for everybody.
01:07:45
Speaker
subjects and you know much more like getting the attention that it deserves but particularly against over male mental health is a subject that can still unfortunately has some stigma still attached to it and perhaps you know it's something that we we could do we're talking about more like this film I think is a shining beacon of you know beginning to explore that theme and so I think it's incredibly important for that and just as well like kind of bridging onto that like just just like just remembering what a talent James Stewart was like how he how he is without a doubt one of like the finest actors has ever been
01:08:15
Speaker
Like, as with the director Frank Capra, I think this without a doubt is James Stewart's masterpiece. And again, he's done many other great films and many other great roles, but you know, this one I think stands head and shoulders above it, and it's just such a complete performance, and I think would have to be ranked as one of the greatest film roles, I think, of all time.
01:08:33
Speaker
like, you know, it's in that hallowed list because it's such a perfect portrayal and he brings James Stewart brings such a life to George Bailey and, you know, it's clearly a character that's infused by his, you know, by his own experiences and his own, like, you know, feelings and emotions and everything and it just adds so much to it.
01:08:49
Speaker
It's one of the many reasons why this film is so beloved, you know, it's told by so many people that it remains so relatable. So as much as
Modern Relevance and Christmas Anticipation
01:08:57
Speaker
perhaps it being a black and white film and it being from the 1940s might be off-putting to you, just trust me, you'll forget that, you will forget that, and you'll just be captivated by this story of an everyman, with the weight of the world on his shoulders, who feels down and out.
01:09:12
Speaker
finds the will to keep to go on and realizes what's around him and begins to appreciate all those little things that he's been overlooking for so long. And it's just a phenomenal story. And it's just one that you'll be able to relate to some part of it. And yeah, that's why it just remains such an amazing and such an important film. And I sound like a pirate when they say this, but I would 100% know. I think I stole everything.
01:09:36
Speaker
pretty much. So let's wrap up now. I totally agree with that. It is definitely one of those films that is, as you said, far ahead of its time in terms of like talking, as you said, talking about mental health, because I mean, you and I, of course, being a historian buffs. Is that the right term? We'll say it now. Historian buffs. I know it's history buffs, but you know, historian buffs. I like historian buffs better. Like we're knowledgeable about historians, not actually historians.
01:10:06
Speaker
what are you saying about this? Yeah you know like we both have like, well in terms of like studying the First World War, the Second World War and of course it being more relatable to the Second World War where it was definitely a society of, in terms of like feelings and things as you said it was all about repression and things of that which obviously is not a healthy state of mind, just the kind of like leapfrog from what you were saying about the kind of themes of mental health in this, that this is something I find
01:10:33
Speaker
absolutely incredible about this film. It's the fact that even in today's standards, so the year of course as you may know is 2021 where we are going through like the second year of quite possibly one of the worst pandemics in history and no more is it an impact to people more than in
01:10:52
Speaker
terms of mental health where people have been isolated, they've been forced to, you know, stay in their own bubbles, they've been forced to kind of stay limited to who they're interacting with. And don't get me wrong, like, the way that I feel as if this film does relate to that is the sense that, like, in a similar vein, George Bailey is a character who, although he has the, you know, he has the means to go away but every time something keeps pulling him back that
01:11:19
Speaker
that is out with his control, whether it be his father dying and him inheriting the business, whether it's him giving his own money up to try and stop everybody, the Mr. Potters of the world, taking advantage of them. It is just such an insightful look into it, and that's the thing that impresses me more is the fact that this was done in 1946
01:11:40
Speaker
where it couldn't be far. I mean, it could be further, it could be the Medieval times, but you know what I mean? It's quite a distant, as we've been saying, it's a distant memory of life back then compared to what it is now. And yet, even still, this man, you know, this character of George Bailey is just such a relatable character. His struggle's relatable. He's kind of learning more and more about himself as he's feeling trapped in everything in this town. All these
01:12:09
Speaker
pressures are getting to. Whether or not you look at this film as, you know, an upbeat, yay Christmas, things like that, you can look at this film as so much more than a Christmas film, you know, because as we both said before, would you agree with that that two-thirds of this film essentially are just building up this profile of George getting into his kind of inner psyche? And, you
01:12:34
Speaker
know, like, exploding these themes of, as you said, mental health, like, just more than just a kind of feel-good Christmas film. Oh, without a doubt, like, as you say, definitely at least 2000s of the film are, like, set outside of Christmas, and even the parts that, like, are set
01:12:49
Speaker
during Christmas. Christmas is the backdrop to it. It's not exactly like Christmas is the central character you get in some other new Christmas films. The central character remains George Bailey. It just perhaps happens to be that it's this time of year that he feels the lowest, and it's the time also where he's able to blow himself back from the brink.
01:13:10
Speaker
But in that way, it's not particularly Christmassy in that sense. It's applicable at any time of the year, but it's maybe in that way of the community coming together and the acts of kindness, big and small, that are associated with Christmas, tie it to that season, and that's why it remains essential Christmas viewing. One final point, and I swear, the final point, because I know we could usually talk about this honestly for hours.
01:13:37
Speaker
other than like TV shows that kind of parody the kind of central theme or not the central themes but you know like they kind of parody the central elements of the song like going back to the Simpsons example that's not an episode that's set at Christmas it's just like it's or rather it's the ending the parody I think more
01:13:55
Speaker
than anything. They don't parody the Flanders lishing it was never born or anything like that. It's just more the ending. Something I did notice about the films that kind of copy the formula is they go balls to the wall with a Christmas theme. Like, as I said, that M. William Shatner one, which is forever burned into my brain, can I just say? We're driving through and there's a huge Christmas tree and nobody recognises the women and everything because she doesn't exist. They, like, make it so
01:14:23
Speaker
Christmas-y. You know what I mean? Like Hallmark slash Channel 5 Christmas-y. I can imagine. Very kind of insincere. It's not obviously the real people attached to these homes, so I don't want to rant on them too much, but it just doesn't
01:14:39
Speaker
hit the same point. Again, as I said, it's hitting the cliff notes. Man doesn't want to be born, man gets shown, or women even get shown what it's like not to be born. They wish they were back, they're back, happy ending. That's all they see. But going back to what I was saying before, if you haven't seen this film, go see it. Definitely go see it. And by go see it, I mean get it off your streaming provider of choice, whether it's
01:15:02
Speaker
Amazon that's all on their Disney Plus and Netflix. I actually don't know off the top of my head. I can't remember. It'll probably be an Amazon, but I don't know if it's like… I think it's maybe on Disney Plus as well, I want to say. Maybe not, but I think I've seen it there. Take our advice with discrimination. It'll be somewhere. Find it. If not, then just buy it off of Amazon. You won't regret it. It's 100% worth it.
01:15:26
Speaker
And yeah, before we actually close up in this episode, this is our second last episode of the year. Our final episode will of course be coming the week after this one, but in a couple of days it is gonna be Christmas. So Adam, I've just got one last question for you. Are you prepared?
01:15:43
Speaker
I'm more prepared than when you asked me last week. I have most things now. I'm still waiting for a couple of things to arrive. And I've had to make some last minute changes because some things weren't going to arrive in time. But you know, what's Christmas without like a classic scramble to like, you know, deal with some some emergency. So
Last-Minute Christmas Preparations and Humor
01:16:01
Speaker
yes, I feel in a much more prepared situation than I did a week ago.
01:16:04
Speaker
So how about yourself? More or less, as we were talking about before, like I had to battle my way through the fog today just to get some last-minute presence, but I think more or less I am ready. Although I'll give you one last kind of funny story before we wrap up. I was in the shopping centre today and I quite
01:16:22
Speaker
possibly saw something again or rather heard something and convinced might be against the Geneva Convention. It was Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas that was playing on the loudspeakers. You know how like a lot of shopping centres have that laying? Yeah. And you know like they have Christmas music, it's like fair enough. For some reason I think the CD or whatever they were using was broken because it kept the looping part of the intro. So you know the bit where she says you know
01:16:48
Speaker
very famously. I don't want to look for Christmas. This is all I'm asking for.' And then you get the guy cutting and going, and I. Round about that bit, it cut out, went silent for a second, and then looked back to her singing that. So it was on repeat over and over again, and that's what I was thinking. I'm like, how do I contact the European human rights
01:17:10
Speaker
I'm like, this surely is against someone's humanity. I'm like, is this what it's like to work in retail? Having worked in seasonal retail before, I can tell you it's exactly what it's like. Yeah. Oh, I can imagine. But yeah, I honestly, I'll be glad to finally put my feet up, spend Christmas relatively calm. Yeah.
01:17:28
Speaker
I'm looking forward to. And yeah, as always, lovely listeners who are listening right now. Thank you all so, so much for listening to this episode. As always, stay safe, stay awesome, stay hydrated, and most importantly, have a very Merry Christmas.