The film, despite being headlined by James Stewart, one of the biggest actors at the time, was not a commercial success. “It’s a Wonderful Life” debuted in 1946 and was based on a short story, “The Greatest Gift”, which was written by Phillip Van Doren Stern in 1939. From Copyright Failure, to Public Domain Success It’s one of the most bizarre tails in copyright history and one that has changed the way families all over the world celebrate the holidays. That’s because the copyright in the film has a story very much akin to George Bailey’s, one of birth, death, finding success and then being allowed to live again. Where it once seemed to be on a constant loop during December, it’s now only shown a few times per year. However, many have noted that the once-constant playing of the film has slowed to a trickle. It’s a film and a message that many, myself included, grew up with and something that was a near-constant presence during the holiday season. Directed by Frank Capras, it’s the timeless tale of a man named George Bailey, played by James Stewart, who hits rock bottom on Christmas Eve and is granted, by his guardian angel, a chance to see what life for his friends and family would be like if he had never been born.Īt the end of the film, Bailey chooses to live again and races home to a happy ending that is one of the best-known scenes in all of film history. He is a jerk who deserved a miserable ending.“It’s a Wonderful Life” is one of the great holiday classics. He tried to ruin a man’s life, family, business, and more. Old Man Potter may be one of the vilest characters of Christmas. The man was not able to own everything and died of a broken heart……and some poison.
They were able to find happiness and the true meaning of Christmas. This theory would prove the opposite of Scrooge or the Grinch. And shortly after George’s friends bail him out of a bad situation, Potter’s heart gave out. During the whole debacle with setting up George Bailey, and getting the Building and Loan, his servant was slowly poisoning with each meal. The man, however, has people who wait on him hand and foot, and just by the way he treated the Bailey’s, you know the people who worked for him were treated poorly. As we can tell through the scenes with Potter, the man had no family, no friends either. The third theory and the most likely argument as to what happened to Potter is that he died, miserable and poisoned. Is it just me or does he look like Walter? (Jeff Dunham’s Puppet) In my heart, I just feel there is more to the story.
The way he treats George’s father in the first 15 minutes of the movie will make anyone’s blood boil. From the start of the movie, you hate Mr. The idea that bad things happen to good people seems to be what the director was going for in the film. Potter was able to steal the money and in the process frame George, allowing the possibility of running the Building and Loan out of business. He would not be in the spot he was if he wasn’t a jerk, so that’s eliminated. The problem with this idea is that Potter was not that dumb. Bedford Falls is a small town, so news of an $8,000 deposit made at the same time George was in trouble would spread quickly. George and the rest of the town form a mob and beat up the old man. A bank teller named Clarence told him that Potter deposited in the same amount moments after Billy frantically left to find that money. The conclusion follows the movie until Uncle Billy remembers what happened to the money he would deposit that fateful day. In a skit performed during the 1986 season, William Shatner introduces an alternate ending to the Christmas Classic. The first theory being put into evidence by all places, Saturday Night Live. Because TBK Investigates the comeuppance of Mr. But, Hollywood at that time had a rule that if a person were to break the law, the evil doer would have their comeuppance. And if we are to look at the movie as a metaphor of life, that idea makes a lot of sense. I am to sit in my chair as a moviegoer and think he was able to get away with it. Potter’s comeuppance? The man stole $8,000 from the Bailey Building and Loan.
It eats at my very existence on this planet, and I need answers. However, one thing has always irked me about this film. The movie is an all-time classic and not just for Christmas. George wishes he was never born, and an angel shows him what happens if he was not born.
It becomes more than he can handle after Old Man Potter steals $8,000 and blames George for the misfortune. But the story follows George Bailey and the struggles that life throws his way. If you are not familiar with the Frank Capra classic, chances are your cable company provided you with more networks than just NBC. And one of my all-time favorites is It’s A Wonderful Life.
Each film makes my insides feel all warm and fuzzy as if I was drinking hot chocolate on Christmas morning. I could watch Christmas movies all year long.