CLASSIC WATCH
Movie: It's A Wonderful Life
Cast: James Stewart,Dona Reed
“It's a Wonderful Life” answers a question that all of us might think of at some point of time: "What would this world be like if I had never been born?".
For family and friends
This socio-fantasy flick has got a few of the finest romantic conversations ever, showing hilarious intellectual romance between James Stewart and Dona Reed.
“It's a Wonderful Life” tells the story of George Bailey (James Stewart), who as a selfless child risked his life (and lost his hearing in one ear) to save his brother from drowning. As an adult, he gave up his dreams of travelling around the world, going to college and many of his personal pleasures, to stay at home and manage the Bailey Building and Loan Society after the death of his father.
Throughout his life, George lived by a creed that always placed human needs above riches, and as a result, his only wealth was his friends and family.
He is always rational and humane and very considerate in his banking business in spite of his tough, rancorous rival Potter.
The value of life
Potter (movie giant Lionel Barrymore), willing to do anything to get his hands on Bailey's property as it's the only one which he doesn't own in that city; cheats, bribes and steals, putting no end to the tussles. The troubles started affecting George here, though they were there always. He tries a lot to come out of bankruptcy and the case against him. At this point, he gets vexed. On a fine day, under the surveillance of the Almighty, he decides to commit suicide.
Here enters the angel who makes George to realise how life in the city would be like in his absence. He sees the whole city in the hands of Potter, with all commercial strands like casinos, Epitaph of his brother; his childhood boss in a desolate condition and few more visions that make him realise the need for his presence and as he returns home, he finds his family and friends anxiously waiting for him.
He gets all his problems solved with the help of his family and friends.
The movie a favourite of both Capra and James Stewart, but it was not a success at the box office.
The movie achieved its deserved recognition, though four decades after it was first released.
Raman Chinni , IV Year Mechanical Engineering, SRM University, Chennai.
