Darger, Henry Movie Reviews

I received this video last weekend and have since watched it three times, all the way through. I am not the least bit tired of it yet! I love movies that have all-star casts but no real "sarring role"; 12 ANGRY MEN is just such a movie. It is fascinating to watch the interaction between twelve superlative actors confined in a small space (the jury room) for nearly the entire film. All of the actors -- including Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, and Ed Begley -- are superb. However, my favorite characters are the ones played by Jack Klugman, George Voskovec, and E.G. Marshall. Klugman's character, a young man from the slums, clearly has some repressed anger but is basically a vulnerable, soft-spoken person. Voskovec's character is an immigrant from (I assume) Eastern Europe, well-mannered and thoughtful, though he becomes angry when he sees others not taking their democratic duties seriously. E.G. Marshall's character is a bit aloof and very reasoned; but unlike a couple of the others (Cobb's and Begley's characters), he is no bigot. When at the end of the movie he realizes that his judgment was wrong, he does not hesitate to admit it. And of course, Henry Fonda comes across as sincere, thoughtful, and compassionate. The superlative cast and direction (by Sidney Lumet) make 12 ANGRY MEN a classic that can be watched again and again.

A Giant of a Film!!! To add to the general knowledge - the film was filmed primarily on location at the Bronx County Couthouse in NYC - and one of the little secrets Lumet used was to gradually move the walls in on the jurors during the course of the film, dramatically heightening the claustrophobic effect!! (Did I just mix a metaphor???)
The ensemble cast - truly outstanding. Not to be missed - and to be discussed. This is a timeproof reflection of the frailities of us all.

"12 Angry Men" is definately a classic film in retrospect of character, setting, and storyline. Each juror is different in personality some how, the setting is not the big city the men are in but instead the tiny jury room, and there is no harrowing love story or cackling villain but instead a simple debate: should they let a man free or sentence him guilty?

Henry Fonda is the first juror to say no, not because he really believes the man is innocent, but because he doesn't feel men should just so quickly judge a man when the option other than freedom is his life. However, Fonda's reasoning wins over another juror...and so the movie continues.

In many ways, its a mystery disguised as a drama. The 12 jurors slowly redo the whole case, gathering up their own evidence or re-examining the alibis and statements of the witnesses involved. There are several twists that keep the film interesting all the way to the conclusion.

You would think a movie about 12 men in one room arguing with each other back and forth wouldn't make for an interesting picture, but "12 Angry Men" proves that wrong, in every way.

The Thin Man is the first in this series of six movies starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles...wealthy socialites and detectives. These movies made between 1934 and 1947 comprise six of the 13 collaborations between the two stars and is certainly their most famous work.

I cannot rave strongly enough about these movies, particularly the first which is the best in the series. Nick and Nora are in New York for Christmas and find themselves having to investigate and eventually solve several murders.

The chemistry between the two stars is what makes these movies. It would seem as if they really were married. The Thin Man is outrageously funny with a lot of sexual innuendo which was certainly outrageous for the time period.

The movies are always filled with great character actors. Those faces you know even if you don't know the names. The dialog sparkles as the two drink their way through solving the crimes. honestly, being drunk has never been this funny.

Some may feel that it glamorizes alcohol, but lets remember that this was the early 1930's. The Christmas party in their posh hotel room is priceless.

My only complaint is that it seems there are little in the way of extras on the DVD. What a shame. While outtakes may not still exist, certainly some interviews and commentary with film historians would have been a welcome addition. Still..these are a definite add to your collection

Truly, this series is one of the best ever created. Simple, fast pace, plain wholesome fun!! I want the whole series!!

Nick and Nora Charles (William Powell and Myrna Loy) have recently moved back to New York from the West Coast and are looking forward to some time together when an old acquaintance, a young woman named Dorothy Wynant (Maureen O'Sullivan), asks for Nick's help in locating her father, an inventor named Clyde Wynant (Edward Ellis). Nick was a working class hard-drinking private detective before he married blue-blooded Nora. But now Nick is enjoying his retirement and is reluctant to get involved in any mysteries. Nora, on the other hand, is intrigued by Nick's old line of work and welcomes the excitement that detective work might bring to her life. But Nick stubbornly refuses to take the case, even when the missing man's secretary is murdered and his lawyer and ex-wife express their concern as well. But when a gun-wielding thug forces his way into the Charles' apartment and the police harass him for answers, Nick is left with little choice but to take the case of "the thin man". Believing that the police are on the wrong trail entirely, Nick returns to Clyde Wynant's closed-up shop, where he finds an essential clue to his disappearance. Nick then decides that the best way to ferret out the culprit is to invite all of the suspects and interested parties to a dinner party at his apartment where he will lay out the story as he knows it and set up the murderer in the presence of the police.

"The Thin Man" was adapted from the popular 1933 detective novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett and directed by W.S. Van Dyke in 1934. Although fans of Dashiell Hammet's hard-boiled whodunit may not recognize the Nick and Nora Charles of the silver screen, "The Thin Man" impresses me as one of the best adapted screenplays in cinematic history. Screenwriters Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich have brilliantly adapted Dashiell Hammet's novel for a mainstream audience. The story has been simplified considerably. But, more significantly, the movie's characters have been made more likable and respectable than those of the book, and somewhat less alcoholic. Although Hammett's novel is full of witty quips, it is far too cynical to be called a comedy. Screenwriters Hackett and Goodrich chose to make the film a comedy of manners and de-emphasized the mystery in favor of Nick and Nora's relationship. That decision, along with the casting of William Powell and Myrna Loy, who have such great comic chemistry and affection between them, made "The Thin Man" so irresistible to audiences in the 1930's that it supported an impressive 6-film franchise over the course of 13 years. William Powell and Myrna Loy's appeal has not diminished in the least to this day. There has never been a funnier party scene than the Charles' wonderful drunken Christmas party. And an expanded role for the Charles' irrepressible pooch Asta perfectly tops off the comedy. "The Thin Man" is a wonderfully entertaining combination of mystery, comedy, and romance set in the glamourous world of upper-class Manhattan in the 1930's. It's as good as popular movie-making gets. "The Thin Man" of course refers to the missing Mr. Wynant, although the phrase came to be associated with Nick Charles in the subsequent "Thin Man" films.

We can only hope that eventually all of "The Thin Man" movies will be available as a DVD boxed set with some nice extras. If you like "The Thin Man" and old comedy/ mystery/romance movies appeal to you, you might like Alfred Hitchcock's 1938 film "The Lady Vanishes". It is a lighthearted, utterly charming film, and one of Hitchcock's best, that manages to successfully combine even more genres than "The Thin Man" does.

The first time I watched this movie in its entirety I almost died laughing. This comedy puts the nowadays ones to shame. It uses subtlety to convey the point without coming across as vulgar and distasteful. Rosalind Russell definately delivered the stuff.

This film is perfection! It is very, very funny and also very sweet and very positive. Rosalind Russell is amazing in the title role. She has such amazing comic timing and such grand attitude - the success of this film is hers more than anything else. Great sets, costumes, witty screenplay, romance, schmaltz, and ENERGY. I could watch this film a million times and never get bored by it. If you haven't seen it - you are missing something great. If you don't own it, what are you waiting for? A true film classic.

Aren't we all glad this one is now available in a format that won't warp in the heat?

The first time I watched this movie in its entirety I almost died laughing. This comedy puts the nowadays ones to shame. It uses subtlety to convey the point without coming across as vulgar and distasteful. Rosalind Russell definately delivered the stuff.

This film is perfection! It is very, very funny and also very sweet and very positive. Rosalind Russell is amazing in the title role. She has such amazing comic timing and such grand attitude - the success of this film is hers more than anything else. Great sets, costumes, witty screenplay, romance, schmaltz, and ENERGY. I could watch this film a million times and never get bored by it. If you haven't seen it - you are missing something great. If you don't own it, what are you waiting for? A true film classic.

Aren't we all glad this one is now available in a format that won't warp in the heat?

Meet Me in St. Louis is one of the best films I have ever seen. There are many memorable songs that just make you want to sing along! The plot is relatively funny and Judy Garland hits home. Margaret O'Brien, who plays 'Tootie' is so adorable. She is exceptional in the part and knows how to adjust to serious scenes very well. Over all, this is a swell movie and I would recommend it to any musical fan.

I love this movie...I grew up watching it with my mom, especially around Christmas. The costumes are gorgeous...the girl's Christmas ball gowns and the white outfits at the end when they go to the fair. I cry every time at the part when Judy sings "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (or whatever the title of the song actually is?). Speaking of crying...nobody boohoos like little Margaret O'Brien...she is adorable in the movie. I really hope they decide to put it out on DVD...although I know that everytime I watch it I cannot get "The Trolley Song" out of my head for a week...but I love it anyway!!

This is probably my all time favorite movie and musical. The entire cast is spectacular together. This movie will bring out every emotion you can have, it will make you smile, laugh, and even cry. It is about a family living in St. Louis, whose life is turned upside down by the idea of having to move to New York City. It portrays each characters life, the diferences between them, and everything that they go through. The musical numbers are encredible and very memerable!! They flow with the movie. It does not seem as if they are just randomly put in to make the movie a musical. Judy Garland's voice and dance numbers will give you chills, especially when she sings "Have a Merry Little Christmas." If you like musicals, I believe that you will truely Love this one. I would recommend this movie to everyone.

I have been waiting forever for 'Once Upon a Time in the West' to finally hit DVD and now it's here. Trust me, it was well worth the wait. Sergio Leone's masterpiece centers around Jill McBain (played by the beautifal Claudia Cardinale), a woman brought into a struggle for land by some very tragic circumstances. Cardinale steals many scenes with her sheer beauty and ability to optimize Leone's signiture style of facial expressions and body actions to express emotion. Henry Fonda shocked many by going against his usual castings by playing the ruthless Frank, a killer without a conscience. Charles Bronson is wonderful as Leone's signature mystery man without a name, and Jason Robards shines as Cheyenne, a roughneck accused of a crime he didn't commit.

OUATITW is quite different than Leone's other well known westerns starring Clint Eastwood, although he does still capture some of their magic here . Where this film differs is in it's characters and sheer scope. Leone's style is still well intact, but his storytelling is much more diverse here, not simply relying on one mechanic throughout.

The DVD was very well done with a good quality picture and adequate sound. The second DVD in the set is loaded with features including documenteries and various featurettes. The commentary tracts are also well done and very informative as well as entertaining.

All in all, this DVD was well worth the wait. For fans of the film, this is a gem for the collection that must be bought.

Ever since movies started being transferred to DVD, this is the one I was waiting for. And boy, did I wait. And it sure was worth waiting for. I can't express enough my excitement of having this DVD finally.

This is a great transfer. Images are crisp and clear. You can even see the details of the back lit Mitten Buttes in Monument Valley. Now, you can kiss goodbye to the VHS tape you had for years.

When I saw "Once Upon a Time in the West" for the first time, I was 14. Seeing Cardinale's buggy cross Monument Valley made me shed tears. It's such stunning beauty! I could feel Leone's deep affection to the western in this scene. This is his homage to John Ford and all western movies.

There are not so many directors who know how to use wide screen effectively. In Leone's films, space seems to expand to form massive cosmos. No other director could perform this type of magic (perhaps with an exception of David Lean).

This is a movie that deserves the word "masterpiece" in every sense. And this is an utmost form of film as art. The tempo throughout the movie is meticulously calculated. Camera movement and editing are extremely creative and cinematic. Morricone's haunting music flows with the images (I don't hesitate to say Jill's theme is the most beautiful music on earth). Dialogue is limited to optimize its dramatic effect and superbly well written. Movements of actors are deliberately slow and stylish. Carlo Simi's art direction for set and costume designs plays a great role also to help Leone's perfectionism and realism.

This is not just the best spaghetti western. Some dare to say this is the best western ever made. And so do I.

Three documentaries on the second disc are wonderful treat to Leone fans. Through numerous interviews, you can learn how "Once Upon a Time in the West" was started and how it was produced. Very briefly, you can see Leone himself in one of the documentaries. My only regret is that other key people like Charles Bronson, Jason Robards, Ennio Morricone and Sergio Donati were not interviewed.

One of the noteworthy special features is Location Gallery. I'd like to thank Don Bruce for contributing valuable photos of locations used for "Once Upon a Time in the West" to make comparisons to actual scenes in the film.

This is one great DVD made with passion to reflect diehard Leone fans' never-ending love for this monumental film.

This is one of the all-time classic westerns and my favorite "spaghetti western" from Sergio Leone. It features outstanding performances by Claudia Cardinale, Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, and Charles Bronson. Claudia plays the character of Mrs. Jill McBain, whose husband and stepchildren were ruthlessly murdered by a gunman named Frank (Henry Fonda) who works for a business tycoon named Morton. Before dying, Mr. McBain purchased a large piece of railroad land by a big waterwell which he hopes to build into a big town called Sweetwater. Jill inherits this property but Frank and his henchmen try to wrest it from her. The mysterious lone gunfighter Harmonica (Charles Bronson) and the outlaw Cheyenne (Jason Robards) come to Jill's aid. Harmonica has something of a personal vendetta in mind while helping Jill and hooking up with Cheyenne.

The movie pays homage to the great American westerns in the past (movies such as "The Searchers" and "Shane", plus many others), while putting on a revisionist twist of its own in the story. Curiously, among the spaghetti westerns made by Leone, this is the only one which features a woman as its central character. This movie talks about the passing of the era of gunfighters into the modern industrial era (represented by the advent of railroads). One of the great features of this movie is the classic soundtrack by Ennio Morricone.

I really love this Western and it only gets better through the passage of time. The 2-DVD set is great -- it features a commentary on the first disc and several featurettes (a 3-part documentary which interviews cast members, the director, cinematographer and admirers of the movie; another documentary on the revolution of the railroad) on the second disc. There are some scenes included in this DVD which were absent in the video version (the complete version). The picture and sound quality are excellent. If you love classic westerns and are a fan of Sergio Leone's westerns, you will definitely love this movie. It is a must-have!

This is a nice old movie that I got from my dad's collection when he died. I'm not a huge fan of old movies but this one isn't too bad.

I have loved this movie forever. It is the simple story of a poor little rich girl (Colbert)who runs away from her tycoon father in hopes of making it to New York to wed her playboy fiance. A newspaper reporter (Gable) is on her trail and hopes to get the scoop of the season by cozying up to her and getting the inside story of her surprise wedding. When their night bus breaks down, the bickering couple hitchike to New York. Of course, sparks fly between the two of them as they fall in love.

This is a terrifically funny movie that tells a great story. Along the way, the movie offers up a snapshot of 1934 American life that is true and vanished.

Everyone loves this movie. People who hate black and white movies love this movie. Even cool 19 year old boys who only relate to the Sopranos love this movie. I have never known anyone who watched this movie who didn't also love it.

This movie is one laugh after another with a great story. You've probably read the story from other reviewers, so I won't remind you, but I just thought the plot was very clever and the humor just has to make you laugh. I really didn't like Clark Gable before I saw this movie, but my opinion of him improved after seeing this movie. I even got my mom to see this and she loved it as well! The DVD is great and the VHS is great. either way, you can't lose!:)

I cannot think of another movie that shows the breadth of Stewart's acting ability. His portrayal of the gentle, but quietly confident alcoholic was far different than his roles as either a lanky do-gooder, or as a righteous man of principle.

Here is Stewart in a perfectly subtle statement on conformity in society and the penalty for those who either conform too much or not enough-and shows that they knew how to make satirical gems way back in the day! This movie is about rigid thinking and and it's effects, both good and bad. Hilarious, too!

"Harvey" is the tale of an elegant gentleman (James Stewart) whose best friend just happens to be a six foot, 3 inch rabbit. Naturally, his family thinks he's crazy and this leads to a comedy of errors, whereby Stewart is slated for committment inside a mental institution. The film is a delightful blend of comedy and drama and blessed with a magic that is in short supply in filmdom these days.
TRANSFER: Stunning! The black and white DVD exhibits ideal picture quality. Blacks are black. The gray scale is superbly balanced. There's really nothing more to say about the transfer, other than, it is simply one of the best you are likely to encounter of a vintage classic on the digital format. The audio is Mono but nicely balanced.
EXTRAS: An introduction by James Stewart that is a bit on the long side but too short to be considered a documentary. You also get the film's theatrical trailer.
BOTTOM LINE: A shame that Universal didn't give us a documentary but at least we have this classic preserved for future generations in a DVD transfer that is stunning!

Elwood P. Dowd has always been one of my very favorite creations of the stage and screen. As James Stewart points out in the introduction to this classic film, he was also one of his.

You see, Elwood was a man of the world, with brains, personality, and friends- then he met Harvey. Of course, Harvey didn't really change any of this; Harvey just appeared at the moment Elwood really needed him. You see, Elwood had wrestled with "reality" for 35 years, and he was glad to say that he finally won out over it. Perhaps Harvey was his reward for winning out on it. Elwood had been "oh, so smart", and then he had been "oh, so pleasant"- and he came to find that he greatly recommended pleasant over smart. Perhaps this was why Harvey chose to watch out over him. In any case, Elwood spent the rest of his life visiting bars and taverns, taking the time to listen to all classes of people, inviting them home, taking their minds off of their troubles, introducing them to Harvey.... And Harvey is a very useful being to know, for as Elwood points out, he cannot only overcome Time and Space, but any objections.

What is Harvey you ask? Well, Harvey is a Pooka. A Pooka is a mischievous nature spirit known to be fond of rumpots, crackpots- and how are you Mr. ________?

I sometimes wonder why this movie is shown at Christmastime. I find it depressing. Either way, it is an excellent movie. George Bailey, who grew up in Bedford Falls, dreams of leaving it and making his mark on the world. His family's business is all that stands between the good citizens and Mr. Potter, a rich miser who takes pleasure in taking from everybody. After misplacing an $8000.00 loan, George contemplates suicide. His guardian angel, Clarence, falls to Earth and shows him how his town, family and friends would turn out if he had never been born. George meant so much to so many people; should he really throw it all away?

Summary:
George Bailey (James Stewart) is a hometown boy with big aspirations. After finishing high school, he is going to tour Europe then go to college and become a big name architect and construction job manager, building huge dams and great projects. Everything seems to be headed that way, too, until his father, Peter Bailey (Samuel S. Hinds), has a stroke and ends up dying. His father was the head of the local Savings and Loan and without his guidance, the vile Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore), the town miser, plans on a forced takeover of the Savings and Loan, much to George's Uncle Billy's (Thomas Mitchell) wishes (and to the detriment of the town's poor).

The only way to save the Savings and Loan is for George, whom everyone respects and trusts, to step in as the new chairman and takeover. Giving up his tour of Europe and college education, George does the 'right' thing, and takes over the Savings and Loan, which is really the only thing standing between the poor of the town having a chance to live decent lives and Mr. Potter taking over everything and grinding them into the mud.

In giving up his college dreams, George has to watch while his younger brother, Harry (Todd Karns), uses his money to go to college, becomes a football star, then a war hero. George also watches his new found love, Mary (Donna Reed), go off to school. All of this turns George bitter, but he presses on, despite the problems. Eventually one good thing does happen, Mary comes back, and despite his bitterness towards his lost opportunities, George marries Mary and they make a life together as the advocates of the town's poor.

George, who helps the poor despite it hurting the Savings and Loan and keeping him perpetually poor, eventually runs into trouble. His forgetful uncle, Billy, loses an $8,000 deposit on Christmas Eve, just when the local auditor comes to check over their books. Without that money, George and Billy are bound to go to jail. As it turns out, Mr. Potter is the one who found it, but because he wants to crush them out of business, he doesn't give them the money.

For George, this is the last straw. Knowing his life is ruined, he finally breaks down and is mean to people, starting with his Uncle, but moving to his wife, kids, their schoolteachers, and, well, pretty much everyone. Until his guardian angel happens upon the scene, Clarence Oddbody (Henry Travers). Clarence appears just in time to stop George from killing himself then helps him to see all of the good that he has done for the people of the town and how much they need him. Once George realizes this, he can't wait to get back home, despite the impending jail sentence.

But when he returns home, even though the police and the auditor are waiting for him, he finds that his incredible wife has brought the townspeople together and they are going to bail him out. Thus ends a touching tale about how kindness can make you much wealthier in terms of relationships than can money.

My Comments:
Believe it or not, I had never seen this movie, despite it supposedly being a classic Christmas film. I was a bit hesitant, because I tend to enjoy psychological thrillers much more than sappy dramas, but I ended up appreciating this movie. However, my appreciation went much further than what I would consider the superficial heroics of George Bailey, who saved his younger brother and was nice to people. It was also deeper than the townspeople coming together in the end to save George and the Savings and Loan. What I really liked about this movie was the communism. Yep, that's right, this is pure communist propaganda and I loved every second of it. But before I get into that, let me talk about the story and the acting.

The story is pretty straightforward. It does cover quite a bit of time, but does so well and convincingly. There aren't any major plot holes and the only kind of quirky thing is the intervention of the guardian angel. For most people, the divine intervention is probably one of the best parts of the film. As an agnostic, I recognized that many people probably enjoyed this notion, but it was really just a necessary tool to illustrate to George what life would have been like had he not been born. And, yes, the portrayal of George's town without him was a bit extreme, and the idea of someone not being born wasn't particularly well-fleshed out (though this is a drama and not a science fiction thriller). But overall, it's a sound story that hits all the right marks to jerk a tear.

The acting is also good. There are some weaker links, like Thomas Mitchell and some of the other peripheral characters, but the main actors, Stewart and Reed, were really very good. (Oh, and Donna Reed, am I the only one that thinks she's attractive? I never thought I'd hear myself say that about Donna Reed...) Anyway, I can't really complain about the acting. It was really good for its time and pretty good for today.

Now, back to communism. Yes, this movie is about communism, but not Soviet or Chinese communism. This is essentially a boiled down version of Marxist communism, where the people own everything. It also is a brilliant depiction of the exploitation of the working classes by the bourgeoisie, in this case Mr. Potter. George's attempts to help the poor and maintain the Savings and Loan are Capra's way of defeating capitalist exploitation. Hooray for the little man! Three cheers for labor unions! If Frank Capra was just trying to tell a story and was not trying to criticize capitalism, then I'm a double-headed pig that can use a computer.

Overall, this is a very good film. It is well-produced, convincing (except for the whole guardian angel/talking in space thing), and the acting is good. But what's more, it has an anti-capitalist message. I can't say it was perfect, but it was touching and inspirational. If only we could take out the religion stuff, I'd say we have a rallying cry for social democracy (okay, leave in the religion for now, but eventually...). Anyway, if you haven't seen this movie, yes, it's sappy, but it's also heart-warming (and Donna Reed's cute). You should definitely check it (and her) out.

A terrific illustration of the impact we have on others--and how far reaching it is even when we don't realize it. Jimmy Stewart is wonderful! This is such an uplifting, inspiring, all-is-right-with-the-world-movie. We watch it each year at Christmas and turn it off and sigh. :-)

I sometimes wonder why this movie is shown at Christmastime. I find it depressing. Either way, it is an excellent movie. George Bailey, who grew up in Bedford Falls, dreams of leaving it and making his mark on the world. His family's business is all that stands between the good citizens and Mr. Potter, a rich miser who takes pleasure in taking from everybody. After misplacing an $8000.00 loan, George contemplates suicide. His guardian angel, Clarence, falls to Earth and shows him how his town, family and friends would turn out if he had never been born. George meant so much to so many people; should he really throw it all away?

Summary:
George Bailey (James Stewart) is a hometown boy with big aspirations. After finishing high school, he is going to tour Europe then go to college and become a big name architect and construction job manager, building huge dams and great projects. Everything seems to be headed that way, too, until his father, Peter Bailey (Samuel S. Hinds), has a stroke and ends up dying. His father was the head of the local Savings and Loan and without his guidance, the vile Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore), the town miser, plans on a forced takeover of the Savings and Loan, much to George's Uncle Billy's (Thomas Mitchell) wishes (and to the detriment of the town's poor).

The only way to save the Savings and Loan is for George, whom everyone respects and trusts, to step in as the new chairman and takeover. Giving up his tour of Europe and college education, George does the 'right' thing, and takes over the Savings and Loan, which is really the only thing standing between the poor of the town having a chance to live decent lives and Mr. Potter taking over everything and grinding them into the mud.

In giving up his college dreams, George has to watch while his younger brother, Harry (Todd Karns), uses his money to go to college, becomes a football star, then a war hero. George also watches his new found love, Mary (Donna Reed), go off to school. All of this turns George bitter, but he presses on, despite the problems. Eventually one good thing does happen, Mary comes back, and despite his bitterness towards his lost opportunities, George marries Mary and they make a life together as the advocates of the town's poor.

George, who helps the poor despite it hurting the Savings and Loan and keeping him perpetually poor, eventually runs into trouble. His forgetful uncle, Billy, loses an $8,000 deposit on Christmas Eve, just when the local auditor comes to check over their books. Without that money, George and Billy are bound to go to jail. As it turns out, Mr. Potter is the one who found it, but because he wants to crush them out of business, he doesn't give them the money.

For George, this is the last straw. Knowing his life is ruined, he finally breaks down and is mean to people, starting with his Uncle, but moving to his wife, kids, their schoolteachers, and, well, pretty much everyone. Until his guardian angel happens upon the scene, Clarence Oddbody (Henry Travers). Clarence appears just in time to stop George from killing himself then helps him to see all of the good that he has done for the people of the town and how much they need him. Once George realizes this, he can't wait to get back home, despite the impending jail sentence.

But when he returns home, even though the police and the auditor are waiting for him, he finds that his incredible wife has brought the townspeople together and they are going to bail him out. Thus ends a touching tale about how kindness can make you much wealthier in terms of relationships than can money.

My Comments:
Believe it or not, I had never seen this movie, despite it supposedly being a classic Christmas film. I was a bit hesitant, because I tend to enjoy psychological thrillers much more than sappy dramas, but I ended up appreciating this movie. However, my appreciation went much further than what I would consider the superficial heroics of George Bailey, who saved his younger brother and was nice to people. It was also deeper than the townspeople coming together in the end to save George and the Savings and Loan. What I really liked about this movie was the communism. Yep, that's right, this is pure communist propaganda and I loved every second of it. But before I get into that, let me talk about the story and the acting.

The story is pretty straightforward. It does cover quite a bit of time, but does so well and convincingly. There aren't any major plot holes and the only kind of quirky thing is the intervention of the guardian angel. For most people, the divine intervention is probably one of the best parts of the film. As an agnostic, I recognized that many people probably enjoyed this notion, but it was really just a necessary tool to illustrate to George what life would have been like had he not been born. And, yes, the portrayal of George's town without him was a bit extreme, and the idea of someone not being born wasn't particularly well-fleshed out (though this is a drama and not a science fiction thriller). But overall, it's a sound story that hits all the right marks to jerk a tear.

The acting is also good. There are some weaker links, like Thomas Mitchell and some of the other peripheral characters, but the main actors, Stewart and Reed, were really very good. (Oh, and Donna Reed, am I the only one that thinks she's attractive? I never thought I'd hear myself say that about Donna Reed...) Anyway, I can't really complain about the acting. It was really good for its time and pretty good for today.

Now, back to communism. Yes, this movie is about communism, but not Soviet or Chinese communism. This is essentially a boiled down version of Marxist communism, where the people own everything. It also is a brilliant depiction of the exploitation of the working classes by the bourgeoisie, in this case Mr. Potter. George's attempts to help the poor and maintain the Savings and Loan are Capra's way of defeating capitalist exploitation. Hooray for the little man! Three cheers for labor unions! If Frank Capra was just trying to tell a story and was not trying to criticize capitalism, then I'm a double-headed pig that can use a computer.

Overall, this is a very good film. It is well-produced, convincing (except for the whole guardian angel/talking in space thing), and the acting is good. But what's more, it has an anti-capitalist message. I can't say it was perfect, but it was touching and inspirational. If only we could take out the religion stuff, I'd say we have a rallying cry for social democracy (okay, leave in the religion for now, but eventually...). Anyway, if you haven't seen this movie, yes, it's sappy, but it's also heart-warming (and Donna Reed's cute). You should definitely check it (and her) out.

A terrific illustration of the impact we have on others--and how far reaching it is even when we don't realize it. Jimmy Stewart is wonderful! This is such an uplifting, inspiring, all-is-right-with-the-world-movie. We watch it each year at Christmas and turn it off and sigh. :-)