It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

10/10

Starring
James Stewart
Donna Reed
Lionel Barrymore
Henry Travers

Directed by Frank Capra



It was never done this way before, until it was done by Frank Capra.

It’s A Wonderful Life, is a classic among classics, nominated for five Oscars without winning any, although the film has since been recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films ever made (it is placed number 20 in the 10th anniversary), and placed number one on their list of the most inspirational American films of all time. 

The movie's famous lines were:

George Bailey: What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary.

Mary: I'll take it. Then what?

George Bailey: Well, then you can swallow it, and it'll all dissolve, see... and the moonbeams would shoot out of your fingers and your toes and the ends of your hair... am I talking too much?

Based on the short story The Greatest Gift, the movie tells the tale of George Bailey (James Stewart) who dreams of doing it all and being rich, but circumstances placed him in positions where he had to choose between his dreams or others. George chose others, and he helped so many, helping them to build houses and secure incomes so that they don’t depend on the antagonist of the movie Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) who wants to take over the town.

As things move on, George’s problems grew, and he was now faced with the question.

Would my life be better if I had lived for me?

This movie is a feel good movie for all to see, done in the 1940s where it was watched in black and white with practically no special effects and actors had to act to get you through the movie without boring you. This is a must-see for all.

Service is something that Christianity preaches, if you are a Christian (as the movie does have a Christian tone in it), Christ taught about serving others being more important than pleasing yourself, and he lived it.

George lived like the Apostles giving all he had to others, even down to his honeymoon finances, and at the end he felt nobody saw his sacrifices and his sacrifices didn’t matter, God did and when he needed God most, He showed up.

One thing to learn from the movie is patience, George learns patience and self-sacrifice from a young age, and he waited for the opportunity to be himself, when the opportunity came another sacrifice was needed, a sacrifice George made and continue to make throughout the movie. George married the best wife any man should marry, a woman that understands you and completes you. Whenever George needed help and at his wits end, she was there to lend a hand. When George couldn’t afford to take her everywhere, she took him places with her pictures and smile. When they had nothing (which was all through the movie) she made something out of it and in that she made a home.

For those who are going to go watch this movie thinking at the very end George hit it big, am sorry he did not George learned the hard lesson as it is preached in the Bible, when God told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9,… My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

So 1st thing I want you get about this movie is that in reality we have people like this who have lived and are still living among us, people like Abraham Lincoln who had no reason to give up the white supremacy reign for the freedom of slaves. If you like Biblical examples we have Abraham who was ready to give up his son for God, if you like Biblical examples that have historical proof behind it we have the Apostles of Christ who sold all they had and served (hope you know some of them were married), also we have Paul who also gave up all he had and served others (he survived by being a tentmaker).

So what do you hold dear and another needs it? Or what are you good at, that can be used to serve others. Why withhold it and die with it when many lives can be blessed by your gift, why not bless others?

Let’s stop thinking about ourselves, our pleasures and what we will get out of situations. In this selfish world we live in, we should be satisfied and pleased that we are able to serve others and expect nothing in return.

As a Christian I was taught that I should be satisfied and pleased to serve others expecting nothing in return from even God himself, he has already paid the price for my salvation what else do I want.

So like George I want to serve while I wait for his coming, and the day he will take me home.

What about you?