Film Review: 'It's a Wonderful Life' - the greatest film of all time
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AS the final instalment in a series of Christmas movie reviews, I am reviewing what is, in my opinion, the greatest Christmas film of all time. Frank Capra’s 1946 classic, may not have been a box office or critical success upon its initial release, but in the decades since, it has grown in popularity to become one of the most beloved and iconic festive favourites in homes around the world.
When a desperate businessman is contemplating suicide on Christmas Eve, his guardian angel is sent from heaven to help him see the true value of his life by showing him the positive impact he has had on every life around him. Though the subject matter is surprisingly dark for a Christmas film, especially considering the time it was made, this dealing with the darkness is essential before arriving at one of the most iconic and emotional endings in movie history. Starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed in endlessly quotable performances, is an incredible contemplation of the human condition and captures all that is truly special about Christmas in the most perfect way.
The story begins with God and the angels meeting to discuss the case of George Bailey: a small time business man who has spent his life in the sleepy town of Bedford Falls. As a young man George had grand dreams of travelling the world, studying at university and becoming an accomplished architect. However, life, it seems, had different plans for George Bailey. Due to a series of unfortunate events, and the inherently decent nature of his character, George had to sacrifice his own ambitions to conquer the world and instead stay at home to take over the family business. The angels’ cause for concern is that on Christmas Eve, 1946 George Bailey is contemplating the greatest sin of all. Having encountered a crippling financial disaster, he is considering throwing away his own life, as he sees little worth in his continued existence. Tasked with saving George’s soul, an angel yet to receive his wings, Clarence Odbody is sent from Heaven to make him see the error in his ways. In an effort to illustrate the true value of his life, Clarence reveals to George what the world would have been like had he never been born. Soon realising how his own life has shaped those around him, George finally learns the most valuable lesson of all, “No man is a failure who has friends.” is packed with iconic, memorable performances and unforgettable characters. Jimmy Stewart’s portrayal of George Bailey is simply magnetic and beautifully authentic as he manages to convey the entire spectrum of human emotion in the most subtle of expressions. Watching Stewart’s performance range from the jovial, light-hearted character we see at the beginning of the film, to a desperate, frustrated man in his darkest hour before finally being redeemed and instilled with a new lease of life is, frankly, an astonishing masterclass in acting. I think, due to the nature of the film, his performance has always been somewhat underrated or dismissed as being ‘light,’ but I have always found George Bailey to be an endlessly compelling character, played to absolute perfection by the irreplaceable Jimmy Stewart.
It must be remembered that this role was Stewart’s first return to acting after serving as a pilot in the Second World War. Having flown over 20 combat missions and earning multiple decorations for his efforts, Stewart was initially somewhat reluctant to return to acting – doubting his ability to perform the way he used to. However, director Frank Capra eventually convinced him he was the right man for the role and I would argue that this piece of casting is one of the best decision’s ever made in the history of cinema. It has famously been reported that, during the harrowing scene where George Bailey begins to pray quietly for God’s help, Stewart was drawing on his experiences in the war and found himself overwhelmed with emotion. Anyone familiar with the scene will know that the raw emotion captured in those quiet few moments is almost tangible.
Alongside Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed turns in a warm and charming performance as his childhood sweetheart and wife Mary. Stewart and Reed share electric screen chemistry together and each and every one of their scenes is simply brimming with an infectious energy and sense of passion. In the supporting cast, Lionel Barry chews up the scenery as the scheming and unscrupulous businessman Mr Potter. Clearly relishing the chance to play a villainous character, Barrymore gives his all to this character, twisting his face into warped expressions of disdain and spitting out each of his lines with a vitriolic venom. It would be remiss to review It’s a Wonderful Life without mentioning Henry Travers performance as the angel Clarence. Despite appearing late in the film, Travers quickly makes up for lost time by stealing the remaining scenes with his loveable portrayal of a hopelessly naive angel desperate to prove himself. Travers is brilliantly aware of the tone to strike and calibrates his performance accordingly, providing great comedic relief through the absurdity of some of his lines.
It is hard not to love . Frank Capra’s masterful direction, the beautifully told story and the incredible performances all combine to deliver a hugely impactful and deeply moving film. The careful plotting exercised by Capra to slowly allow the story to unfold and ingratiate audiences into the town of Bedford Falls before gradually building to one of the most cathartic and rewarding endings in cinema history, is the sign of a truly genius director. It’s a Wonderful Life, for me, represents everything that is important about Christmas: it reflects on life, it contemplates the human condition and it encourages us to recognise the true value of family and human relationships. That is why must be regarded as the greatest Christmas film of all time.
