It's the "-ber" months and Christmas is just around the corner. Near where I live, lighted Christmas decors and lanterns are already being sold. I'm sure in a few weeks we'll be hearing Christmas songs on the radio. And we'll be seeing Christmas movies and specials on television. When I was young, I used to watch Rudolph in stop motion animation on TV. I also remember seeing the Looney Tunes gang in their spoof of the classic Charles Dickens tale "A Christmas Carol". Yosemite Sam as Ebenezer Scrooge and Bugs Bunny pretending to be a ghost. There's also this black and white movie they used to show. It's called "It's a Wonderful Life" directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart and the beautiful Donna Reed. This movie happens to be one of the most beloved films of all time.
The Plot
It’s Christmas Eve and a desperate man by the name of George Bailey (James Stewart), who feels like life has passed him by, stands in the brink of suicide. But heaven has other plans for George Bailey. It sends a second class angel named Clarence to save George. Before George could even jump off a bridge into a river, Clarence jumps in ahead of George forcing George to rescue Clarence. By doing that, Clarence effectively saves George. As the two dry off, George wishes that he hadn’t been born. Clarence grants this wish and shows George what the world would have been like if he hadn’t been born.
Martini’s/Nick’s
George and Clarence go to Martini’s bar only to find out that it is no longer owned by Martini but now owned by Nick, the bartender, who was uncharacteristically rude. Then enters a poor old bum and Nick spills water onto the man’s face. George recognizes the poor man as his former boss in the drug store, Mr. Gower. With young George not being there, no one prevented Mr. Gower, who was then grieving the lost of his son, from accidentally dispensing poison to a patient.
Pottersville
George and Clarence step out of Nick’s place. George walks around town alone. George gets the surprise of his life as he discovers that the town of Bedford Falls is now named after the “Scrooge-like” Mr. Potter, the richest man in Bedford Falls, and that the once quiet town is now filled with night clubs, burlesque clubs, bars, pawnshops and billiard halls. George hails a taxi and asks the driver to take him home. Ernie, the driver, was George’s friend but he doesn’t recognize George. The taxi arrives at the address given by George. What’s there was a house that was abandoned for years. Unbeknownst to George, Ernie signaled a cop to follow the cab. The cop tries to arrest George and Clarence (who magically re-appears) but George escapes after Clarence bites the cop’s arm. Clarence vanishes. George goes to his mother’s house but his mother doesn’t remember him and turns him away. George learns from his mother that his Uncle Billy was in the asylum ever since he lost his business.
Bailey Park
Thinking that he was under a spell cast by Clarence, George decides to go see the man he last spoke to before things became weird, Martini, who lives in Bailey Park. But what was once Bailey Park is now a cemetery. And in one of the tombstones is inscribed the name of George's little brother. With George not being born, no one saves George's little brother after the latter broke through the ice while sledding in the snow. George's little brother never goes to war and never gets the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Mary the Librarian
George asks Clarence what ever happened to Mary (Donna Reed). Clarence tells George that Mary becomes an old maid, she never marries, and that she works as a librarian in the public library. George hurries to the library. He catches Mary as she locks up. But Mary also doesn't remember George and screams. George chases Mary into a bar. There the townspeople gang up on George. George runs out of the bar and a cop fires at him. George returns to the bridge.
The Bridge
At the bridge, George prays that he wants to live again. The cop arrives and recognizes George. And then magically, everything was back to normal. George runs home greeting everyone he meets in town a "Merry Christmas". At home, bank inspectors were waiting for George. He was happy to see them. George embraces his family. After a while, the townspeople arrive at George's home with each chipping in money to replace the $8,000 that George's Uncle Billy lost. Everyone sings "Auld Lang Syne". Then a bell rings. George sees a book, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". Inside it was a note saying: "Dear George, remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings, Love Clarence". Clarence has earned his wings. And George realizes that his life is a wonderful life after all.
Alternate Reality
This classic film reminds me a lot like "Back to the Future II". Especially the cemetery scene in which George sees Harry Bailey's tombstone. And the town being filled with night clubs, burlesque clubs, bars, pawnshops and billiard halls, in Back to the Future II, the Doc and Marty return to an alternate 1985 where Biff owns the town of Hill Valley with his hotel and casino in the center of it.
"George Bailey, World Traveler"
In his life, all that George Bailey ever wanted was to leave his town of Bedford Falls and see the world. But he has always put others ahead of himself. After his father passed away, George continues to manage the family loan and building company so that it will not fall into the hands of Mr. Potter for the sake of the townspeople. At least until Harry Bailey returns from college and takes over the business. George waits four years for Harry’s return but he became disappointed when Harry came back home with a wife and upon learning that Harry will not manage the business but will work for his wife’s father.
George loves Mary very much but he was hesitant to marry her because of his dream of leaving Bedford Falls. He wants to do what he wants to do. For their honey moon, George and Mary were supposed to go to New York but there was trouble in the loan and building company. In order that the townspeople will not withdraw their investment in the company, George lends his and Mary’s honeymoon money to the townspeople. Again, George never gets to step out of Bedford Falls.
