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Whenever I am asked to name my favorite movie I always respond with "It's A Wonderful Life." It is definitely not a cheerful, bubbly, "All is right with the world" film. In fact when it was first released in 1946 it was not well received. At the time it was considered too dark and sad. Our country was rebuilding after WW II and it was not the uplifting film American society was looking for. So what was director Frank Capra thinking when he created this masterpiece?

I used the term masterpiece to describe this film because that is what I believe this film to be. Frank Capra engages the audience to follow the life of one ordinary citizen of Bedford Falls, George Bailey (portrayed magnificently by Jimmy Stewart). He is an "everyman" character. George is a moral man with strong convictions and with lofty dreams of travel and great experiences...only to find himself stuck in his hometown unable to escape.

George cannot escape the responsibilities of the family business, The Bailey Business and Loan Co. His father dies just before he is ready to leave for college. Unable to leave the company, George gives his money to his brother for his college education with the understanding that when he graduates and returns to the Building and Loan Co. it would be George's time to escape Bedford Falls. A financial disaster causing him to donate his honeymoon money to the Building and Loan Co., and the forgetfulness of Uncle Billy to safely deposit $8,000 in the bank lead George to contemplate suicide to get insurance money for his family. Only then does he finally believe he can escape Bedford Falls.

To further depress George Bailey is the character named Mr. Potter. He is the wealthiest man in town and he wants to destroy the moral fiber of George Bailey. He struggles to destroy the Building and Loan Co. and have the satisfaction that he and only he can control the people of Bedford Falls and keep them living in poverty.

Had enough sadness and misery? In comes the delightful angel called Clarence. Through his intervention George gets to see what the world would have been like if he were not born. This is a movie about combating failure, surviving misery, and overcoming all obstacles which come your way. It is a film which teaches us that materialistic wealth is not truly satisfying. It continues to teach us that the lack of materialistic wealth does not mean you have not succeeded in life.

Frank Capra closes the film with a quotation which Clarence leaves in George's book. "No man is a failure who has friends." Simply put, the moral life you lead which helps your fellow man will allow you to reap great rewards. These are the rewards that matter, the rewards you receive after living your Wonderful Life.

Learn more about this author, Felicia Arnold.
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