20:14 Interesting filming fact here. In those days the cameras were too big and heavy to move around so if they wanted a close up they had the actor walk up to the camera.
Virginia Patton who played Ruth Baily (Harry's wife) died on August 18, 2022, at age 97. She was the last surviving ADULT cast member of It's a Wonderful Life
Yes, and she was Gen George Pattons niece. Three of the Bailey children are still alive. Sam Wainright (Frank Albertson) was the guy w the $$ in Psycho.
Drug stores and pharmacies often had soda fountains and were places for kids and teenagers to socialize. When I was a kid in the '60s you could still get a sundae or lunch at pharmacy counters.
As a kid, I remember going to the corner drugstore and having a fountain coke, Hostess cupcakes, and playing "Travelin' Man" on the jukebox. At that moment, the world was my oyster. : )
Bedford Falls was modeled after a real town in central NY state, Seneca Falls. I've lived relatively near by for most of my life. Pretty little town. During the filming, Jimmy Stewart was suffering from severe PTSD from his time in WW2 as a bomber pilot and commanding officer. A lot of the raw emotion he puts out is due in part to that, and it's haunting. At 21:37 the crashing noises you hear weren't intentional, someone on the set accidentally knocked some things over, but it fit so they kept it in the film.
When Uncle Billy walked away drunk and tripped over the trash cans off camera (22:00) what you heard was the actor accidentally tripping over the lights on set, but his ad lib ("I'm all right!") was great and they kept the scene in.
This movie was controversial when it came out, to say the least. A man showing his emotions in the manner George Bailey did was considered unmanly. Both Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart had come home from the war and were looking to restart their careers. Capra worked for the Signal Corps, creating the "Why We Fight" serials, the last of which wasn't released to the public until the 1970s due to the depictions of "shellshock" AKA PTSD. Stewart was a bomber pilot during the war. Despite the Army trying initially to just have him going around the country as a promotional person, he insisted on being in combat. For Bailey's emotional breakdown on the bridge, Stewart thought back to the traumatic experiences he had in the air of seeing comrades shot down to get in the right headspace for the scene. The film was a commercial flop; killed Liberty Studios, and practically ended Capra's career. It only became a "classic" once it entered the public domain, and TV stations played it for free in the 1960s.
I somehow knew Biss would be just about the only reactor to understand that scene with George and Mary taking to Sam on the phone and George grabs and shakes Mary before they break down and kiss. God bless Bisscute’s Romanian heart ;)
Love your beauty, your smile, laugh and expressions, love your heartwarming reaction. Loving the way you react to Potter. I watch this every Christmas.
That raven which was Uncle Billy's pet was actually something of a star. "Jimmy" was a very well-trained bird--he appeared in the "Wizard of Oz" standing on the Scarecrow's shoulder, and in quite a few Hollywood films of the time
For older classics, I recommend "Boys Town" 1938, "The Grapes of Wrath" 1940, "Sahara" 1943, "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" 1947, "The African Queen" 1951, "Bad Day at Black Rock" 1955, "Fail-Safe" 1964. "Lifeboat" 1944, "The Flight of the Phoenix" 1965. "The Spirit of St. Louis" 1957.
You should see the classic comedy called "Harvey," which also stars Jimmy Stewart. That movie is referenced in pop culture to this day, though most young people don't know it. It also almost feels like a Frank Capra film, especially with the fast paced and snappy dialog.
Lionel Barrymore who played Old man Potter is the great uncle to actress Drew Barrymore. The man who played Nick the Bartender is Sheldon Leonard who later went on to produce the Dick Van Dyke Show in the 1960's. Merry Christmas to you and your family and God bless!
I didn't think I could ever separate Lionel Barrymore from the character of Mr. Potter, until I saw him in Key Largo, where he plays a very sympathetic older man who lost a son in WWII.
One thing I like about this film is how happy people get when they see their friends doing well. For instance we see Violet at George and Mary's wedding and she is very happy for them even though she was in love with George in the past. Sam Wainwright, who some people mistakenly think is trying to steal Mary from George, is actually a true life-long friend. The strings on Uncle Billy's fingers is a trick our teacher taught us in elementary school to not forget things.
One of the best movies, really tugs at the heart strings. My Christmas wish is for Biss to get 100k subs :). Picketing is what people do when they are on strike. They walk back and forth obstructing the entrance to a business.
Great reaction M@d@lin@! Enjoy your uploads. This is one of the truly classic Christmas movies. It is shown every year on different TV formats. Keep-up the good work. 👍👸❤
My parents hometown still has a drug store with a soda fountain. I used to walk from my grandparents house when I was little with my cousins…so many good memories even though were are 30 now it still hits 😊
The term "Soda Jerk" is not a pun. The old fountains required a good bit of force to use, frequently needing to be "jerked" to operate, hence the name "Soda Jerk".
For the rock throwing scene, a Foley adtist was standing by to make the sound of breaking glass glass in case Donna Deed didn't hit the window. Reed played softball in college and she hit the window on the first try. In older, unrestored prints, George's closeup at the bar appears grainier than other shots. The scene wasn't originally filmed as a closeup, but Capra was so impressed by Stewart's acting that he had those frames of the film individually enlarged.
Wow, Miss Biss, Louis Armstrong and now Jimmy Stewart! A good day for the classics. So glad you enjoyed this. It's a keeper, isn't it? Thank you for sharing it with us. Merry Christmas to you too. 🌲🎁 🎀😊
Our elementary school teacher taught us this technique. Nowadays you can wear a rubber-band around your wrist or hold a small object in your hand to remind yourself that there is something you need to. And it does work.
25:59 The great depression. The Great Depression had many causes, including the stock market crash of 1929, the Dust Bowl, and the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act.
The copyright on this movie expired, so in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Any TV station could broadcast it. Americans could watch it twenty times on TV in December. Every station showed it multiple times. No telling how many times most of us have seen it over and over again. It is now part of America’s soul.
@@glenncabacungan9269 When I saw it as a 10 year old I thought it was really depressing. I also didn't understand all the financial talk as a kid. Today, as an adult, this film is in my top 20.
35:07 "people like this, if they wouldn't have the head glued to their neck, it would rain in their neck because they will forget their head home." I can't believe you directly quoted my chest tattoo!!?!
I must have seen this movie more than a dozen times but watching your reaction brought a new enjoyment to the movie. You are a sweet genuine soul. Don't ever change.
Thomas Mitchell played Uncle Billy. He was in Gone With the Wind as Gerald O'Hara. Bert the cop was Ward Bond, and Ernie the cab driver, Frank Faylen, were the characters Jim Henson named two of his Muppets after. The cast was great, including the Crow who was in The Wizard of Oz. I see your heart was touched, you were wiping your eyes. This movie shows us that even in the worst of circumstances good will come to those who have pure motives. Mary, Donna Reed, was the true heroine of the movie.
Great reaction to my favorite Christmas movie. Fun fact: for a few years I lived in Seneca Falls, a town in upstate New York, which is the real life Bedford Falls. Director Frank Capra once visited Seneca Falls and learned of a tragic event in which a man drowned trying to save the life of a man who jumped in the town river to commit suicide. Thus, the inspiration for this movie. Every December the town has aa whole weekend of fun events as part of the "Its a Wonderful Life" museum. I even met the last living cast members of the movie a few years ago.
Wonderful movie history. In Jimmy Stewart's hometown of Indiana PA the local library includes a small Jimmy Stewart museum and next door at the county courthouse a bronze statute of Mr. Stewart. Two towns cherishing memories.
You look buitiful biss, This is a time less classic, loved your reaction & your happy tears, your a wonderful person, and have awonderful life, God bless you & have a merry Christmas ❤😊
No less than a minute ago before clicking on the RUclips homepage I said "We're getting down to the wire (to Christmas). Somebody has to watch "It's a Wonderful Life". Literally a few seconds later I see Biss' vid uploaded 6 minutes ago. I got my beer next to me and am getting ready to enjoy the reaction.
Some historical events in the movie that give context: Druggist's son dies of the flu: Spanish Flu worldwide pandemic of 1918 (made covid look like the sniffles) Run on the bank: Beginning of the Great Depression George's brother, war hero: WW2 Aside: James Stewart (George Bailey) was not only a great actor but was a bomber pilot in WW2 in Europe who led bombing raids over Germany. His final rank was Brigadier General (in Air Force Reserve).
Jimmy Stewart flew over 25 bombing missions over Europe, he saw many of his squadron mates blown up on missions against the Nazis. The scene in the bar brought up those memories when he asked God for help. PTSD was a real thing for anyone that one was in combat.
Another fun fact. If you are familiar with the famous children's show Sesame Street, the famous puppet characters on the show called Burt and Ernie are named after Burt and Ernie in this movie, the cab driver and the Policeman.
In 1982, I was on the verge of doing something very stupid. Before I had the chance though, this movie came on the TV. It was the first time I had seen it and it changed my life. This movie is the main reason I am here today to even write this. I watch it ever year and cry and thank God that he placed this movie before me to show me how wrong I was. I hope you get as much from this movie as I did and do each and every time I watch it. I am going to grab some Kleenex now and watch your reaction.
I think what bothers me about your posts (as it did last year on Just Trust Ash) is that, for a personal anecdote, they're so impersonal to the reactor. It's as though you have a macro set up to copy/paste this exact comment every time someone uploads - nothing personalised to the creator's individual response, no reciprocation, no acknowledgement of even having the grace to watch it yourself first. It's a one-way process to draw attention and reactions to yourself, and I consider it disrespectful in a roundabout sort of way. You (and others) may call me cynical, but I felt I owed you a follow-up to my previous remarks. I do wish you well, season's greetings and all.
Evidently I haven't been watching your channel enough. Love love the "Prick O Meter". So some interesting facts about this movie; Jimmy Stewart (George Bailey) was a B-24 Bomber pilot in Europe during WWII. This movie didn't do well when it first came out. Then in the 1970s a mistake was made and the copyright was let to expire. So tv stations could air it without having to pay the copyright fee. So it was on tv a lot and became really popular. Great reaction. I love all the little facial expressions you make.
picketing means: A worker or group of workers who protest outside a building to prevent other workers from going inside, especially due to a disagreement with their employers.
Bisscute, loved your reaction..my first time seeing IAWL I was 10 tears old...now I am 70...watching people get teary makes me teary. We all share the same feelings about life, it's a wonderful gift. Merry Christmas..Feliz Navidad.....a fan from Texas
Love, love, LOVE this movie. Funny thing is that when it came out in '46, it didn't get much attention. But they forgot to renew the copyright so local tv stations could play the movie for free. (Eventually they copyrighted the music.) I remember seeing it on off-hours and watched it several times over the course of years, but it didn't make much of an impact on me at first. Only slowly did I appreciate it for the masterpiece it is. One of my most favorite movies now.
Omigosh, I’m clicking “like” immediately. One of my favorite reactors, watching my favorite Christmas film! Really hope you enjoy this, glad you’re running the original version, it’s so much more powerful in black & white. The scene in the bar, when George is at the end of his rope…the emotion on Jimmy Stewart’s face…as he pleads with God, one of the best scenes in cinema. (Please do more classic films Biss, would love to hear your thoughts) -Merry Christmas, God bless!! ❤
The absolute best Christmas film ever. Hands down. I've watched it countless times, the final message gets me through each year. Did you notice it NEVER snows in Pottersville ? Yes you can see it on the ground but look when George is begging to Clarence that he wants to live again - the moment it starts to snow is when you know he's back in good old Bedford Falls. The snow was a new development for the film too. Capra wanted to use live sound for the close up scenes so the usual Hollywood method - cornflakes bleached or painted in white was out as clearly any walking nearby would create unwanted sound so the special effects team came up with a brand new method. There was actually a record heatwave going on whilst the film was being made ! The Raven that Uncle Billy owns is called 'Jimmy'. He starred in 1000+ films and was quite the star - insured for the equivalent of thousands of dollars today. He's actually the 'crow' that lands on the Scarecrow in 'The Wizard of Oz'. Capra found a part for him in every film he made after 1938. Speaking of Uncle Billy, in the scene where he leaves the frame and there's a crash, a set hand dropped some equipment accidentally and the look of concern from Jimmy Stewart was genuine. Some say 'Uncle Billy' improvised the cry that he was alright, others say it was dubbed on in post. But the crash is genuine and unscripted. Jimmy Stewart was still suffering with PTSD from his WW2 service and credits this movie experience as being therapeutic. In particular, in the prayer scene it wasn't scripted for him to cry and they weren't really setup for a close up to really capture the emotion. Capra knew he couldn't replicate the emotion in a reshoot so he decided to go with the original footage and zoomed in on the negative for the final cut of the film. If you look, it looks grainier because of that but Capra thought it worked in bringing more emotion and it was certainly better than asking Jimmy to go again. Stewart is one of my favourite actors and even more so when you see this performance. So glad new generations are still enjoying this classic - and in black and white as it should be ! I will watch again- on Christmas Eve as is my tradition along with 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' and I will cry like a baby just like I always do. Being a 53 year old guy doesn't change that such is the power of this movie. Jimmy Stewart said it was his favorite and who are we to argue.
Hey Biss, great reaction.This is one of the most important films ever made - never under-estimate our impact, on other people's lives - you'll never know the difference you make, so try to make a good impact. :)
I've seen a number of reactors from outside the U.S. that the reactors have had the same aversion to the "mouth-kissing parts of the Mom and the Son" [49:47] (reacting to this movie and others .. with like scenes of mothers and sons or fathers and daughters kissing on the mouth to greet or part ways). I get it. In the U.S., I'm aware that some families do this and others do not. Its neither normal nor abnormal. My family is one that does. It may help to know that there's one category of kiss for family and another for significant others. If anybody wants to help with further explaining the difference, please chime in.
Maybe it depends where you come from. My mother's family from Romania never kissed each other on the lips, but my father's german family did it. Actually, I'm finding it weird, too.
Some more historical context: My Grandmother was only a few years younger than Mary in this movie. She was a little girl during the Great Depression (and she grew up in the state of Kansas). She was a tiny person largely because she was starving as a child. My mom told me she never got meat as a child. The tiny bit of meat her family had only once a week went to her oldest brother (not the younger brothers, either, let alone her, the youngest and a girl) so he could work, this was in his early teens, as well. People were tiny in the past for a very clear reason.
Merry Christmas M.... Thank you for the happiness and joy you bring to all of us that are wise enough to watch your content. I wish you all the happiness and joy possible, you absolutely deserve nothing but the best in this life. I will continue to hope that everything in your world is just like you want it to be. 🎅🎄❤❤❤❤ from fla usa P.S. call your father, you wont regret it. 😊
Uncle Billy takes the blame again for the movie not getting * * * * *... Thanks for the great reaction Biss, love seeing you using "My" green Starbuck's Cup!
Ironically James Stewart the man who plays George Bailey grew up with his father running a shop, J.M. Stewart & Co and he planned on being an engineer, he became an actor instead.
In the scene where the old pharmacist smacks George's ear, that's real blood. The actor accidentally hit the kid so hard, it damaged his ear drum. Frank Capra kept the footage in the movie because it felt raw and realistic.
I was sceptical - as I am with a lot of "it happened for real" movie trivia - but looked it up, and it's true according to an obituary for the child actor (Robert J. Anderson) in the LA Times.
25:21 This was a fictional version of the 1930 US bank panic. Before governments guaranteed bank deposits, a bank (or a building and loan) could go out of business if a lot of the depositors got scared and tried to withdraw their money at the same time, as shown here. Most of the depositors would lose their savings. This was called a "run on the bank". During the US Great Depression 1930 bank panic, 9000 banks went bankrupt, losing their depositors savings. As a result of this horrible period, the US and other countries passed laws insuring citizens' bank accounts, guaranteeing to pay them their money if the bank goes broke. Because of the trust in the government, there are no more "runs" on banks today.
This film it's a classic, for me one of the best movies ever made, perfect for this season. Loved your reaction Biss💓💓💓 thanks for this one and happy Hollidays for you Madalina🎁🎉🎁🎉
Thank you so much for this reaction! I love the meter! Don't worry about crying. Just about everyone cries when they watch this movie. I'd worry about you if you didn't cry. It's a Wonderful Life was director Frank Capra's first movie after World War II. He intended it as a tribute to all the people who sacrificed during those years. Many people, not just soldiers, set their personal plans aside for the greater good. Picketing is when people walk back and forth carrying signs in protest of something. Union members do it in front of businesses when they're on strike. Protestors sometimes do it in front of government offices. Mary was making a joke about George walking back and forth in front of her house instead of coming in. The strings on Uncle Billy's fingers were an old way that people used to remind themselves to do something. Uncle Billy was always a bit scatter-brained, and got even more so as he aged. He really shouldn't have been handling large amounts of money, but George was probably too kind to either fire Billy or take away his responsibilities. Frank Capra based Mr. Martini on his own father, who was an Italian immigrant. In the scene where Mr. Martini and his family are moving to their new house in Bailey Park, you can see them putting a goat in the car. That was a joke about Capra's own name, which as you pointed out, means "goat." Jimmy Stewart, who played the adult George, was a bomber pilot during World War II, and had PTSD as a result (though in those days they called it "battle fatigue"). He drew on it in the scene where George broke down in Mr. Martini's bar. The dance at the gym was filmed at Beverly Hills High School. There really is a swimming pool under the gym floor, which they still use to this day. In the scene where they throw rocks at the house, Frank Capra offered to have a marksman shoot out one of the windows for Donna Reed (Mary) when she threw her rock. There was no need. Reed had played baseball when she was in high school, and she had a good arm. She hit the window on her first try. A bank run happens when people are afraid of losing their money because a bank might go out of business. Everyone rushes to the bank to get their money out before it closes, and all the withdrawals cause the bank to fail even faster. This happened a lot in the Great Depression. The Bailey Building and Loan had borrowed money from the bank, and when the bank run happened, the bank insisted on the loan being repaid immediately. They took all of the cash at the Building and Loan, and when people started to panic, it almost started the equivalent of a bank run there, too (the Building and Loan was a lending institution similar to a bank). We don't have bank runs in the U.S. any more because of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), an insurance system that all banks are required to pay into. If a bank fails, the FDIC takes it over immediately and guarantees all of the deposits (up to $250,000 per account). This gives people confidence that their money is safe, which prevents bank runs. The FDIC did this several times during the financial crisis that started in 2008. In the scene where there was a loud crashing noise after Uncle Billy walks drunkenly off screen, a stage hand had accidentally dropped a tray full of props. Actor Thomas Mitchell saved the scene by ad-libbing "I'm all right! I'm all right!" Frank Capra decided he liked it, and kept it in the movie. When Harry said, "To my big brother George, the richest man in town," it was a callback to an earlier part of the movie, when George told Potter that his father "died a much richer man than you'll ever be." The spirit of Peter Bailey hovers over the whole story. George got his values from his father, and stuck to them even when it was painful for him. Lionel Barrymore, who played Mr. Potter, was Drew Barrymore's great uncle. There are many actors in the Barrymore family tree, going back to the days before movies.
@@PaulWinkle It's a habit ... in my family we said Gesundheit more often then "Bless You" plus there were also a lot of German Americans from the mid 1800's in the US ... anti-German sentiment did show up in America during World War 1 and during WW2 of course, but reacting with Gesundheit was a family normal reaction (and yes most of us still hate the Nazi's and Fascists) -- Dave Strong
Since you loved Louis Armstrong in a recent reaction I think you would love another great example from the movie High Society That's Jazz with Bing Crosby Once seen a reaction to it on RUclips a while back I think you would love it ❤
“If some people didn’t have their head glued to their neck, it would rain in their neck” that is the first time I’ve ever heard that saying in that way. 😂😂and I’ve been around a long time 😅
There's no such thing as personal space when you have multiple characters together in a 4:3 aspect ratio. I hear that's what film students say on dates."You mind if I changed this scene to a 4:3 aspect ratio?"" ;)
"Do you have any idea how long it takes a working man to save $5000?" This movie came out in 1946 and somehow that line hasn't aged a bit.
5000 dollars back then was like... 5002 dollars of todays money!
also, that 25,000 that was transferred by Sam would have been equivalent of approx. $435,000 in current funds.
20:14 Interesting filming fact here. In those days the cameras were too big and heavy to move around so if they wanted a close up they had the actor walk up to the camera.
Virginia Patton who played Ruth Baily (Harry's wife) died on August 18, 2022, at age 97. She was the last surviving ADULT cast member of It's a Wonderful Life
Yes, and she was Gen George Pattons niece. Three of the Bailey children are still alive. Sam Wainright (Frank Albertson) was the guy w the $$ in Psycho.
The movie is cursed. So tragic what has happened to the cast, how do we stop this?
Drug stores and pharmacies often had soda fountains and were places for kids and teenagers to socialize. When I was a kid in the '60s you could still get a sundae or lunch at pharmacy counters.
As a kid, I remember going to the corner drugstore and having a fountain coke, Hostess cupcakes, and playing "Travelin' Man" on the jukebox. At that moment, the world was my oyster. : )
There were still a few around when I was a child in the 70s, maybe even the very early 80s.
There are still a few left scattered around the country.
Bedford Falls was modeled after a real town in central NY state, Seneca Falls. I've lived relatively near by for most of my life. Pretty little town.
During the filming, Jimmy Stewart was suffering from severe PTSD from his time in WW2 as a bomber pilot and commanding officer. A lot of the raw emotion he puts out is due in part to that, and it's haunting.
At 21:37 the crashing noises you hear weren't intentional, someone on the set accidentally knocked some things over, but it fit so they kept it in the film.
When Uncle Billy walked away drunk and tripped over the trash cans off camera (22:00) what you heard was the actor accidentally tripping over the lights on set, but his ad lib ("I'm all right!") was great and they kept the scene in.
tying string to your finger was to help a person remember important things.
You'll notice that a plot element of this film - the change in the town - is used in Back to the Future 2.
This movie was controversial when it came out, to say the least. A man showing his emotions in the manner George Bailey did was considered unmanly. Both Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart had come home from the war and were looking to restart their careers. Capra worked for the Signal Corps, creating the "Why We Fight" serials, the last of which wasn't released to the public until the 1970s due to the depictions of "shellshock" AKA PTSD. Stewart was a bomber pilot during the war. Despite the Army trying initially to just have him going around the country as a promotional person, he insisted on being in combat. For Bailey's emotional breakdown on the bridge, Stewart thought back to the traumatic experiences he had in the air of seeing comrades shot down to get in the right headspace for the scene. The film was a commercial flop; killed Liberty Studios, and practically ended Capra's career. It only became a "classic" once it entered the public domain, and TV stations played it for free in the 1960s.
I somehow knew Biss would be just about the only reactor to understand that scene with George and Mary taking to Sam on the phone and George grabs and shakes Mary before they break down and kiss. God bless Bisscute’s Romanian heart ;)
Yes. I've seen so many other younger reactors not get that scene at all, just triggered by it! Sigh.....
We can all be an influence for good or evil in people's lives whether we realize it or not. Love your prickometer. Merry Christmas.
Love your beauty, your smile, laugh and expressions, love your heartwarming reaction. Loving the way you react to Potter. I watch this every Christmas.
Thanks!
Congrats on the promotion, Clarence!
That raven which was Uncle Billy's pet was actually something of a star. "Jimmy" was a very well-trained bird--he appeared in the "Wizard of Oz" standing on the Scarecrow's shoulder, and in quite a few Hollywood films of the time
I'm not crying, you're crying.
I love this film.
Biss, your reaction to this wonderful film video is a gift! 🎁🎄😊
For older classics, I recommend "Boys Town" 1938, "The Grapes of Wrath" 1940, "Sahara" 1943, "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" 1947, "The African Queen" 1951, "Bad Day at Black Rock" 1955, "Fail-Safe" 1964. "Lifeboat" 1944, "The Flight of the Phoenix" 1965. "The Spirit of St. Louis" 1957.
Jimmy Stewart starred in The Flight of the Phoenix and The Spirit of St Louis.
loved this movie so much
Lionel Barrymore played Mr. Potter. He's the grand uncle of the actress Drew Barrymore.
You should see the classic comedy called "Harvey," which also stars Jimmy Stewart. That movie is referenced in pop culture to this day, though most young people don't know it.
It also almost feels like a Frank Capra film, especially with the fast paced and snappy dialog.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Years. ❤
Bisscute you are a real gift Happy Holidays from Canada
Lionel Barrymore who played Old man Potter is the great uncle to actress Drew Barrymore. The man who played Nick the Bartender is Sheldon Leonard who later went on to produce the Dick Van Dyke Show in the 1960's.
Merry Christmas to you and your family and God bless!
this time I think I placed the guy whose tree George hit.. as the voice of the apple tree in wizard of oz - check it out and see if you agree
I didn't think I could ever separate Lionel Barrymore from the character of Mr. Potter, until I saw him in Key Largo, where he plays a very sympathetic older man who lost a son in WWII.
One thing I like about this film is how happy people get when they see their friends doing well. For instance we see Violet at George and Mary's wedding and she is very happy for them even though she was in love with George in the past. Sam Wainwright, who some people mistakenly think is trying to steal Mary from George, is actually a true life-long friend.
The strings on Uncle Billy's fingers is a trick our teacher taught us in elementary school to not forget things.
A Christmas classic. Merry Christmas Madalina. 🤍🎅❄️❄️❄️
One of the best movies, really tugs at the heart strings. My Christmas wish is for Biss to get 100k subs :). Picketing is what people do when they are on strike. They walk back and forth obstructing the entrance to a business.
great edit of important context of story line. luved it. thanx for review and to yours.merry x mas.
Great reaction M@d@lin@! Enjoy your uploads. This is one of the truly classic Christmas movies. It is shown every year on different TV formats. Keep-up the good work. 👍👸❤
Soda fountains were common in drug stores a long time ago. I was a soda jerk (a pun on soda clerk) in high school to get gas money.
My parents hometown still has a drug store with a soda fountain. I used to walk from my grandparents house when I was little with my cousins…so many good memories even though were are 30 now it still hits 😊
@@216pink cherry cokes
@@Dave-hb7lx Vanilla Pepsi
I thought 'jerk' meant to..like, jerk the soda handle back to dispense the soda water
The term "Soda Jerk" is not a pun. The old fountains required a good bit of force to use, frequently needing to be "jerked" to operate, hence the name "Soda Jerk".
For the rock throwing scene, a Foley adtist was standing by to make the sound of breaking glass glass in case Donna Deed didn't hit the window. Reed played softball in college and she hit the window on the first try.
In older, unrestored prints, George's closeup at the bar appears grainier than other shots. The scene wasn't originally filmed as a closeup, but Capra was so impressed by Stewart's acting that he had those frames of the film individually enlarged.
Wow, Miss Biss, Louis Armstrong and now Jimmy Stewart! A good day for the classics. So glad you enjoyed this. It's a keeper, isn't it? Thank you for sharing it with us. Merry Christmas to you too. 🌲🎁 🎀😊
Beautiful!!! ❤ Merry Christmas!!! 🎄🎅🥂
Tying a string on a finger was for forgetful people to remind you to do something, after doing whatever it was you would remove the string
Our elementary school teacher taught us this technique. Nowadays you can wear a rubber-band around your wrist or hold a small object in your hand to remind yourself that there is something you need to. And it does work.
I write a note and take a picture of it
25:59 The great depression. The Great Depression had many causes, including the stock market crash of 1929, the Dust Bowl, and the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act.
The copyright on this movie expired, so in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Any TV station could broadcast it. Americans could watch it twenty times on TV in December. Every station showed it multiple times. No telling how many times most of us have seen it over and over again. It is now part of America’s soul.
Which is fortunate because originally the response to this film was that it was much too depressing.
@@glenncabacungan9269 When I saw it as a 10 year old I thought it was really depressing. I also didn't understand all the financial talk as a kid. Today, as an adult, this film is in my top 20.
Sadly we're in a world of Potters, and not enough George Bailey's.
35:07 "people like this, if they wouldn't have the head glued to their neck, it would rain in their neck because they will forget their head home." I can't believe you directly quoted my chest tattoo!!?!
Absolutely special, beautiful reaction to a special, beautiful movie! Thank you, Bisscute!
I must have seen this movie more than a dozen times but watching your reaction brought a new enjoyment to the movie. You are a sweet genuine soul. Don't ever change.
Thomas Mitchell played Uncle Billy. He was in Gone With the Wind as Gerald O'Hara. Bert the cop was Ward Bond, and Ernie the cab driver, Frank Faylen, were the characters Jim Henson named two of his Muppets after. The cast was great, including the Crow who was in The Wizard of Oz. I see your heart was touched, you were wiping your eyes. This movie shows us that even in the worst of circumstances good will come to those who have pure motives. Mary, Donna Reed, was the true heroine of the movie.
Great reaction to my favorite Christmas movie. Fun fact: for a few years I lived in Seneca Falls, a town in upstate New York, which is the real life Bedford Falls. Director Frank Capra once visited Seneca Falls and learned of a tragic event in which a man drowned trying to save the life of a man who jumped in the town river to commit suicide. Thus, the inspiration for this movie. Every December the town has aa whole weekend of fun events as part of the "Its a Wonderful Life" museum. I even met the last living cast members of the movie a few years ago.
Wonderful movie history. In Jimmy Stewart's hometown of Indiana PA the local library includes a small Jimmy Stewart museum and next door at the county courthouse a bronze statute of Mr. Stewart. Two towns cherishing memories.
47:13 The Biss Nose Wiggle Maneuver! A futile attempt to prevent the Crying Face. 😉😉
Beautiful and Emotional movie. Nice reaction Biss
Hi it’s not a bar, it’s a soda shop. Andtheguy making the sodas was called a soda jerk.
You look buitiful biss, This is a time less classic, loved your reaction & your happy tears, your a wonderful person, and have awonderful life, God bless you & have a merry Christmas ❤😊
No less than a minute ago before clicking on the RUclips homepage I said "We're getting down to the wire (to Christmas). Somebody has to watch "It's a Wonderful Life". Literally a few seconds later I see Biss' vid uploaded 6 minutes ago. I got my beer next to me and am getting ready to enjoy the reaction.
I did the exact same thing! Lol
Its a beautiful life, and your beautiful biss 😚😚😚
Some historical events in the movie that give context:
Druggist's son dies of the flu: Spanish Flu worldwide pandemic of 1918 (made covid look like the sniffles)
Run on the bank: Beginning of the Great Depression
George's brother, war hero: WW2
Aside: James Stewart (George Bailey) was not only a great actor but was a bomber pilot in WW2 in Europe who led bombing raids over Germany. His final rank was Brigadier General (in Air Force Reserve).
Kansas flu.
I've read that he was also suffering from PTSD after the war when this movie was made. It made the stress he showed at Martini's more realistic!
Jimmy Stewart flew over 25 bombing missions over Europe, he saw many of his squadron mates blown up on missions against the Nazis. The scene in the bar brought up those memories when he asked God for help. PTSD was a real thing for anyone that one was in combat.
Another fun fact. If you are familiar with the famous children's show Sesame Street, the famous puppet characters on the show called Burt and Ernie are named after Burt and Ernie in this movie, the cab driver and the Policeman.
In 1982, I was on the verge of doing something very stupid. Before I had the chance though, this movie came on the TV. It was the first time I had seen it and it changed my life. This movie is the main reason I am here today to even write this. I watch it ever year and cry and thank God that he placed this movie before me to show me how wrong I was. I hope you get as much from this movie as I did and do each and every time I watch it. I am going to grab some Kleenex now and watch your reaction.
I think what bothers me about your posts (as it did last year on Just Trust Ash) is that, for a personal anecdote, they're so impersonal to the reactor. It's as though you have a macro set up to copy/paste this exact comment every time someone uploads - nothing personalised to the creator's individual response, no reciprocation, no acknowledgement of even having the grace to watch it yourself first. It's a one-way process to draw attention and reactions to yourself, and I consider it disrespectful in a roundabout sort of way. You (and others) may call me cynical, but I felt I owed you a follow-up to my previous remarks. I do wish you well, season's greetings and all.
Evidently I haven't been watching your channel enough. Love love the "Prick O Meter". So some interesting facts about this movie; Jimmy Stewart (George Bailey) was a B-24 Bomber pilot in Europe during WWII. This movie didn't do well when it first came out. Then in the 1970s a mistake was made and the copyright was let to expire. So tv stations could air it without having to pay the copyright fee. So it was on tv a lot and became really popular. Great reaction. I love all the little facial expressions you make.
Case I haven't said it and no one else has said it yet you have a happy Merry Christmas biscuit we love you
Picketing is like people going on strike carrying signs, but they stand outside of the workplace trying to stop people from going into the building.
picketing means: A worker or group of workers who protest outside a building to prevent other workers from going inside, especially due to a disagreement with their employers.
That joke flew by really quickly, thanks for pointing it out. That's actually a really funny line on Mary's part.
Great reaction! Merry Christmas 🎄 and a Happy New Year! 🎆🧨
Bisscute, loved your reaction..my first time seeing IAWL I was 10 tears old...now I am 70...watching people get teary makes me teary. We all share the same feelings about life, it's a wonderful gift. Merry Christmas..Feliz Navidad.....a fan from Texas
😊😊❤❤ Thank you Biss.
my favourite christmas film and my favourite youtube reactor.
christmas is early this year.
"Picketing" is demonstrating with a sign, typically walking back and forth in front of a business or institution you are protesting.
This is a classic movie and I probably only watched it once in my life😅great reaction Biss I do appreciate a good black and white film❤
She is absolutely beautiful thanks 😊 for the reaction ❤
Love, love, LOVE this movie. Funny thing is that when it came out in '46, it didn't get much attention. But they forgot to renew the copyright so local tv stations could play the movie for free. (Eventually they copyrighted the music.) I remember seeing it on off-hours and watched it several times over the course of years, but it didn't make much of an impact on me at first. Only slowly did I appreciate it for the masterpiece it is. One of my most favorite movies now.
Omigosh, I’m clicking “like” immediately. One of my favorite reactors, watching my favorite Christmas film! Really hope you enjoy this, glad you’re running the original version, it’s so much more powerful in black & white. The scene in the bar, when George is at the end of his rope…the emotion on Jimmy Stewart’s face…as he pleads with God, one of the best scenes in cinema. (Please do more classic films Biss, would love to hear your thoughts) -Merry Christmas, God bless!! ❤
The absolute best Christmas film ever. Hands down. I've watched it countless times, the final message gets me through each year. Did you notice it NEVER snows in Pottersville ? Yes you can see it on the ground but look when George is begging to Clarence that he wants to live again - the moment it starts to snow is when you know he's back in good old Bedford Falls. The snow was a new development for the film too. Capra wanted to use live sound for the close up scenes so the usual Hollywood method - cornflakes bleached or painted in white was out as clearly any walking nearby would create unwanted sound so the special effects team came up with a brand new method. There was actually a record heatwave going on whilst the film was being made !
The Raven that Uncle Billy owns is called 'Jimmy'. He starred in 1000+ films and was quite the star - insured for the equivalent of thousands of dollars today. He's actually the 'crow' that lands on the Scarecrow in 'The Wizard of Oz'. Capra found a part for him in every film he made after 1938. Speaking of Uncle Billy, in the scene where he leaves the frame and there's a crash, a set hand dropped some equipment accidentally and the look of concern from Jimmy Stewart was genuine. Some say 'Uncle Billy' improvised the cry that he was alright, others say it was dubbed on in post. But the crash is genuine and unscripted.
Jimmy Stewart was still suffering with PTSD from his WW2 service and credits this movie experience as being therapeutic. In particular, in the prayer scene it wasn't scripted for him to cry and they weren't really setup for a close up to really capture the emotion. Capra knew he couldn't replicate the emotion in a reshoot so he decided to go with the original footage and zoomed in on the negative for the final cut of the film. If you look, it looks grainier because of that but Capra thought it worked in bringing more emotion and it was certainly better than asking Jimmy to go again. Stewart is one of my favourite actors and even more so when you see this performance.
So glad new generations are still enjoying this classic - and in black and white as it should be ! I will watch again- on Christmas Eve as is my tradition along with 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' and I will cry like a baby just like I always do. Being a 53 year old guy doesn't change that such is the power of this movie. Jimmy Stewart said it was his favorite and who are we to argue.
I've been watching this film since the 1970s and I still turn into a blubbering mess when Uncle Billy carries in the basket of cash. Merry Bissmas!
Hey Biss, great reaction.This is one of the most important films ever made - never under-estimate our impact, on other people's lives - you'll never know the difference you make, so try to make a good impact. :)
Saturday Night Live did a "lost ending" of this movie. It's worth a watch
Happy Holidays, and have a great New Years.
I've seen a number of reactors from outside the U.S. that the reactors have had the same aversion to the "mouth-kissing parts of the Mom and the Son" [49:47] (reacting to this movie and others .. with like scenes of mothers and sons or fathers and daughters kissing on the mouth to greet or part ways). I get it. In the U.S., I'm aware that some families do this and others do not. Its neither normal nor abnormal. My family is one that does. It may help to know that there's one category of kiss for family and another for significant others. If anybody wants to help with further explaining the difference, please chime in.
Kissing your parents on the lips was normal back then. And also it was normal when i was a kid in the 70s 😊
Maybe it depends where you come from. My mother's family from Romania never kissed each other on the lips, but my father's german family did it. Actually, I'm finding it weird, too.
Merry Bissmass! 😊
Some more historical context: My Grandmother was only a few years younger than Mary in this movie. She was a little girl during the Great Depression (and she grew up in the state of Kansas). She was a tiny person largely because she was starving as a child. My mom told me she never got meat as a child. The tiny bit of meat her family had only once a week went to her oldest brother (not the younger brothers, either, let alone her, the youngest and a girl) so he could work, this was in his early teens, as well. People were tiny in the past for a very clear reason.
Well said, Biss..
THE Christmas film. Never been bettered.
It's a wonderful movie. Always makes me cry too.
I had hoped you would see this classic, and enjoy it.
Happy holidays🌲
This movie must be watched every Christmas. It is a classic. I have probably watched it too many times to remember how many.
Even Christmas Eve
Uncle Billy tied strings around his fingers as a reminder to do particular tasks.
Merry Christmas M.... Thank you for the happiness and joy you bring to all of us that are wise enough to watch your content. I wish you all the happiness and joy possible, you absolutely deserve nothing but the best in this life. I will continue to hope that everything in your world is just like you want it to be. 🎅🎄❤❤❤❤ from fla usa
P.S. call your father, you wont regret it. 😊
Uncle Billy takes the blame again for the movie not getting * * * * *... Thanks for the great reaction Biss, love seeing you using "My" green Starbuck's Cup!
Ironically James Stewart the man who plays George Bailey grew up with his father running a shop, J.M. Stewart & Co and he planned on being an engineer, he became an actor instead.
Such a wholesome and well done movie. It’s a must every holiday season.
A real "tear jerker" and one of the best Christmas Films
I'm a Jimmy Stewart fan. I love every movie he's ever been in but I think this one is the crown jewel of them all in my opinion.
In the scene where the old pharmacist smacks George's ear, that's real blood. The actor accidentally hit the kid so hard, it damaged his ear drum.
Frank Capra kept the footage in the movie because it felt raw and realistic.
I was sceptical - as I am with a lot of "it happened for real" movie trivia - but looked it up, and it's true according to an obituary for the child actor (Robert J. Anderson) in the LA Times.
Thank you for your wonderful reaction. Merry Christmas!
Classic❤
25:21 This was a fictional version of the 1930 US bank panic. Before governments guaranteed bank deposits, a bank (or a building and loan) could go out of business if a lot of the depositors got scared and tried to withdraw their money at the same time, as shown here. Most of the depositors would lose their savings. This was called a "run on the bank". During the US Great Depression 1930 bank panic, 9000 banks went bankrupt, losing their depositors savings. As a result of this horrible period, the US and other countries passed laws insuring citizens' bank accounts, guaranteeing to pay them their money if the bank goes broke. Because of the trust in the government, there are no more "runs" on banks today.
This film it's a classic, for me one of the best movies ever made, perfect for this season. Loved your reaction Biss💓💓💓 thanks for this one and happy Hollidays for you Madalina🎁🎉🎁🎉
Thank you so much for this reaction! I love the meter!
Don't worry about crying. Just about everyone cries when they watch this movie. I'd worry about you if you didn't cry.
It's a Wonderful Life was director Frank Capra's first movie after World War II. He intended it as a tribute to all the people who sacrificed during those years. Many people, not just soldiers, set their personal plans aside for the greater good.
Picketing is when people walk back and forth carrying signs in protest of something. Union members do it in front of businesses when they're on strike. Protestors sometimes do it in front of government offices. Mary was making a joke about George walking back and forth in front of her house instead of coming in.
The strings on Uncle Billy's fingers were an old way that people used to remind themselves to do something. Uncle Billy was always a bit scatter-brained, and got even more so as he aged. He really shouldn't have been handling large amounts of money, but George was probably too kind to either fire Billy or take away his responsibilities.
Frank Capra based Mr. Martini on his own father, who was an Italian immigrant. In the scene where Mr. Martini and his family are moving to their new house in Bailey Park, you can see them putting a goat in the car. That was a joke about Capra's own name, which as you pointed out, means "goat."
Jimmy Stewart, who played the adult George, was a bomber pilot during World War II, and had PTSD as a result (though in those days they called it "battle fatigue"). He drew on it in the scene where George broke down in Mr. Martini's bar.
The dance at the gym was filmed at Beverly Hills High School. There really is a swimming pool under the gym floor, which they still use to this day.
In the scene where they throw rocks at the house, Frank Capra offered to have a marksman shoot out one of the windows for Donna Reed (Mary) when she threw her rock. There was no need. Reed had played baseball when she was in high school, and she had a good arm. She hit the window on her first try.
A bank run happens when people are afraid of losing their money because a bank might go out of business. Everyone rushes to the bank to get their money out before it closes, and all the withdrawals cause the bank to fail even faster. This happened a lot in the Great Depression. The Bailey Building and Loan had borrowed money from the bank, and when the bank run happened, the bank insisted on the loan being repaid immediately. They took all of the cash at the Building and Loan, and when people started to panic, it almost started the equivalent of a bank run there, too (the Building and Loan was a lending institution similar to a bank). We don't have bank runs in the U.S. any more because of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), an insurance system that all banks are required to pay into. If a bank fails, the FDIC takes it over immediately and guarantees all of the deposits (up to $250,000 per account). This gives people confidence that their money is safe, which prevents bank runs. The FDIC did this several times during the financial crisis that started in 2008.
In the scene where there was a loud crashing noise after Uncle Billy walks drunkenly off screen, a stage hand had accidentally dropped a tray full of props. Actor Thomas Mitchell saved the scene by ad-libbing "I'm all right! I'm all right!" Frank Capra decided he liked it, and kept it in the movie.
When Harry said, "To my big brother George, the richest man in town," it was a callback to an earlier part of the movie, when George told Potter that his father "died a much richer man than you'll ever be." The spirit of Peter Bailey hovers over the whole story. George got his values from his father, and stuck to them even when it was painful for him.
Lionel Barrymore, who played Mr. Potter, was Drew Barrymore's great uncle. There are many actors in the Barrymore family tree, going back to the days before movies.
How are you today Bisscute always enjoy your reactions 😊😊
Love you, Biss. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Money don't get everything it's true
What it don't get I can't use
😂
Saying Gesundheit in 1946 in a movie, very bold move
We've been saying Gesundheit in America since the mid 1800's, including my family and we're English Irish ...
@@dstrong86bluecoffee yes but one year after the big war?
@@PaulWinkle It's a habit ... in my family we said Gesundheit more often then "Bless You" plus there were also a lot of German Americans from the mid 1800's in the US ... anti-German sentiment did show up in America during World War 1 and during WW2 of course, but reacting with Gesundheit was a family normal reaction (and yes most of us still hate the Nazi's and Fascists)
-- Dave Strong
Since you loved Louis Armstrong in a recent reaction I think you would love another great example from the movie High Society That's Jazz with Bing Crosby Once seen a reaction to it on RUclips a while back I think you would love it ❤
13:43 that is the original alphalfa from little rascals fun fact
MADALINA - You just made all of your fans in NORTH AMERICA very Happy ... and a MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your Family !!
(Dave Strong)
“If some people didn’t have their head glued to their neck, it would rain in their neck” that is the first time I’ve ever heard that saying in that way. 😂😂and I’ve been around a long time 😅
There's no such thing as personal space when you have multiple characters together in a 4:3 aspect ratio. I hear that's what film students say on dates."You mind if I changed this scene to a 4:3 aspect ratio?"" ;)
was 1:1 aspect ratio too intimate? ;)