Such a magical movie. There was a real dignity and decency and humanity about the way characters were depicted back then that makes so many modern movies look cruel and cynically vapid by comparison.
Modern movies ARE cruel, cynical, and vapid. Don't get me wrong, I believe that every kind of film has its place. But we are just bombarded with so much debauchery it's to the point of nihilism.
I have watched this movie countless times and reactions countless times. You are the only one to notice the mom. Her acting is superb. She was a famous character actress Beulah Bondi. The change from her sweet face to the suspicious and sharp lady of the NON George world with a sneer and tone is way more than makeup.
@@thisisfunhouseentertainment It's one of the most harrowing moments of the film, and Beulah Bondi and Jimmy Stewart (plus Capra's direction) were unbelievably real. Similarly, HB Warner's appearance as the derelict Mr. Gower at Nick's is shocking and disturbing, definitely the most upsetting image in the film. It's at that point that we realize just how desperate the situation has become (and the look on Stewart's face when he recognizes Gower is stunning). You have to wonder...just how DID they all manage to create such a powerful, multi-dimensional film???)
@@HassoBenSoba Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. It's always remarkable to experience when a collective of talented individuals come together to create. It's one of the reasons I love filmmaking. Those moments get preserved and we can experience them over and over again. I can appreciate the unique/organic nature of a live performance (music or play) but there's also something miraculous about preserving those moments indefinitely, as opposed to losing them to time and/or the issues of life.
I can't tell you the number of times I've seen this movie and the number of reactions to it, and between the laughter, I tear up from all the tender moments, every single time, with no diminishing whatsoever in intensity. But a secondary thing I love about this film is that it shows a brief but authentic encapsulation of American history, from the end of WWI to the end of WWII, from the people who lived it. We see the effects of the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918, the roaring twenties and the Charleston craze, the bank runs during the Great Depression, and how everyone pitched in during WWII.
That was something I thought about. It's a pretty ambitious story. It's always a difficult fete in filmmaking to depict the passage of time and the changing of seasons. I'm guessing this story spans about...30 years? It's impressive.
@@thisisfunhouseentertainment I think it starts about 1918 as that is when the flu epidemic was (NOT 1917 as Donald Trump keeps saying, no matter when he keeps calling it) and ends in '46, just after the War. (Might be the end of '45.) So pretty much 27 years. Rare that a movie representing a long time is really easy to pinpoint very specific points along the way.
What's Trump go to do with it?? Anyway, the film is what I call a "panoramic view" of American life and small-town culture during the era, both historical and in the way in which all of the characters acted and related to one another.
Thanks for the reaction. There's a lot to unpack with this film, but I'd like to point out two little moments of characterization that are so brief you'd miss them if you blinked... one is when Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell) says that he's checked everywhere, "...even the rooms that I've kept locked since I lost Lorna" which tells much about his eccentric character and the other moment is Potter's (Lionel Barrymore) exclamation of surprise when George tells him that HE lost the money. The very idea that George would shoulder the blame to protect his elderly Uncle is inconceivable to Potter.
His impact went way beyond the town. Remember what his brother did to recieve that medal. Remember where that $25,000 line of credit came from. He allowed others to follow their own dreams away from town, improving even the outside world as well.
@@MoMoMyPup10 You should say something else, show the rest of the comment section how goofy you are. If you want to watch the scene with the house go and watch the film on one of these streaming platforms, or go and watch some other YT channel. Or, what you can do do is start a RUclips channel and edit this 2hrs+ film and get around the copyright restriction. Never come to this channel again. And you can take your thumb and...
@@thisisfunhouseentertainment haha, your channel is going to be so big showing everyone how thin skinned you are not being able to accept constructive criticism. How's that for goofy?
One thing often overlooked is that George's last words to his father was that he was proud of him. So often in movies, people regret the last thing they said to a loved one.
As always, I loved your reaction. I laughed the two times you said the film will be banned soon. You have such a great appreciation for the wholesome aspects of these old movies and a fine-tuned insight springing from your own experience. As someone has already mentioned, this film was "rediscovered” in the 1970s. The reason is that it had been out of circulation for more than 20 years due to a copyright dispute. This was probably because of the unusual arrangement of the production company, Liberty Films, which was a joint venture by Frank Capra, William Wyler, and George Stevens. Each director was supposed to do one film. Wyler’s contribution was “The Best Years of Our Lives,” and Capra’s was this film, which happen to be, respectively, my first and second favorite films of all time. Capra started his career as a gag writer for Hal Roach, which is why his movies often feature a unique blend of comedy and drama. I highly recommend his autobiography, “The Name Above the Title,” a tremendously heartwarming and insightful book. Capra and Stewart both regarded this as their best movie, and both talked about it in appearances on the Johnny Carson Show. Stewart was a decorated war hero who had led a squadron in bomber runs over Germany. He was reluctant to do this film because he was suffering from PTSD, but he was captivated by the story and a friend (I don’t remember who) encouraged him to do it. I was especially pleased to see you commend Beulah Bondi on her acting. She was an accomplished stage actress from a young age, but by the time talkies came along she had aged out of leading lady roles, so generally played mothers and grandmothers. She was twice nominated for a supporting actress Oscar and won an Emmy for her work in an episode of “The Waltons” TV show near the end of her life.
Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge. I expect to see your YT channel soon. I've looked up The Best Years of Our Lives and it has an interesting premise. I'll also get to the book at some point. Thanks again.👍
You’re welcome. However, I will never have an active YT channel. I’m an old retired guy who is perfectly content to read, watch movies, play and study Go, collect minerals in the field, walk in the park, and socialize with friends and family@@thisisfunhouseentertainment
The main characters on "The Big Bang Theory"..Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofsteder,, were named after Sheldon Leonard, who played "Nick, the bartender." He was an actor and producer ("The Dick Van Dyke Show).
It was a tough call. It was actually quite frustrating cutting this up for YT because pretty much every scene has some great moments in it. On top of that, the copyright claim on this one is unforgiving.
@@thisisfunhouseentertainment It's funny the copyright is so stringent now because the copyright lapsed after 20 years. That's part of the reason for its success; it was a free, high quality film that you could always run on Christmas time, so people would regularly watch in on broadcast TV for years.
Jimmie Stewart was suffering from severe PTSD from his war effort in WW2. He was a B-17 bomber pilot in the European Theater of the war. I think it really shows in the scene when he's praying. Great reaction review. You gained a new subscriber. As we say in Texas; y'all be safe. Have a wonderful Christmas or celebration of your choice.
Thank you for that world famous Texan courtesy. Also, thanks for not only watching but leaving an encouraging comment. I've been schooled by a few other viewers about Stewart's PTSD. I knew he went to war but didn't know he was such an accomplished veteran and bore the invisible scars of war. It definitely make him a more interesting Hollywood personality.
Interestingly enough, the film did not do that well in the movie theatres when it debuted. It was rediscovered years later in the 1970s when tv stations began showing it yearly during the holidays. It's my favorite Christmas movie.
I'm 55. They didn't just show it one time each year in the 70s and 80s. They played it constantly, on each channel, during December in the late 70s and all through the 80s. I remember watching it a lot back then.
When you start watching classic movies, you'll run across many character actors who will become favorites. Fritz Feld is someone I always recognize and enjoy.
Two things 1.) The crow shown in the Building and Loans Office was actually a Raven, a trained bird that appeared in almost every Director Frank Capra film and it is also the same "crow" that landed on the Scarecrow's shoulder in the Wizard of Oz. 2.) James Stewart (George Bailey) was a real war hero as he piloted B-24 Bombers over Germany and commanded entire bomber squadrons. He remained in the Air Force Reserves after the war attaining the rank of General. You can look it up.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and sharing your knowledge. I didn't know about Stewart's impressive WWII experiences and achievements, but you and a few other viewers have been filling me in. 👍
Today's actors just can't act like that anymore, as you said the authenticity just isn't there. These actors and actresses lived through Great Depression and World Wars and then started acting. The realness was already there
Those were most definitely a different breed of actor. They were more well trained. On top of facing the harsh grit of the world, they put in hundreds of man hours on stage dancing, fencing, singing, etc. I do think that the best actors of today can pull off naturalistic a bit closer to "reality", I still it's a bit hit and miss.
Yes , this is how people tended to be = honest, not canceling previous generations. RESPECTFUL, dressed well with no pants with btt-cracks showing etc...
Yes. Bert n Ernie were named after these guys. Great film! GREAT character actors!!! The mom was the great Beulah Bondi! U see her amazing range here to good effect
I love this!! Thanks for the awesome reaction!!! I’ve loved this movie my whole life of 55 years and it touches me more the older I get. No man is a failure who has friends. George is an example of how to have friends-be one!!!! Wonderful!
This is one of those movies that would come at Christmas time. I've seen parts of it so many times. I never sat down and intentionally watched it all the way through.
Trivia in most comment threads but not this one (yet). Donna Reed was a former Softball Player. While they had a stunt woman on set, Ms. Reed broke the glass window without any assistance. Jimmy Stewart was a legitimate war hero. He was a decorated military veteran who served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He was a bomber pilot and rose to the rank of Brigadier General. He flew 20 combat missions with the 703rd Bomb Squadron, hitting oil, ammunition, and chemical plants as well as German air bases and other military positions. He was also appointed Operations Officer of the 453rd Bomb Group and Chief of Staff of the 2nd Combat wing, 2nd Air Division of the 8th Air Force. But the war left Stewart with PTSD and in this, Stewart's first post war film, he drew on that experience. Jimmy Stewart was so nervous for his kissing scene with Donna Reed that he forgot his lines. The take was so powerful, Capra left it in the film.
Yes Donna Reed was a ball player. She was clocked at 98 mph and Nolan Ryan learned how to throw from her ,(I think) She pitched fir the Yankees in a few world series - though she went under a different identity 😮😮❤
Apart from this film my favourite Donna Reed film is ‘From Here to Eternity’ (1953) in which she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress alongside Frank Sinatra who took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. My favourite Jimmy Stewart film is ‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’ (1962) where he teamed up with ‘The Duke’ John Wayne.
One of the best reactions to this magnificent film I've seen. Very much enjoyed your commentary,...I'm subscribing. One of my favorite scenes in cinema is when George is at his lowest, the desperation comes out in his heartfelt prayers at the bar & on the bridge. Time returns to normality only when he says "please God." Stewart is magnificent. You can see the anguish in his face. (& can we say enough about Mary?!)
Thank you for watching, and I'm glad you enjoyed the reaction enough to subscribe. One of my favourite moments in the film is when he prays on the bridge. James Stewart is baring his soul there, holding back nothing. Then that subtle shift of snow falling to show that something had changed was a nice touch. As for Mary, she was a "real" one. she came through making a (raggedy) house a home, and she was the one who had the idea to use the honeymoon money to save the building & loan.
A great film. BTW-The pool they fell into? That's the Swim Gym at Beverly Hills High School. Graduated there in '81 and used it every day. It's still there!"
Its A Wonderful Life is not only the greatest Christmas movie ever made, its the greatest Christian movie this side of The Passion. This movie shows us how wonderful a true Christian society can be. And then Its A Wonderful Life shows you the flipside, which we live in: Pottersville.
Great reaction and observations. One of the greatest films ever made. Everything you need to know about life, you can learn from this film. And you are right, it truly hits home!
The goat in the car functions of Frank Capra’s signature, “Capra” being “goat in Italian (think of Capricorn). In this film, Frank Albertson plays Sam Wainwright and offers $25K. When he plays Cassidy in PSYCHO, his wad has grown to $40K as if by inflation.
I’ve been watching this movie every year since 1976. I was a kid then and our local PBS channel ran it annually, many times throughout the season, during the day and at night, so I watched it often. They would also run a lesser known female version starring Marlo Thomas and Wayne Rogers from ‘Mash’, called ‘It Happened One Christmas’ (1977). It also starred Cloris Leachman as the Angel and Orson Welles as Potter. In this version it is Mary, (Marlo Thomas) who gets visited by the Angel.
A timeless classic. I watched this every year for 30 yrs. It always gets to me❤ and yes, it’s rumored that Bert & Ernie on Sesame Street were named after the characters in this gem.
George timed his heartfelt, face-to-face praise of his father well. Within a few hours of George's question "Pop, you want a shock? I think you're a great guy", father Bailey draws his final breath. Pleasing aromas can act as powerful aphrodisiacs (Sam Wainwright phone call scene). Potter would be paying George to foreclose on renters behind in their payments for living in sub-standard houses. Violet's kiss of George in the bank as she prepares to leave for New York is not salacious in the least; she even sees to the "clean-up" of George's cheek.
I've read that "It's A Wonderful Life" (1946) is "an inverted version of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol." George Bailey's thwarted path in life keeps him in Bedford Falls, while others leave to find fame and fortune. Then, when he is faced with scandal and ruin, he snaps, actively regretting his life, his Guardian Angel offers him a unique opportunity. What he discovers about the affect he has had on his town and the people in it changes his mind. Then the community returns the favor and Clarence gets his wings. Yes, "post modern Hollyweird" wouldn't know what to do with such a tale, let alone write such "Capra Corn." Long Live Capra Corn, which has more substance, values, heart and Life than today's "made for modern audiences" Dumpster Fires.
With all the technological leaps and bounds forward and the refinement of the filmmaking craft, films now look, sound, and hit narrative beats better than ever before. However, many of them are the most empty, forgettable experiences a person could ever have. Thanks for watching.
Jimmy Stewart was a true American Hero. He was a WWII combat veteran and Commander of a Bomber wing. He had over 20 combat mission over Germany. After the war he transition to the Air Force Reserve and retired as a Brigadier General. He flew missions over Korea and Vietnam. He used his PTSD in It’s a Wonderful Life. I know a man who was a friend of Jimmy Stuarts and he said Jimmy Stuarts said that prayer at Martinis was Not acting. He was genuinely calling on God for real, that was jim 100% real working through the trauma he had experienced in his experiences in the WW2 flying missions. Once he was flying a mission when the bottom of his plane was shot out and men fell to their deaths screaming. He and his co pilots legs were literally dangling out the bottom of the plane but managed to land.
One of my favorite classic movies of all time. Frank Capra was a gifted director who told fable-like moral stories from an underdog perspective. A common theme in his films were selfishness and greed being concurred by selflessness in service to the common good. Often, the hero's path to redemption was some form of reconnection with old time religious values. Interesting to note that Capra that directed WW2 propaganda films for the US government. Movies like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It's A Wonderful Life were widely recognized as social propaganda. If you haven't seen the classic film called On Borrowed Time, you really should check it out. It's made by the English director Harold S. Bucquet. Capra's Wonderful Life not only used three of the main actors (Lionel Barrymore, Beulah Bondi, and Henry Travers), it copied the magical fantasy of On Borrowed Time. Bucquet's classic movie is also about the role death plays in life, but leans more into a secular perspective. It has a similar theme of hero concurring selfish greed, but with biting comical wit, it's overtly critical of greed hiding behind false moral piety Quintessential British humor was far too honest for properly moralized Americans in 1939. Do yourself a favor and watch this fantastic, tragically unknown classic.
It's so sad this movie didn't do well in the box office. But it's a testament to how good the movie and the message is that it has become such a classic. I'd recommend "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington ". It's got other old fashioned values and Jimmy Stewart is so good in it as well.
Jimmy Stewart first turned down this film. Mr Stewart had just returned from war. He volunteered flew planes in the war in Europe. He really lived a life of honesty and integrity. 10:38 ty
A great reaction. But in my opinion many forget about the amazing performance of H B Owen who plays Mr Gower the pharmacist. It's absolutely brilliant. However, Frank Capra allowed Owen to drink heavily all day before going to the set. He was literally pissed during his acting. The slaps to young George was also real.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Glad you enjoyed the show. While watching, I remember thinking, "I can almost smell the booze on him", so it's interesting that he was actually drunk at certain points of the performance. Not saying the actor is bad, because I haven't seen him in anything else, but if he's actually drunk is that acting? 😯
@Funhouse Kapra (the director) is one of my top 5 of all time. This is my 2nd favorite of his films. I recommend you can not take it with you which is my favorite slightly over this. Again keep doing you :) seems the audio is cleaned up a little better here
$171,000! Uncle Billy messed up big time! I did notice the harp. Sometimes when you react, you notice something but you don't say it out loud. Gonna keep working on that.
I doubt that Clarence would gave drowned. He had enough blubber around his mid-section that he could easily float until current took him to rivers end.
Along with the many adaptations of "A Christmas Carol" also known as "Scrooge, "It's A Wonderful Life" holds up just as well as Dickens endearing classic. All the elements of what Christmas is all is put into both films and with many others made in the 30s, 40s, and 50s. The meaning of Christmas, faith, love, hope, and joy, are found in in the Christmas films of early times but, sad to say, not too may films between the 60s and through to this century give those messages with the exception of "A Christmas Story," and "The Polar Express." Which leads me to the conclusion that "Die Hard" is NOT a Christmas movie. Great reaction to this film. You should examine many more of the classic films from the 30s through to the 50s just to see how far advanced we come from using practical effects to CGI.
This became a beloved Christmas movie by a copyright blunder as the copyright was not renewed. In the late 70's to late 80's local TV stations broadcast it without having to pay a fee i.e., it was public domain. I believe in the 90's the copyright was renewed.
@thisisfunhouseentertainment I was in this movie also = I played the bush that 18 year old Mary was hiding on after Geirge tire her clothes off. (She had a slight odor due to her long acting that day
@@thisisfunhouseentertainment sorry, I meant I only watched for 8 minutes and I was so impressed, I subscribed and then watched the rest. 😁 merry Christmas.
Thanks for watching. It depends. I've seen it, and in this genre on YT it's the First Time Watching that gets the views. I will be doing some re-watching anyway, but they will be more commentary based as opposed to my reactions for the first time. So if you're into that kind of thing...
The guy that was annoying Mary at the dance, I believe that was the famous child star from the "Little Rascals/ Our Gang", he played Alfalfa, am I right?
Thanks for the suggestion, but I've seen Airplane. To be honest, I wish I could see Airplane for the first time again. So many great one liners like, "I am serious. And don't call me Surely."
How times have changed. This movie mentions God and prayer and has a husband who is a good guy that helps people and is a good family man, albeit with some flaws and weaknesses. Movies today are so cynical and lacking in heart and goodness. I guess many people today would consider this movie idealistic and sentimental, but I miss movies like this.
This movie saved my life. Like George, my life didn't turn out like I planned. I felt like such a loser. But this mivie reminded me that God's plan is more important than mine. I won't know until I get Home and see my life from God's perspective, but I know my life matters in the grand scheme of things. I can only imagine how many suicides this movie prevented.
Wow! That's the power of storytelling. Thanks for sharing that, and I'm glad that the outcome is that you've moved on from "that place" and you started trusting God to tell your story.
it seems to me that to talk about 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Acts in movies of the Golden Age is rather arbitrary; like dividing Shakespeare's plays into five acts. The classic films did not often follow a straight three act structure but went where the story took them. Remember, the movie makers of the time had not studied film theory but were actively exploring the best ways to use the medium.
I don't think it's "arbitrary". It's an observation based on where we are now, which is the fact that we have studied film theory and the medium is now a streamlined, efficient system that can be replicated to a decent standard indefinitely. I appreciate that and I think it's quite clever, actually. However, I prefer the old-school way, to go where the story takes you. Still, the three act structure is an excellent navigational tool for visual storytelling because it's very easy to get "lost in the sauce".
To thisisfunhouse: We seem to agree that a film should "go where the story takes you." We also, I think, agree that it is sometimes useful to analyse a film in a three act structure. My only point is that it will lead you astray if the film is not actually put together that way. Perhaps the best approach is to look at the film itself and, if analysing it in three acts is unbalanced or problematic, you should probably conclude that it is not a three act play.@@thisisfunhouseentertainment
@@TedLittle-yp7uj That was my conclusion, and I'm fine with it. But it's my wheelhouse, I will always approach a visual story through the lens of the 3 act structure. But if it doesn't adhere to it entirely and the story is good enough, it's fine. An engineer will always consider how a structure is built and/or how each piece of a mechanism functions. It's just the lens through which they view things. It's the same with me and movies.
Didn't know that. I'm actually not the biggest fan of "method", I think it's completely unnecessary. Anyway, thanks for watching, and I hope you stick around for more reactions..
A different kind of Christmas movie is A Christmas Story, a newer character. You need to watch Good Will Hunting. I’m Jewish I don't celebrate Christmas at all. This is one of the few Christmas movies I watch. Although I don't need lectures about the Christmas spirit from Christians.
I disagree about Die Hard being a Christmas movie. You can call any movie that even mentions Christmas, a Christmas movie, but if we want the idea of a “Christmas movie” to mean anything, we need to go deeper. For me a Christmas movie must be about Christmas. Either the holiday itself or its central themes and characters, or both. Die hard is about bank robbers posing as terrorists. It takes place on Christmas. It’s a Wonderful Life’s finale takes place during Christmas, but most of the movie is about the themes of Christmas. Charity, kindness, love, family, despair, exultation, heaven, angels, god, measuring the value of your life a, and thinking about your accomplishments without prioritizing money are all Christmas themes. If the finale didn’t take place during Christmas, I’d say something was missing. If Die Hard took place on March 25: same damn movie. Just my thoughts. Peace be with you.
Thanks taking the time to comment and share your side of the argument. I know it's an ongoing debate and it's meant to make the viewer chuckle more than anything.
Tom Sawyer is a classic American story from way before the time of this movie by Mark Twain. It is about a child growing up in the American frontier days. The book is always better 😉 but there are a few decent movie adaptations. It would be fun to see a reaction.
You can watch along to JAMES CAGNEY being a complete barbarian in WHITE HEAT here: ruclips.net/video/sp0iH9f4-Dw/видео.html
Such a magical movie. There was a real dignity and decency and humanity about the way characters were depicted back then that makes so many modern movies look cruel and cynically vapid by comparison.
Modern movies ARE cruel, cynical, and vapid. Don't get me wrong, I believe that every kind of film has its place. But we are just bombarded with so much debauchery it's to the point of nihilism.
That’s because they are cruel, cynical, and vapid. Nailed it!
dignity! now that is the word i have been looking for. that is exactly what we need more of these days.
I have watched this movie countless times and reactions countless times. You are the only one to notice the mom. Her acting is superb. She was a famous character actress Beulah Bondi. The change from her sweet face to the suspicious and sharp lady of the NON George world with a sneer and tone is way more than makeup.
Someone else mentioned that she was famous in the silent era. If George didn't say "mother" I wouldn't have recognised her. Thanks for watching.
@@thisisfunhouseentertainment It's one of the most harrowing moments of the film, and Beulah Bondi and Jimmy Stewart (plus Capra's direction) were unbelievably real. Similarly, HB Warner's appearance as the derelict Mr. Gower at Nick's is shocking and disturbing, definitely the most upsetting image in the film. It's at that point that we realize just how desperate the situation has become (and the look on Stewart's face when he recognizes Gower is stunning). You have to wonder...just how DID they all manage to create such a powerful, multi-dimensional film???)
@@HassoBenSoba Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. It's always remarkable to experience when a collective of talented individuals come together to create. It's one of the reasons I love filmmaking. Those moments get preserved and we can experience them over and over again. I can appreciate the unique/organic nature of a live performance (music or play) but there's also something miraculous about preserving those moments indefinitely, as opposed to losing them to time and/or the issues of life.
I can't tell you the number of times I've seen this movie and the number of reactions to it, and between the laughter, I tear up from all the tender moments, every single time, with no diminishing whatsoever in intensity.
But a secondary thing I love about this film is that it shows a brief but authentic encapsulation of American history, from the end of WWI to the end of WWII, from the people who lived it. We see the effects of the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918, the roaring twenties and the Charleston craze, the bank runs during the Great Depression, and how everyone pitched in during WWII.
That was something I thought about. It's a pretty ambitious story. It's always a difficult fete in filmmaking to depict the passage of time and the changing of seasons. I'm guessing this story spans about...30 years? It's impressive.
@@thisisfunhouseentertainment I think it starts about 1918 as that is when the flu epidemic was (NOT 1917 as Donald Trump keeps saying, no matter when he keeps calling it) and ends in '46, just after the War. (Might be the end of '45.) So pretty much 27 years. Rare that a movie representing a long time is really easy to pinpoint very specific points along the way.
What's Trump go to do with it?? Anyway, the film is what I call a "panoramic view" of American life and small-town culture during the era, both historical and in the way in which all of the characters acted and related to one another.
Thanks for the reaction. There's a lot to unpack with this film, but I'd like to point out two little moments of characterization that are so brief you'd miss them if you blinked... one is when Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell) says that he's checked everywhere, "...even the rooms that I've kept locked since I lost Lorna" which tells much about his eccentric character and the other moment is Potter's (Lionel Barrymore) exclamation of surprise when George tells him that HE lost the money. The very idea that George would shoulder the blame to protect his elderly Uncle is inconceivable to Potter.
Ah, I did miss that. Thanks for sharing. I'll look out for it the next time I watch it.👍
His impact went way beyond the town. Remember what his brother did to recieve that medal. Remember where that $25,000 line of credit came from. He allowed others to follow their own dreams away from town, improving even the outside world as well.
A great observation. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.👍
One of the best reactions ever. Donna Reed who played Mary also did a great job.
The close up of her saying, "Welcome home Mr. Bailey", floored me.
He cut out the whole scene at the old house and the robe. The whole scene. That's embarrassing. Instant thumbs down for me.
@@MoMoMyPup10 You should say something else, show the rest of the comment section how goofy you are. If you want to watch the scene with the house go and watch the film on one of these streaming platforms, or go and watch some other YT channel. Or, what you can do do is start a RUclips channel and edit this 2hrs+ film and get around the copyright restriction. Never come to this channel again. And you can take your thumb and...
@@thisisfunhouseentertainment haha, your channel is going to be so big showing everyone how thin skinned you are not being able to accept constructive criticism. How's that for goofy?
I have seen this movie at least a couple dozen times and I laugh and cry every time.
One thing often overlooked is that George's last words to his father was that he was proud of him. So often in movies, people regret the last thing they said to a loved one.
A great observation.
As always, I loved your reaction. I laughed the two times you said the film will be banned soon. You have such a great appreciation for the wholesome aspects of these old movies and a fine-tuned insight springing from your own experience.
As someone has already mentioned, this film was "rediscovered” in the 1970s. The reason is that it had been out of circulation for more than 20 years due to a copyright dispute. This was probably because of the unusual arrangement of the production company, Liberty Films, which was a joint venture by Frank Capra, William Wyler, and George Stevens. Each director was supposed to do one film. Wyler’s contribution was “The Best Years of Our Lives,” and Capra’s was this film, which happen to be, respectively, my first and second favorite films of all time.
Capra started his career as a gag writer for Hal Roach, which is why his movies often feature a unique blend of comedy and drama. I highly recommend his autobiography, “The Name Above the Title,” a tremendously heartwarming and insightful book. Capra and Stewart both regarded this as their best movie, and both talked about it in appearances on the Johnny Carson Show.
Stewart was a decorated war hero who had led a squadron in bomber runs over Germany. He was reluctant to do this film because he was suffering from PTSD, but he was captivated by the story and a friend (I don’t remember who) encouraged him to do it.
I was especially pleased to see you commend Beulah Bondi on her acting. She was an accomplished stage actress from a young age, but by the time talkies came along she had aged out of leading lady roles, so generally played mothers and grandmothers. She was twice nominated for a supporting actress Oscar and won an Emmy for her work in an episode of “The Waltons” TV show near the end of her life.
Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge. I expect to see your YT channel soon. I've looked up The Best Years of Our Lives and it has an interesting premise. I'll also get to the book at some point. Thanks again.👍
You’re welcome. However, I will never have an active YT channel. I’m an old retired guy who is perfectly content to read, watch movies, play and study Go, collect minerals in the field, walk in the park, and socialize with friends and family@@thisisfunhouseentertainment
@@RenfrewPrume Heck! You're living the dream. 🙌
The main characters on "The Big Bang Theory"..Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofsteder,, were named after Sheldon Leonard, who played "Nick, the bartender."
He was an actor and producer ("The Dick Van Dyke Show).
"...and also, Die Hard IS a Christmas Movie" 🎄😆💕
Best movie kline ever =
Bruce Willis- "Kumbaiyah M@thrf-er!"
You clipped the entire romantic walk after the dance and the singing and the throwing rocks. That was the strongest bonding scene in the whole movie!
It was a tough call. It was actually quite frustrating cutting this up for YT because pretty much every scene has some great moments in it. On top of that, the copyright claim on this one is unforgiving.
@@thisisfunhouseentertainment It's funny the copyright is so stringent now because the copyright lapsed after 20 years. That's part of the reason for its success; it was a free, high quality film that you could always run on Christmas time, so people would regularly watch in on broadcast TV for years.
Jimmie Stewart was suffering from severe PTSD from his war effort in WW2. He was a B-17 bomber pilot in the European Theater of the war. I think it really shows in the scene when he's praying.
Great reaction review. You gained a new subscriber.
As we say in Texas; y'all be safe. Have a wonderful Christmas or celebration of your choice.
Thank you for that world famous Texan courtesy. Also, thanks for not only watching but leaving an encouraging comment. I've been schooled by a few other viewers about Stewart's PTSD. I knew he went to war but didn't know he was such an accomplished veteran and bore the invisible scars of war. It definitely make him a more interesting Hollywood personality.
@@thisisfunhouseentertainment Thanks are not required. That's just the way we are here. Come visit the state sometime. You find out.
Again, be safe.
Interestingly enough, the film did not do that well in the movie theatres when it debuted. It was rediscovered years later in the 1970s when tv stations began showing it yearly during the holidays. It's my favorite Christmas movie.
I'm 55. They didn't just show it one time each year in the 70s and 80s. They played it constantly, on each channel, during December in the late 70s and all through the 80s. I remember watching it a lot back then.
@@DR-mq1vn I said TV stations (plural) showed it yearly during the holidays (this includes Thanksgiving-Christmas).
When you start watching classic movies, you'll run across many character actors who will become favorites. Fritz Feld is someone I always recognize and enjoy.
Yeah, he's super....but you should mention that he's not in this film.
Two things
1.) The crow shown in the Building and Loans Office was actually a Raven, a trained bird that appeared in almost every Director Frank Capra film and it is also the same "crow" that landed on the Scarecrow's shoulder in the Wizard of Oz.
2.) James Stewart (George Bailey) was a real war hero as he piloted B-24 Bombers over Germany and commanded entire bomber squadrons. He remained in the Air Force Reserves after the war attaining the rank of General. You can look it up.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and sharing your knowledge. I didn't know about Stewart's impressive WWII experiences and achievements, but you and a few other viewers have been filling me in. 👍
👍
This is the greatest movie of all time and i will absolutely die on this hill.
It's a good hill to die on. Thanks for watching, and a Happy New Year to you. 🙏
what a wonderful film! Can't see without tears. Thank you and merry Christmas!
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. It's much appreciated. Merry Christmas to you too.
Isn't it a cool thing to know that there are still great movies to experience.
It most definitely is. It's scarce at the moment.
I really enjoyed watching the movie through your eyes! Merry Christmas!!!
🙏
Perceptive, intelligent reaction ! Hope you watch more old classics !
Thank you for watching. 🙏 Definitely more classics to come. They're the ones I haven't seen.
Today's actors just can't act like that anymore, as you said the authenticity just isn't there.
These actors and actresses lived through Great Depression and World Wars and then started acting. The realness was already there
Those were most definitely a different breed of actor. They were more well trained. On top of facing the harsh grit of the world, they put in hundreds of man hours on stage dancing, fencing, singing, etc. I do think that the best actors of today can pull off naturalistic a bit closer to "reality", I still it's a bit hit and miss.
Yes , this is how people tended to be = honest, not canceling previous generations. RESPECTFUL,
dressed well with no pants with btt-cracks showing etc...
Yes. Bert n Ernie were named after these guys.
Great film! GREAT character actors!!!
The mom was the great Beulah Bondi! U see her amazing range here to good effect
I was named after the first thing my mom saw after she gave birth to me and looked outside her Wigwam.
Pile of s#!t.
Thank u mommy❤
I love this!! Thanks for the awesome reaction!!! I’ve loved this movie my whole life of 55 years and it touches me more the older I get. No man is a failure who has friends. George is an example of how to have friends-be one!!!! Wonderful!
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
~ James Stewart, one of the most iconic/beloved film star in cinematic history, is my all time favorite actor, on & off screen 👌
Thanks for watching, and taking the time to comment.👍
This is one of those movies that would come at Christmas time. I've seen parts of it so many times. I never sat down and intentionally watched it all the way through.
I have those too.
It was fun watching you enjoying the film as I have for years. Merry Christmas!!
Thanks for watching. It's much appreciated.👍
Trivia in most comment threads but not this one (yet).
Donna Reed was a former Softball Player. While they had a stunt woman on set, Ms. Reed broke the glass window without any assistance.
Jimmy Stewart was a legitimate war hero. He was a decorated military veteran who served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He was a bomber pilot and rose to the rank of Brigadier General. He flew 20 combat missions with the 703rd Bomb Squadron, hitting oil, ammunition, and chemical plants as well as German air bases and other military positions. He was also appointed Operations Officer of the 453rd Bomb Group and Chief of Staff of the 2nd Combat wing, 2nd Air Division of the 8th Air Force. But the war left Stewart with PTSD and in this, Stewart's first post war film, he drew on that experience.
Jimmy Stewart was so nervous for his kissing scene with Donna Reed that he forgot his lines. The take was so powerful, Capra left it in the film.
Nice! Thanks for taking the time to comment. I'm liking these nuggets of knowledge being shared. 👍
Yes Donna Reed was a ball player.
She was clocked at 98 mph and Nolan Ryan learned how to throw from her ,(I think)
She pitched fir the Yankees in a few world series - though she went under a different identity 😮😮❤
My favorite Christmas movie EVER!!! I was a store manager at Blockbuster for 12yrs.
Ah... Blockbuster Video. Those were simpler times. 😄
Apart from this film my favourite Donna Reed film is ‘From Here to Eternity’ (1953) in which she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress alongside Frank Sinatra who took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. My favourite Jimmy Stewart film is ‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’ (1962) where he teamed up with ‘The Duke’ John Wayne.
"For what profits a man if he gains the whole world. And loses his soul." MERRY CHRISTMAS. AND GOD BLESS ALL HERE!!!!!!!!
Thank you. Merry Christmas.🙏
One of the best reactions to this magnificent film I've seen. Very much enjoyed your commentary,...I'm subscribing. One of my favorite scenes in cinema is when George is at his lowest, the desperation comes out in his heartfelt prayers at the bar & on the bridge. Time returns to normality only when he says "please God." Stewart is magnificent. You can see the anguish in his face. (& can we say enough about Mary?!)
Thank you for watching, and I'm glad you enjoyed the reaction enough to subscribe. One of my favourite moments in the film is when he prays on the bridge. James Stewart is baring his soul there, holding back nothing. Then that subtle shift of snow falling to show that something had changed was a nice touch. As for Mary, she was a "real" one. she came through making a (raggedy) house a home, and she was the one who had the idea to use the honeymoon money to save the building & loan.
A great film. BTW-The pool they fell into? That's the Swim Gym at Beverly Hills High School. Graduated there in '81 and used it every day. It's still there!"
Nice! Great bit of trivia there.👍
Its A Wonderful Life is not only the greatest Christmas movie ever made, its the greatest Christian movie this side of The Passion. This movie shows us how wonderful a true Christian society can be. And then Its A Wonderful Life shows you the flipside, which we live in: Pottersville.
6:06 When I first saw this movie years ago, I developed a crush on Donna Reed. She never looked as pretty as she does in this movie.
I could watch Jimmy Stewart stare at a wall for 2 hours; he is that good an actor.
😄
@lmsossi
Me too! He's the best! ♡
Merry Christmas! :)
Stewart could make a brick wall crash down with his stare...😮
Jimmy Stewart is 2nd best actor ever.
First is that president guy = Ronald ray-gun in 😮 bedtime for bonzo
Great reaction and observations. One of the greatest films ever made. Everything you need to know about life, you can learn from this film. And you are right, it truly hits home!
Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed the video. High Noon is coming next.
One of the greatest films with one of the finest casts. Jimmy Stewart is a legend. Happy New Year! 😊
Thanks for watching, and a Happy New Year to you too.
The goat in the car functions of Frank Capra’s signature, “Capra” being “goat in Italian (think of Capricorn). In this film, Frank Albertson plays Sam Wainwright and offers $25K. When he plays Cassidy in PSYCHO, his wad has grown to $40K as if by inflation.
Your reactions and commentary was spot on, well done Sir. Keep up the good work.
I’ve been watching this movie every year since 1976. I was a kid then and our local PBS channel ran it annually, many times throughout the season, during the day and at night, so I watched it often. They would also run a lesser known female version starring Marlo Thomas and Wayne Rogers from ‘Mash’, called ‘It Happened One Christmas’ (1977). It also starred Cloris Leachman as the Angel and Orson Welles as Potter. In this version it is Mary, (Marlo Thomas) who gets visited by the Angel.
Thanks for watching, and thanks for It Happened One Christmas. It's now on my "Audience Suggestion List".
The crazy thing ... when this movie was released it bombed at the box office... suicide was considered a dark subject ...
A timeless classic. I watched this every year for 30 yrs. It always gets to me❤ and yes, it’s rumored that Bert & Ernie on Sesame Street were named after the characters in this gem.
George timed his heartfelt, face-to-face praise of his father well. Within a few hours of George's question "Pop, you want a shock? I think you're a great guy", father Bailey draws his final breath. Pleasing aromas can act as powerful aphrodisiacs (Sam Wainwright phone call scene). Potter would be paying George to foreclose on renters behind in their payments for living in sub-standard houses. Violet's kiss of George in the bank as she prepares to leave for New York is not salacious in the least; she even sees to the "clean-up" of George's cheek.
Have you seen Jimmy Stewart's awesome performance in "Harvey" (1950)? If not, it should be next on your list.
Thanks for this suggestion. It's going on my "Audience Suggestion List".👍
No one ever catches that tom says ," I gotta go home and see the wife."
Because he got turned on by Violet walking down street 😂
I've read that "It's A Wonderful Life" (1946) is "an inverted version of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol." George Bailey's thwarted path in life keeps him in Bedford Falls, while others leave to find fame and fortune. Then, when he is faced with scandal and ruin, he snaps, actively regretting his life, his Guardian Angel offers him a unique opportunity. What he discovers about the affect he has had on his town and the people in it changes his mind. Then the community returns the favor and Clarence gets his wings. Yes, "post modern Hollyweird" wouldn't know what to do with such a tale, let alone write such "Capra Corn." Long Live Capra Corn, which has more substance, values, heart and Life than today's "made for modern audiences" Dumpster Fires.
With all the technological leaps and bounds forward and the refinement of the filmmaking craft, films now look, sound, and hit narrative beats better than ever before. However, many of them are the most empty, forgettable experiences a person could ever have. Thanks for watching.
Jimmy Stewart was a true American Hero. He was a WWII combat veteran and Commander of a Bomber wing. He had over 20 combat mission over Germany. After the war he transition to the Air Force Reserve and retired as a Brigadier General. He flew missions over Korea and Vietnam. He used his PTSD in It’s a Wonderful Life.
I know a man who was a friend of Jimmy Stuarts and he said Jimmy Stuarts said that prayer at Martinis was Not acting. He was genuinely calling on God for real, that was jim 100% real working through the trauma he had experienced in his experiences in the WW2 flying missions. Once he was flying a mission when the bottom of his plane was shot out and men fell to their deaths screaming. He and his co pilots legs were literally dangling out the bottom of the plane but managed to land.
Thanks for sharing that story. I don't know much about Jimmy Stewart, but people have been filling me in.
25:01 That's Ward Bond. He was a prolific character actor with an incredibly long filmography.
Always nice to see a return viewer. Will check out his filmography and see where it takes me.
@@thisisfunhouseentertainment Bond appeared in The Searchers, The Maltese Falcon and Gone With The Wind.
@@teastrainer3604 That's not a bad start to the list.
Welcome to one of the truest Christmas movies. You are ever going to see.
One of my favorite classic movies of all time. Frank Capra was a gifted director who told fable-like moral stories from an underdog perspective. A common theme in his films were selfishness and greed being concurred by selflessness in service to the common good. Often, the hero's path to redemption was some form of reconnection with old time religious values. Interesting to note that Capra that directed WW2 propaganda films for the US government. Movies like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It's A Wonderful Life were widely recognized as social propaganda.
If you haven't seen the classic film called On Borrowed Time, you really should check it out. It's made by the English director Harold S. Bucquet. Capra's Wonderful Life not only used three of the main actors (Lionel Barrymore, Beulah Bondi, and Henry Travers), it copied the magical fantasy of On Borrowed Time. Bucquet's classic movie is also about the role death plays in life, but leans more into a secular perspective. It has a similar theme of hero concurring selfish greed, but with biting comical wit, it's overtly critical of greed hiding behind false moral piety Quintessential British humor was far too honest for properly moralized Americans in 1939. Do yourself a favor and watch this fantastic, tragically unknown classic.
Good to see another returning viewer. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge, and your request of On Borrowed Time. I've made a note of it.👍
The show is all about George Bailey and his positive influence on those around him. But Mary is the real hero of the story.
The movie takes the time to introduce George Bailey to you so that you feel the full impact of the ending.
Merry Christmas from Arizona. Best Christmas movie.
Thanks for watching from all the way in Arizona.
It's so sad this movie didn't do well in the box office. But it's a testament to how good the movie and the message is that it has become such a classic. I'd recommend "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington ". It's got other old fashioned values and Jimmy Stewart is so good in it as well.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and leaving the suggestion. I'm pleased to say, Mr Smith Goes To Washington is on my list. 🙌
Haven't seen your reaction yet. Just got through the opening which touched me. Good luck on your journey. Merry Christmas
Best Xmas film ever.
“We all leave footprints” ❤
Frank Capra... genius at work!
Jimmy Stewart first turned down this film. Mr Stewart had just returned from war. He volunteered flew planes in the war in Europe. He really lived a life of honesty and integrity. 10:38 ty
A great reaction. But in my opinion many forget about the amazing performance of H B Owen who plays Mr Gower the pharmacist. It's absolutely brilliant. However, Frank Capra allowed Owen to drink heavily all day before going to the set. He was literally pissed during his acting. The slaps to young George was also real.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Glad you enjoyed the show. While watching, I remember thinking, "I can almost smell the booze on him", so it's interesting that he was actually drunk at certain points of the performance. Not saying the actor is bad, because I haven't seen him in anything else, but if he's actually drunk is that acting? 😯
Even the child actors in this movie give very professional performances.
@Funhouse Kapra (the director) is one of my top 5 of all time. This is my 2nd favorite of his films. I recommend you can not take it with you which is my favorite slightly over this. Again keep doing you :) seems the audio is cleaned up a little better here
Love your reaction. Hi from NYC. ✌
Hello, NYC. 👋
Merry Christmas!
i just started watching you. Im
glad i found you! you do a great job.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the content. I hope you enjoy the many more reactions to come.
One of the best reactions I’ve ever seen. Thank you. Happy New Year! 😊
Glad you enjoyed the show. A Happy New Year to you too.🙏
One of my favorite movies!🎉❤🎉❤❤🎉
It doesn't get any better.! 😊
The $8,000 was equivalent to about $171,000 today. Did you notice the harp sound when Clarence jumped in the water? 😇
$171,000! Uncle Billy messed up big time! I did notice the harp. Sometimes when you react, you notice something but you don't say it out loud. Gonna keep working on that.
I doubt that Clarence would gave drowned.
He had enough blubber around his mid-section that he could easily float until current took him to rivers end.
My first viewing of a Funhouse Entertainment reaction. My takeaway: I like you! Great reaction, great explanation of your reaction.
Thank you for your kind words. 🙏 I hope you continue to enjoy all my future reactions.
Bert the cop was Tom the cop in Maltese Falcon.☮️
A Christmas Story for another wonderfully filmed and written Christmas movie that's much lighter in tone.
Along with the many adaptations of "A Christmas Carol" also known as "Scrooge, "It's A Wonderful Life" holds up just as well as Dickens endearing classic. All the elements of what Christmas is all is put into both films and with many others made in the 30s, 40s, and 50s. The meaning of Christmas, faith, love, hope, and joy, are found in in the Christmas films of early times but, sad to say, not too may films between the 60s and through to this century give those messages with the exception of "A Christmas Story," and "The Polar Express." Which leads me to the conclusion that "Die Hard" is NOT a Christmas movie. Great reaction to this film. You should examine many more of the classic films from the 30s through to the 50s just to see how far advanced we come from using practical effects to CGI.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. 👍
11:19 Frank Capra was a very good director. He makes scenes personal, as if you are a part of them. Is he an auteur? I would say yes.
Terrific reaction!
Thanks for watching. 🙏
This became a beloved Christmas movie by a copyright blunder as the copyright was not renewed. In the late 70's to late 80's local TV stations broadcast it without having to pay a fee i.e., it was public domain. I believe in the 90's the copyright was renewed.
I loved your reaction! Great insights! New subscriber!
Glad you enjoyed the video, and thanks for the sub.🙏
Bro, isn't that you @30:13 next to George's brother? I didn't know you were in this movie...you haven't aged a day!
Shhh! I was trying to keep a low profile. I didn't want anyone to know I was in this.
@@thisisfunhouseentertainment Oops...my apologies, incognito superstar.
@thisisfunhouseentertainment I was in this movie also = I played the bush that 18 year old Mary was hiding on after Geirge tire her clothes off. (She had a slight odor due to her long acting that day
Good luck on your journey!
Thanks for watching.🙏
I only got 8 minutes into your reaction and subscribed. Looking forward to more content.
Thanks for giving lil' old me a try. Also, thanks for sub, it' s much appreciated. I've got some interesting reactions planned, so stick around.👍
@@thisisfunhouseentertainment sorry, I meant I only watched for 8 minutes and I was so impressed, I subscribed and then watched the rest. 😁 merry Christmas.
Was wondering , as a new subscriber, if you have reacted to
"Cassablanca". If so I'm sure I'll see it , it if not, sir you must give it a go!
Thanks for watching. It depends. I've seen it, and in this genre on YT it's the First Time Watching that gets the views. I will be doing some re-watching anyway, but they will be more commentary based as opposed to my reactions for the first time. So if you're into that kind of thing...
@@thisisfunhouseentertainment yep, and looking forward to others.
Great Reaction friend!
Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it. 🙏
My favorite Christmas movie. 2nd is Miracle on 34th Street (original).
Thanks for watching. I haven't seen the original myself. Noted.
0:36 Your lucky. You are young and have a plethora of great classic film to watch for the first time.
You should watch Mr. Smith Goes to Washington with Jimmy Stewart. Another inspiring movie.
Thanks for watching. Mr Smith is on the list.
The guy that was annoying Mary at the dance, I believe that was the famous child star from the "Little Rascals/ Our Gang", he played Alfalfa, am I right?
I haven't seen either of those, so I don't know. I'll look it up.
I liked and subscribed, great reaction.
Thank you. Thanks for watching, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. 🙏
Also, you have to watch "Airplane!" You will enjoy the wordplay and the abuse of movie tropes.
Thanks for the suggestion, but I've seen Airplane. To be honest, I wish I could see Airplane for the first time again. So many great one liners like, "I am serious. And don't call me Surely."
Donna Reed was so gorgeous
I concur. 💯
It’s so funny that in the world where George Bailey doesn’t exist not a single man would marry Mary.
How times have changed. This movie mentions God and prayer and has a husband who is a good guy that helps people and is a good family man, albeit with some flaws and weaknesses. Movies today are so cynical and lacking in heart and goodness. I guess many people today would consider this movie idealistic and sentimental, but I miss movies like this.
You can tell a lot about a society through its music and its stories. That's not mine.
This movie saved my life. Like George, my life didn't turn out like I planned. I felt like such a loser.
But this mivie reminded me that God's plan is more important than mine.
I won't know until I get Home and see my life from God's perspective, but I know my life matters in the grand scheme of things.
I can only imagine how many suicides this movie prevented.
Wow! That's the power of storytelling. Thanks for sharing that, and I'm glad that the outcome is that you've moved on from "that place" and you started trusting God to tell your story.
Damn, Donna was gorgeous. It's not too late to review "Miracle on 34 St". the original in B+W.
Someone else suggested it and I've made a note. I might do a Shane Black and release a reaction in the summer.
Dude you cant call yourself a film buff, if you haven’t reacted to the best Christmas movie of all time! 🙏✝️❤️
it seems to me that to talk about 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Acts in movies of the Golden Age is rather arbitrary; like dividing Shakespeare's plays into five acts. The classic films did not often follow a straight three act structure but went where the story took them. Remember, the movie makers of the time had not studied film theory but were actively exploring the best ways to use the medium.
I don't think it's "arbitrary". It's an observation based on where we are now, which is the fact that we have studied film theory and the medium is now a streamlined, efficient system that can be replicated to a decent standard indefinitely. I appreciate that and I think it's quite clever, actually. However, I prefer the old-school way, to go where the story takes you. Still, the three act structure is an excellent navigational tool for visual storytelling because it's very easy to get "lost in the sauce".
To thisisfunhouse: We seem to agree that a film should "go where the story takes you." We also, I think, agree that it is sometimes useful to analyse a film in a three act structure. My only point is that it will lead you astray if the film is not actually put together that way. Perhaps the best approach is to look at the film itself and, if analysing it in three acts is unbalanced or problematic, you should probably conclude that it is not a three act play.@@thisisfunhouseentertainment
@@TedLittle-yp7uj That was my conclusion, and I'm fine with it. But it's my wheelhouse, I will always approach a visual story through the lens of the 3 act structure. But if it doesn't adhere to it entirely and the story is good enough, it's fine. An engineer will always consider how a structure is built and/or how each piece of a mechanism functions. It's just the lens through which they view things. It's the same with me and movies.
Great reaction!! ❤❤
Thanks for watching.🙏
That actor playing George as a kid the other actor was method, got drunk and made that kids ear bleed for real
Didn't know that. I'm actually not the biggest fan of "method", I think it's completely unnecessary. Anyway, thanks for watching, and I hope you stick around for more reactions..
A different kind of Christmas movie is A Christmas Story, a newer character.
You need to watch Good Will Hunting.
I’m Jewish I don't celebrate Christmas at all. This is one of the few Christmas movies I watch. Although I don't need lectures about the Christmas spirit from Christians.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. 🙏
I disagree about Die Hard being a Christmas movie. You can call any movie that even mentions Christmas, a Christmas movie, but if we want the idea of a “Christmas movie” to mean anything, we need to go deeper.
For me a Christmas movie must be about Christmas. Either the holiday itself or its central themes and characters, or both.
Die hard is about bank robbers posing as terrorists. It takes place on Christmas.
It’s a Wonderful Life’s finale takes place during Christmas, but most of the movie is about the themes of Christmas. Charity, kindness, love, family, despair, exultation, heaven, angels, god, measuring the value of your life a, and thinking about your accomplishments without prioritizing money are all Christmas themes. If the finale didn’t take place during Christmas, I’d say something was missing.
If Die Hard took place on March 25: same damn movie.
Just my thoughts.
Peace be with you.
Thanks taking the time to comment and share your side of the argument. I know it's an ongoing debate and it's meant to make the viewer chuckle more than anything.
Tom Sawyer is a classic American story from way before the time of this movie by Mark Twain. It is about a child growing up in the American frontier days. The book is always better 😉 but there are a few decent movie adaptations. It would be fun to see a reaction.
Thanks for watching. Will take a closer look at Tom Sawyer.