It's A Wonderful Life (1946) - James Stewart - George Bailey's Speech to Potter & the Loan Board
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- Опубликовано: 15 авг 2009
- The famous speech from George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) to Potter (Lionel Barrymore) and the loan board from Frank Capra's movie It's a Wonderful Life.
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"well in my book he died a much richer man than you'll ever be" Such an amazing line from Jimmy Stewart
And so true.
I'm not interested in your book I'm talking about the building and loan!
@@mowilderness8505 "I know very well what you're talking about, you're talking about something you can't get your fingers on, and it's galling you, that's what you're talking about, I know."
Don't you know it is the worst to die rich because now in the after you will regret dying rich.
In other words, money will not solve all your problems.
"Do you know how hard it takes a hard working man to save $5000?". Rings true to this day
I wish their was more George Baileys Out here Now a days but you Never Find them. I been Working for 31 Years and still Struggling to save.
I have a blue collar job, and it took me a few months to save 5k.
The problem isn't society, the problem is you.
@@DeeperWithDiego hi mr potter
@@TANG3RINE95 Potter is a hero. Bailey is evil.
So thank you.
@@DeeperWithDiego 5k in inflation is closer to 60k. Aka just around the median wage currently in the US.
Man I love this scene and movie. George is so human. Imperfect, flawed but unmatched character. He is the hero of an unsung people. This is one of the greatest movies of all time
Patrice Young yes
💯🔥
J. Stewart poured his heart and soul into this film and his performance is utterly perfect. if you disagree, I respect your opinion but you're wrong.
GoWithTh3Flow I love jimmy stewart's acting especially in Harvey.But there are some people who doesn't like his acting.Like in this scene some may find it over acting.But for me it shows how great jimmy is at acting desperate and angry.
This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Not only was Jimmy Stewart one of the best actors we have ever been blessed with, but he put his all into every character he played.
It's a top 5 all time acting performance for me
dont think anyone will disagree with j stewarts performance in this film, he goes through every emotion and plays them all superbly. This was a great scene, although i agree with potters sentiment on building peoples hopes up through starry eyed dreaming, nothing much has changed, the same thing happened in britain during the thatcher reign.
you saying others are wrong by disagreeing with you, is an opinion too :)
"My father died a more richer man than you will ever be." Love that quote
I love how perfectly imperfect this is. This is a heavy topic but it's delivered with the naturalness of an everyman: no stirring music rising in the background, no perfectly rehearsed delivery. I love the stammer at 0:52 that underscores the tone, I love falter in George's voice, the trailing off of his ideas. This is a man sharing his thoughts in a moment of passion, not a politician delivering a speech, not professor with a lecture.
It feels real.
Precisely bc he believes passionately in what he is delivering
@@darlenealessio7609 He (stewart) turned down easy duty in ww2 and insisted on combat. Flew multiple actual hot-mission bombing runs.
Jimmy Stewart
Stewart was an amazing actor. I also loved how Potter didn't hear one word he said.
Your 100th thumbs up!
The Best Years of our lives is a masterpiece that won many Oscar but James Stewart was the real Best actor of 1946 for Its a wonderful life.
@josemiguelgarcia122 - Yes. It's a shame that IaWL was actually held on its release. According to one source, the film was supposed to be released in January 1947, but was moved up to December 1946 to make it eligible for the 19th Academy Awards held in March 1947. Well, that move ran it up against The Best Years of Our Lives.
I wonder how it would have done the following year.
This was first movie Jimmy Stewart did when he came back from WWII...I always felt his war experience impacted his performance in this movie....almost as if he was funneling the emotions from that experience into his portrayal of George Bailey...this is one the scenes where it really shines through.
+Chris Absolutely. The scene where he is praying at the bar for God to straighten him out he later said came from hard times when he was praying before flying bombing missions into Germany during WW2
@@tomr6223 Holy cow.
I watched that Five Came Back documentary in Netflix and they discuss this movie and how Capra, being away from Hollywood for years because of the war effort, felt like he had been dislocated and that people didn't value the sacrifice he had endured in Europe - kind of like George felt during this story
He was also a General in WW2.
WWII was just brutal. Truly the last dark age of humanity.
Great scene. A confused George Bailey contemplating his decisions. Does not care much for the buisness, he agrees his father was not the best buisnessman. But he will not stand by and let anyone attack his fathers character. It is in that moment he relaizes how important the family business is to the community. Very powerful scene. And probably leads to the climax.
That's the most important thing about this scene for me. Standing up for your family.
I love this speech and Jimmy's character's morals. So much so that I named my daughter "Bailey" after him.
How beautiful.
One of the greatest scenes of all time... Jimmy Stewart is brilliant. And yes, this is so relevant to politics today it hurts.
I agree,,, My great great grandchildren will be watching this timeless classic. Christmas is not quite Christmas with out this in the background.
I agree!! FB is Mr. Potter!
@David and Naomi Pollack - You do know that Bernie Sanders is a millionaire with three houses, right?
When men used to be men
Hence, Crypto
Jimmy's rants are the best. His characters are usually naive, sweet, "golly-gee-wiz" and so on--but when it counts, he lauches into a powerful, passionate speach filled with energy and enthusiasm--and then he takes a breather, and sheepishly mutters a cute little "Oh, I-I...I said too much, I know, I know...."
George Bailey, American super-hero of the working & middle classes that have always been the heart of this great nation, gives the speech of a lifetime--the best cinematic capture ever of America's original working and middle-class values. The FBI was clearly confused (if indeed they looked on the film as anti-capitalist in any way).
Especially unforgettable: George notes that his customers are the people who "do the working, paying, living and dying"--the absolute truth. Despite his father's inability to grow the nonetheless vital small business, George brilliantly defends his father's character and how he helped so many--because--character matters!!!
The rise of the greatest middle class the world ever knew was accompanied by home ownership, and George hits the historic nail on the head when he asks the board: "doesn't it make them better customers, doesn't it make them better citizens?" We all know the answer. George is about his working and middle-class community, which--with growing home ownership, became more prosperous through the decades. And in the end, George makes one last plea for capitalist competition: the little Building and Loan must be allowed to persist, so that Big Monopoly Capital can't force them all back down into poverty!
Folks, we'll never have another movie like this one, to say nothing of the final scenes, which marks it as the greatest Christmas movie of all time, never to be surpassed...
Perfect!
Love when he calls Potter “a warped, frustrated old man.” Potter was one of those guys who loved when the market tanked so that everybody would go out of business and he could buy up the town for pennies on the dollar.
Literally what's going on right now!
And the fact he REMEMBERED that _years_ later shows how right George was.
Now look what you done mean old potter you frightened Bailey. He’s a very special handsome.
Yep…Mr. Potter is a classic example of today’s real estate investment companies. Buying properties for rental homes and making home ownership more and more difficult. They greatly diminish the supply of available homes so that sellers can raise the prices to ridiculous levels.
And these real estate investment companies often don’t take as much care of the properties as they should, and yet they charge outrageous rent prices. At least *some* communities are now trying to combat this issue, such as not allowing a buyer to rent out a home until they’ve owned it for at least a year, but it’s still not enough. It’s a serious problem that needs to be addressed nationwide.
Trump & Biden: warped & frustrated old men.
This was one of the great movies!
what i love about this scene is how he constantly stutters and interrupts himself. nobody irl comes up with a perfect speech on the spot and immediately presents it flawlessly.
George Bailey's words still echo true to this day
LisaMarieWW Angel Unfortunately :(
Business is business anyday.
Arska777999 mj
@@Arska777999 The guy who coined the phrase "it ain't personal, just business" was a mobster secretary. Explains so much.
@@saberiandream316 Mob or no mob, if you understand how money things work, it's still just business.
People are not numbers. A timeless message.
This is strangely (and sadly) timeless, being even more relevant in the current day and age than ever before.
One of the finest and moving speeches in movie history. Real feeling, and motivating logic
Carlos Spicyweiner yeah
Who ever wrote those lines was a genus/
absolutely!
I didn’t watch this movie until my girlfriend told me about it but now it’s my favorite movie
I love the portrait of his father hovering over his shoulder the whole time.
The best political statement of the 20th century.
Definitely up there with the best! x
Hear hear! Well said!
Applies to 21st century too
You have to love Jimmy Stewart's rants in his movies! Thats what makes him famous as well as his talent.
God I love this movie
A great expression of that beautiful flash-in-the-pan idealism and appreciation for the working man that the New Deal brought to this country. It’s light has gone out in the decades since, but I hope to God we see it again.
Still true today. Every word.
Now more than ever.
Agreed.
This is one of the best speeches in a movie, ever. It took me a long time to actually appreciate this movie, but now that I'm a little older, I think it's a great film.
It took me awhile to understand all the hype, too, until I discovered how close to home it hits in everyday life.
I have used this movie to teach our children about banking, about runs on banks, about lending, about monopolies, about WW2, about rationing, about love of other people, about greed, about family, about loyalty, and about making a real impact for good while on this earth.
I’m doing this monologue for my theater class and damn Jimmy Stewart does a great job
Throughout all the years the film just seems to get better every time you sit down and watch it. The simple joys in life of family and friends and helping others is the greatest gift there is in life
Jimmy Stewart would never know how true this became today
True back then too
I've seen this movie at least 50 times and hope to live long enough to see it 50 times more
Even though this film didn't do well at the box office when it first came out, it became a classic latter on and thankfully Jimmy lived long enough to see the success of this film.
Still one of my favorite movie scenes of all time.
James Stewart....a king's name.
"do you know how long it takes a working man to save $5000?" rings so much stronger when it is so hard to save in this day and yet 5k is worth so much less than it was then
this is an utterly fantastic film with breathtaking performances from the whole cast..perfection.
This is why this movie is a perfect reminder of the Christmas spirit but to keep it in your heart year round. George could’ve easily invested in plastic with his friend and became a potter he stayed the course and made more of impact than he could’ve ever imagined. I can’t believe potter is drew Barrymore great uncle explains why she’s so talented as well
Why would he become like Potter if he had invested in plastics like his friend advised him to?
@@NostalgicGamerRickOShay Because he would have let all the people down who kept their money in his father's savings and loan. He decided to stay the course, and his love and dedication, in the end, caused more happiness and prosperity for everyone, instead of just thinking about himself, he took the hard road and stuck to his principles and he also honored his father in doing so. He didn't take the easy way out, which would have left all those people ruined and on the street. It is a good Christmas movie for this reason.
I think this is one of the best monologues in film history. The emotional energy jumps off the screen. And yes, the words ring true today. Love, love James Stewart still!
Classic scene from one of the greatest films of all time!
Greatest monologue of all time. Is it even close?
George Bailey is also like me. I believe in helping others. Elvis also loved this movie. And he was a great man. We need more great men.
What an absolutely fantastic scene, the working, paying, living and dying part of his speech always gets me!
One of the greatest speeches in film history.
There will never be a classier actor than James Stewart, he was and is the best. That is all.
Shelter IS A RIGHT, not a privilege. You tell em George
This rant changed me growing up.
I’m 32 years old now this was my fathers favorite movie and both my grandparents are from jimmy Stewart’s generation RIP,
Fantastic scene and perfromance by Mr. Stewart. So natural, so convincing and eloquent. I wonder if any school can teach that. I'd say I believe in natural gift. You can't make another JS.
Hollywood *won't abide* another Jimmy Stewart. How bout that?
When actors could act and treated it like a craft. This film is always a joy to watch.
"Do you know how long it takes a working man to save $5000" is something that's so poignant even now
it's massively worse now. Today's 5k back then was attainable; $211. He's talking about what we would see as $105,000.
@@casebarreoltt5990 And that won't buy a house either. It is more than just raw numbers as well.
I always thought Lionel Barrymore, Old Man Potter stole this movie. Barrymore was so damn convincing playing the evil banker. Barrymore himself being nothing like the character he played in this in real life. In my opinion everyone did a great job in this film, but to me anyway, Lionel Barrymore's performance really stood out.
As I was watching this movie again last night (have to watch it every Christmas season), I found myself thinking the same thing. I don't think I've ever seen such a convincing performance of a villain anywhere else. Any other actor would have hammed up the "Grumpy, selfish old plutocrat" to the point of it becoming a caricature, but Barrymore's Potter is as real as can be. Now when I muse on the greatest character performances of all time, this one will be on my list.
@@Chishannicon watch The Dark Knight and Heath Lester's performance.
@@Chishannicon It is Mr. Barrymore's performance that enriched the entire movie's believability.
Which is funny. Watch Frank Capra’s film “You Can’t Take It with You”. Lionel Barrymore plays the exact opposite of Potter. An old man who would rather live life to the fullest and allow people to grow and create in his home rather than let money put him down. :)
Capra knew what he was doing when he cast him. :)
Yeah he's like Rothschild meets Bush in this. The real world scum in suits.
One of the best moments of the movie. A truly heartfelt scene.
Best scene in the film for me. Absolutely stirs the soul
James Stewart is the ideal of manhood
The USA has become Pottersville.......
"I know VERY WELL what YOU'RE talking about!!!" === Best Line Ever.
Mr. Potter is a one of the best villains of all time, played against of the best protagonists of all time, in one of the best moves of all timed, played by some of the best actors of all time, in the best country of all time.
It's A Wonderful Life has always been my favorite movie! Always Remember: "No Man Is A Failure Who Has Friends"!!! Always ~ Joanne Wilson
Clarence Peabody angel 2nd class!
I wish more people watched this and would see we let the world be run by Potters and now we're suffering for it. This is such an amazing movie.
best monologue ever..
George Bailey: "Just a minute. Just a minute, now hold on, Mr. Potter. Just a minute, now you're right, when you say my father was no business man. I know that. Why he ever started this cheap penny anty Building & Loan, I'll never know but neither you or anybody else can say something against his character because his whole life was - Why in the 25 years since he and Uncle Billy started this thing, he never once thought of himself. Isn't that right, Uncle Billy? He didn't save enough money to send Harry to school, let alone me, but he did help a few people get out of your slums, Mr. Potter. And what's wrong with that? You're all businessmen, here. Don't it make them better citizens? Doesn't make them better customers.. You said that they.. what'd you say just a minute ago? "They had to wait and save their money before they even thought of a decent home." Wait?!~ Wait for what? ..until their children grow up and leave them? ..until they are so old and broken down that - do you know how long it takes a working man to save $5000 dollars? Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about, they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him, but to you, a warped frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well, in my book, he died a much richer man than you'll ever be..."
Potter: "I'm not interested in your book. I'm talking about the Building & Loan."
George Bailey: "I know very well what you're talking about, you're talking about something you can't get your fingers on and it's gawing ya! That's what you're talking about, I know. Well, I've said too much. I... You're the, you're the board here, you do what you want with this thing. There's just one thing more though, this town needs this measly one horse institution, if only to have someplace where people can come without crawling to Potter!"
This movie must be divine!
Jimmy Stewart, such a natural...
"People were human beings to him, but to you, a warp, frustrated old man, they're cattle! Well, in my book, he died a much richer man than you'll ever be!"
Nearly 80 years later, it rings beautiful in my ears!
James was an incredible actor, a rare find now.
Tears me up every time.😢
Love Jimmy Stewart- he was such a good guy and decent. Potter reminds me of the Koch brothers.
I mean Stewart was decent in real life, not just as George Bailey.
You are very obviously confused. Lets set the record straight. Jimmy Stewart was a military man, a hero pilot during WWII. And, he was a Conservative Republican his whole life. If anything, Mr Potter ought remind you of the anti-American George Soros, not the Koch brothers.
BrutalTruth1 I don’t particularly love George Soros, but you must know absolutely nothing of the Koch brothers if you think a comparison between them and Potter isn’t to the letter.
Likewise, republicans of 50+ years ago aren’t necessarily the same as those of today, and I think this film is a clear indicator of that. Regardless, even if Jimmy Steward had shared the exact same views as modern republicans, George Bailey certainly wouldn’t have.
PS the Koch brothers are notorious for perpetuating anti-scientific lies, funding think tanks and even schools to pedal their propaganda to impressionable teens and lobbying those with power, all in an attempt to keep their massive oil empire and riches alive and well. If you don’t think those monuments to corporate corruption are anti-American, then I’d be terrified to hear exactly what you think to be American.
@@BrutalTruth1 Did you know the FBI and the House Un-American Activities Committee smeared this movie as "communist propoganda" and didn't like the way Potter was portrayed in the movie?
@@jonathanjoestarwithpluck4930 Can't speak for the Koch brothers, but the general rule is this: business is supposed to be about making every stakeholder's life better. This is why innovation exists, for the advancement of society. Capitalism is great at the core, but allows for rotten men like Potter to spring up.
Potter owned a lot of businesses in town, as well as housing complexes. He didn't care about anyone's well-being, or even their life. All he really cared about was money and domination. On the other side, the small-business Bailey Bros. was helping their community out. Despite it being a bank, it helped people mortgage their homes and live a decent life. THIS is the real wealth, knowing that you have made an improvement that isn't just to your wallet.
I can't get enough of this film. I am in live with Jimmy Stewart
Potter just straight up jacks that cash from Uncle Billy. Cold as ice
Today, there are some people that would call Potter 'successful'. If being successful means being like Potter, I'm perfectly happy being broke.
This is such a great scene and indicative of the larger message of the movie. You can see Bailey addressing Potter and Potter seems to be unconvinced. But if you look closely at the other people in the room, they are clearly being influenced by what he said. He was making a difference there even though he didn't know it.
Still to this day.. this scene gives me the vapors. Sad how hard it still rings true.
George Bailey for president.
2 of the best minutes ever put to film.
seems like no one is like George Bailey anymore...everyone is like Potter!!! This movie is the true meaning of christmas!
@thelastholdout In black and white he is kinda cute in a rugged way love his eyes. I like when actors get into character w their faces
So proud that this is my namesake
George Bailey speaks for the 99%!
So deep and serious.... People living for others at the cost of their own amazing highly appreciative... World is full of wicked... Everything comes with a cost tag.... Still love takes care of every situation...... Bewitched 💝💝💝💝
If people wonder why this film is so revered...its scenes like this and the performance of a great actor like Stewart. But this is just one of the many brilliant scenes in this timeless movie. This frank capra film is a masterpiece
This was brilliant
"This rabble you're talking about, they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community."
This is so relevant in 2023
Was it never not relevant in any time period?
Both Lionel Barrymore (Potter) and Jimmy Stewart (George Bailey) are screen legends. You don't become one from poor acting.
incredible acting on the part of stewart... amazing
Best film performance of all time. Easily.
In today's installment of statements that aged like fine wine
I learned to appreciate this movie.
thank you so much for uploading this. i love this movie.. i swear im george bailey! :) this movie will pertain to humans for the next hundred years. thank you so much james stewart for fitting the part so well. RIP !
Lionel Barrymore is only one among several fine actors in this classic. His performance is fabulous. He' is THE ultimate villain!
The J. Stewart soliloquy about this "measly little town....without crawling to Potter" is timeless and more appropriate today than ever.
I wonder if anyone knows that this Frank Capra film was panned when it was released in ...of all times, I think....JULY?
The critics called it "CAPRA corn." As a film buff, I could say I agree. Yet it lives on and on still to this day. Why is this? Because the message is timeless, especially given the value system that exists among so many "it's all about me" Greedy Americans, who don't understand what it means to put others less fortunate before themselves.
THIS is what makes it a classic. And I just LOVE IT!
+bravaLiz It didn't make money but it was nominated for 5 Academy Awards. Now it's been voted one of the best movies of all time (top 5).
Tom R Are you referring to the SAG Award list? If so, I am not surprised. However, I must say I blundered. This film did in fact premier around Christmas, but was shot during July. I confused this (I think?) with the Maureen O'Hara/Edmund Gwen etc. "Miracle on 34th Street." IF I had time...I'd look it up. I rarely have time to even check responses here. I have something like 150+ "notifications"...Lord only knows what some folks have commented....and I suppose the sun will rise and the moon will set if I don't check out all the "nasties" hahaha...Alles Gute to you!
+bravaLiz Yes the SAG list. It's a shame that the NBCTV network now owns the right to It's A Wonderful Life. They load it down with commercials usually. I broke down and bought it on Amazon Prime Video for $5. It's not the money but it's a little like Potter now owns the movie
Tom R U-R-SEW-...RITE! and it is beyond absurd. Very astute observation. ....the more things change....the more they stay the same. :/
Tom R just fyi... also aired on the USA channel. Best version is to either watch on TCM....or just BUY the darn video! (Smiles to you)
und...... ein glückliches Neues Jahr !
Their is a lot of potters out here.in this world.are stingy. and their are a lot of George Bailey Who Are Very Kind to People.
Donald Trump, the Kochs, the Mercers, Mitt Romney, the Clintons, the Bushes, Dick Cheney, Milton Friedman, Ayn Rand, private health insurance companies, big pharma, And many many more Potters too many to name.
Magnificent
For those 4 little seconds - from 0:42 to 0:47 - even Potter didn't say a word.
Although he did ramble on throughout most of the movie, he was actually silent during those 4 seconds.
And he seemed impressed by George's speech during those 4 little seconds.
And the actor, Lionel Barrymore, who portrayed Potter in this movie, knew Jimmy Stewart just came back from the War - and he looked like he was holding back tears for those 4 little seconds.
This scene is powerful, not just because of Jimmy’s performance, but because it rings with solid truth, passion and compassion.
Also, since I'm going off on this clip already- if you want to learn how to act, watch the extras or other board members in this scene in the background. Look at how their expressions change as George becomes more impassioned. Look at Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell) eyes fill at the end filled with gleeful comeuppance. This scene is driven by the wonderful ability of James Stewart but its carried home by every other actor involved. I hope the crew applauded after finishing the scene.
One of the best speeches ever.
Although it's tough to make a simple leap between Potter and the modern financial meltdown, somehow I get the same taste in my mouth. It's amazing how relevant this slightly proletariat-championed scene remains. Oliver Stone's "Wall Street" can't be understood without this film.
My opinion also is it's here you can really see Stewart's transformation after returning from war. You can't find that emotion. It has to be seared into you.
This movie is my all time favorite movie!!!
The FBI genuinely included this film in a list of "motion pictures disclosing communist propaganda therein."
Any notion of respecting the working class is a threat to the rich & powerful the FBI is there to protect.
Fantastic scene & film.