IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) | MOVIE REACTION! | FIRST TIME WATCHING!
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 6 дек 2022
- Full reactions to movies, early access and polls: / movieswithmary
⭐ Follow me on⭐
Twitter - / marijchu
Twitch - / marijchu
Instagram - / marijchu_
⭐Support the channel and get full reactions⭐
Patreon - / movieswithmary
😊 Thank you so much to my Patrons! 😊
Alonso
ChrisD
Christopher
Daddy Dogg
Danny Miller
Dedra
Dustin
Elzar
Henry
Jack The Narrator
Jeremy
Knightharbinger
Kogs
KremitLeFroge
Lorni
Luke
Mikeeb
Noby
Rustin Cohle
Rwall
Sam
Scott
The_Bagel_King
Tyler
Edited by: BetweenWorldsEditing
betweenworldsediting.wixsite.... and final touches by Laurens
#react #reaction #itsawonderfullife 
Развлечения
![It's a Wonderful Life (1946) First Time Watching [ Movie Reaction ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/N-IFX6I66Fw/mqdefault.jpg)
Fun fact: The actor who played Mr. Potter, Lionel Barrymore was actually the nicest man. He encouraged Stewart to take the part in "Wonderful Life" when Stewart thought it was trivial and frivolous compared to his combat missions in WWII. He asked him, "what's more beneficial, dropping bombs on people's heads or providing them with a story of hope and celebrating life?"
Afterwards, Steward was proud of the movie.
Also Drew Barrymore's Great Uncle
Well, if you had never been born, thousands of people would have been denied the joy of watching your reactions. That is a lot Mary.
I'm not crying. You're crying. Okay, we're both crying. Lovely reaction to a warm, classic film. Thanks Mary.
Every time my father would happen across this movie when flipping through television channels he would say, "Oh, I'll have to watch this one of these days." He has watched it dozens of times and he still says that.
This is such a classic Dad habit haha.
It’s like Lord of the Rings - whenever one of the movies is playing, you always watch. It’s a Wonderful Life is exactly like that. At the end of the day, they are moral stories that stick with our hearts.
What a line in the intro. "Is he sick?" "Worse, he's discouraged." There are so many discouraged people in the world today causing so many problems.
I think we’re discouraged because we feel we have no power to help with the problems that we see rather than causing them ourselves.
Discouraged people are not causing the problem. They're discouraged because of the others who are causing problems they cannot change.
I just noticed two lines that mirror each other - in the beginning when George is telling off Mr. Potter he says of his father "In my book, he died a much richer man than you'll ever be." and then at the end Harry toasts George saying, "To my big brother George, the richest man in town!"
The prayer scene in the bar.. I'm telling you that's one of the most real pieces of acting I've ever seen from films at the time.
Stewart and Capra were such a great team ❤️
That's because Stewart's emotion was real. He'd just come back from Europe after the war, and it was still very much in his mind. Capra said the emotion Jimmy showed was the real deal, and didn't want to do a re-take of the scene. Stewart said making this film helped him sort out a lot of those emotions.
So powerful
For me it's when he hugs Tommy and starts crying in fear. I've seen a lot of amazing acting but I'm a firm believer that Jimmy Stewart's performance is the greatest lead acting performance of all time.
Because apparently it wasn't acting :(
It was not in the script to cry in the “prayer scene” at the bar.
This is what J. Stewart said about that scene…
“I remember when I read the first draft of the script, and that scene, the little prayer, affected me. When I did it in the movie it did, and it did the same to me right now. This is a theory that I’ve always had; creating moments in movies, this I think is the important thing. Nobody knows exactly how it happens. What you should do is to prepare yourself as best as you can to make these moments happen. Because in a movie it’s really not so much the performance, there are moments.”
One of the best movies ever made I think. I don't know anyone that doesn't love this movie. The story is as relevant now as back when it was made. $8,000 in 1940 is the equivalent of about $140,000 today so it was definitely a huge deal in the story. So glad you watched this movie Mary.
The story behind the actor makes this even better in my opinion. The actor had gone off to war, and when he came back he had PTSD, so it just seems to hit harder when you see him having difficult times and overcoming it
Yes, the story goes that in the scene where George is at the bar, at his wit's end and praying for guidance, the tears that Jimmy Stewart shed were real.
James Stewart was an Officer in my Dad's 455th Bomb Group ( B-24's ) based at Tibbenham, England during WW II. That's why he was my Dad's favourite Actor .... Nothing Phony about him!
Colonel Stewart was the commander of a bomber squadron that had a casualty rate of 1 in 10, meaning a pilot had a 1 in 10 chance of not making it back. Stewart flew 20 combat missions and had hundreds of combat hours, watching dozens of his friends plummet from the sky toward death.
His good friend, the director of the film Frank Capra, put him in this film after he got back from the War when nobody was hiring him - knowing that Stewart would play the part perfectly, and captured his real breakdown on film. Stewart often said that this was his favorite of all thee films he ever did. He was promoted to Brigadier General in the reserves.
Jimmy Stewart said he could never forget the innocent civilians his bombs killed over western Europe. A lotta guys from that generation had the same dilemma haunting them as long as they lived.
@@seannovack3834 Brigadier General Stewart.
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 !
Love those kind of background details. Thanks for posting.
1,000% agree. Best. Christmas. Movie. Ever!
I see it every year & as a man, I am NOT ashamed to admit that the moving, inspirational ending makes me break out in tears EVERY time! (it's practically Pavlovian now)
The simple idea that "goodness" gets rewarded is "wonderful".
I was going to mention Jimmy Stewart with PTSD in this and I'm glad you included it. He was hesitant to do the movie because if it, but went ahead. That prayer scene wasn't a great shot as the camera wasn't properly focused, but Capra decided to use it anyway because of Stewart's genuine emotions coming out.
Many people don't realize Jimmy Stewart was a bomber pilot in Europe, and even less know that he reached the rank of Brigadier General in the reserves, and actually flew as an observer on a mission in Vietnam.
Thanks so much for the details, didn't know that much about this movie i love
People who were around roughly in the mid 80's to mid 90's probably remember this movie being on TV ALL THE TIME during the holiday season. There had been a clerical error which prevented this movie's copyright from being renewed, allowing any TV station to air it. So EVERY TV station aired it seemingly non-stop around Christmas time. I remember you could literally flip through the channels and see it playing simultaneously on various stations. The good thing is, the constant air play allowed everyone to see it and probably helped cement the movie as an all-time classic.
Yes,I was around in the 1980's,and have watched this Movie about a dozen times in one year.The year was 1984.This Movie had that impact on me.Great Classic,and feel good Movie.
The running joke in our family used to be how many times we'd seen it in the previous month, and if anyone had watched it beginning to end.
It developed special meaning for us when my brother went into the military. He was stationed in Europe and happened to be in barracks his first Christmas there. This was the only things showing on the Armed Forces Channel so the only thing available to watch in English. It brought us together knowing he was watching it there while we were watching it here and made our separation a tiny bit easier
There was the intro to that one episode of Cheers; "It's a Wonderful Life" is on, the barflies all complain about how often it's on, then turn around so no one can see them wiping the tears from their eyes.
Cheers was one of my favorite shows! But I've never seen that cold open...Until now! (It's a Christmas miracle!)
Thank you! ruclips.net/video/HDz31oce4wg/видео.html
@@victorsixtythree Nice! Happy to help 😁
As good as this movie is, as vital and just... enriching, I have never really taken a second to appreciate the great job the young man playing George as a boy did in the scene confronting Gower. It's very hard for him to talk back to an adult, to his boss, and the way he pleads when he thinks Gower is going to clout his ear again while Gower is just thanking him for preventing a tragedy.... gets me every time.
It's awesome to realize that the entire problem was solved as George walked out of his house; Mary picking up the phone and encouraging her daughter to pray very hard. Mary is an amazing character. Sam's telegram always makes me tear up, too. They likely already had the money but it just slams the door shut on there being a crisis. Hee-haw and Merry Christmas!
Icing on the cake is the bank examiner contributing some cash, and going into the crowd, singing. Following immediately by the tearing up of the warrant. And of course all the little callbacks: Violet not leaving town. Gower. Martini who busted the jukebox. Annie, who gives her "divorce money".
That was actual blood coming from George’s ear. The actor that played Mr. Gower got a little carried away.
After decades of watching and re-watching this movie, it occurred to me for the first time while watching this reaction that Mary, sitting at the soda counter, reacts to Mr. Gower slapping George in the back room, and that must mean she overhears their entire conversation, is aware of Gower's mistake and that George prevented a tragedy, and also of George's promise to keep it a secret, and she also keeps it a secret.
@@oliverbrownlow5615 That is very true! Mary is a true heroine of this movie:
She's the one who makes the decision to give George the honeymoon money during the bank run emergency. That same night, she creates the honeymoon at home.
She actively supports the savings and loan business, injecting that warmth and humanity into it, as we see from the Martini welcome. This helps cement the network of friendship that will be so vital later on.
Her friendship with Sam is also going to be extremely important. And when George storms out of the house, she immediately begins to take action.
My bet is that, in the never-been-born section, when she hasn't married Hee-Haw Sam, but is working in the library, she, not George, is the defense against Potter. Clearly it's a losing battle, but she is so different from everyone else se see in Pottersville, I'm betting we could create a meaningful backstory for her.
Agreed, the actor for young George moved me every time with his performance in that scene with Gower. He totally sells the compassion that George feels even in the midst of his fear.
One of my favourite christmas movies. I watch it every year and cry everytime.
Watched this last Christmas eve for the first time. It wrecked me. I was a mess for hours after it ended. It is such a good movie!
I appreciate that no matter how bleak it may have gotten for George, he didn't resort to cooking methamphetamine.
Or killing Potter.
The studio didn't know how to turn the meth blue.
@@Saboteur709 Especially not when filmed in black-and-white!
(George) Say my name.
(Potter) Heisenberg?
(George) You're Gosh. Darn. Right!
Potter: "I will kill your wife. I will kill your son. I will kill your infant daughter "
George: "Hot dog! "
Fantastic reaction, Mary, thank you!
One thing that I like to think about is how amazing Mary was in this movie. It was her idea to use their honeymoon savings to bail out the Building and Loan. She organized their first night in the old house. It looks like she renovated that house single-handedly. Then as George is having his breakdown, she rallies the town to his aid. As amazing a guy as George was, he really needed Mary in his life.
Also, really love your sweatshirt. Merry Christmas!
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.
What greater demonstration could there ever be of the truth and power of this movie's message?
This movie has saved a lot of lives.
VE Day = Anniversary of Victory Europe
VJ Day = Anniversary Victory Japan
James Stewart received the most military awards of any Hollywood Actor during WWII. He was commanding officer of the 703d Bomber Squadron out of England. He flew 20 B24 Bombing Missions.
Uh no. It was NOT the anniversary dates in this movie. It was ACTUAL victory in Europe and victory in Japan dates.
@@zedwpd Sorry, I was under the impression it was 1946 at that point instead of 1945.
@@zedwpd When I was a kid, we were taught VE Day = Victory Over Europe and VJ Day = Victory Over Japan. Though I guess the accepted term in 2022 that historians use is Victory In Europe. Victory Over Japan is still in use.
Mary, you should have remembered this from Band of Brothers. Tisk, tisk.
VE- Victory in Europe. VJ=Victory in Japan.
And yes, in that part of the film it isn't the anniversary, it's the actual events.
Welcome to the very big club of people who love this movie! It's a masterpiece, and you're exactly right: your children, and THEIR children will watch and love it. We have a family tradition for Christmas each year, with grandparents, parents and grandkids all watching together. The finale makes my cry every time, even though I've seen it dozens of times.
I was laughing and crying at the same time when Mary broke because of the ringing bell. There's layer upon layer of emotions laid on at the end and it was indeed the last straw that broke the camels back as she said.
I saw this movie at least a dozen times before I noticed that it ends with the ringing of an enormous (church) bell!
Even watching this edited like this the ending still gets me. It's full of so much joy.
I've seen this movie more than 20 times and I still tear up at the ending. I can not think of any other movie that has made me cry from happiness rather than sadness.
The actor that George tells "why don't you stop annoying people" at the dance was Carl Switzer who played "Alfalfa" in "The Little Rascals." He was later murdered in a fight with someone over money. Weird. VE - Victory in Europe, VJ - Victory in Japan - the days when World War II ended in both theaters. Also, the strings around Uncle Billy's fingers are supposed to be a way to remind yourself to remember something. Of course, it doesn't work. This movie used to be shown in a 24-hour binge on Christmas in the US, the same way that "A Christmas Story" is shown today. You should also watch other movies directed by Frank Capra - "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," "Mr. Deeds goes to town," and "Meet John Doe."
*Meet John Doe* (1941) also has a Christmas connection.
I personally always liked Meet John Doe... because Barbara Stanwyck is in it, and yeah Gary Cooper. No spoilers haha...
This is not just a lot of people's favorite Christmas movie, it's a lot of people favorite movie ever!
A lot of people, including me, will come across this movie half way through, a stop just to watch the end. It makes you cry every time . Glad you loved it
Every time ❤️
This movie and the Peanuts Christmas Special (a TV special from the late 1960's) are two annual traditions in the US. Both are shown every year and they never get old.
Well not Charlie Brown any longer. Apple (the Grinch & Scrooge company) bought it and wants folks to pay to watch it via streaming.
@@thomast8539 Which is why I have it on DVD, so some streaming dictators can't get money out of me.;) Physical media may take up space, but you'll never have to pay streaming fees or face censorship.
Donna Reed, who played Mary, played ball in high school and college. For the window-breaking scene, there was a sound effects artist standing by to make the noise of the window shattering. Reed hit the glass on the first take and the sound effect wasn't needed.
Hi Mary, this is Jimmy Stewart's first film after returning from the European Theater of Operations as a B-17 Bomber Pilot. He remained in the Air Force Reserve the rest of his life. He eventually attained the rank of Brigadier General. He also did a pre-war movie entitled " It's a Wonderful World ". He also did a post-war movie called " Malaya 1949 " One of his best. It's about doings in the early years of World War II.
Respectfully, he flew B-24s rather than B-17s.
@@PewteyArthur :) He was a Liberator after all. Thank you for the information.
Yes he was a bomber pilot but not B-17 Fortresses. He flew B-24 Liberators.
I remember seeing him in the eighties on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson talking about his service and I never forgot the B-24 stories. He went on some very scary mission's. A very brave man indeed and one of my favorite actor's.
Merry Christmas
Peace ❤
@@PewteyArthur Hello, I like the main landing gear of the B - 24. It's unique.
I know that it's sentimental Americana. However, as far as I am concerned It's a Wonderful Life is simply a wonderful film.
Thank you for a lovely reaction to a classic film.
The actor who played George Bailey flew B-24 Bombers in Europe during WW2. He retired as a General in the US Air Force Reserves. He even had a mission over Vietnam right before he retired.
B-24's ....
I watch this every year. When it originally came out it flopped at the box office. Now it's loved by generations.
Oh joy, Mary made me cry. This movie hits a harder chord the older you are when you watch it as you have more years of life (good and bad) experiences behind you. 10 years ago, the movie to me was just meh. 10 years on, I cry whenever it's on. It is a gentle reminder that hopefully I have made a positive impact on the people around me, and that life gives you gifts that I should recognize as such. Wonderful reaction, Mary. Happy holidays to you and your husband.
The actress that played ZuZu also played the daughter in The Bishop's Wife (1947) with Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven. Another sweet Christmas movie that Mary (and all of you) should watch. Merry Christmas!
Cary Grant was originally cast to play the lead in this film.
Frank Capra decided to replace him with James Stewart.
I watched The Bishop's Wife last year. I liked it a lot. But I suspect they used a double for the figure skating part.
and, it's available here on youtube to watch for free right now. i might go watch it, i've never seen it.
@@gk5891 And Cary was originally cast to play the Bishop and David Niven was going to be the Angel .... Dodged a Bullet on that one!
Yes, this film and the Bishops Wife are my favorites. Father Goose is also a good one along with House Boat.
Fun fact Zuzu got her name from a cookie. Zuzu was a brand of ginger snaps owned by the National Biscuit Co. later renamed Nabisco. That's why George at the end of the movie calls Zuzu his little ginger snap
Yes, and Wiki says: "In Out of the Cracker Barrel by William Cahn (a book commissioned by the National Biscuit Company), the name of the product is said to have possibly originated from a character in the play Forbidden Fruit by Dion Boucicault. Adolphus Green, NBC's first chairman, supposedly saw the play and adapted the name of the character 'Zulu.'"
I swear I read somewhere it was a corruption of "Zulu," but I can't find that reference so I must have dreamt it.
Her nickname was ZuZu, not her given name. That was Susan.
@@thomast8539 Technically true but even IMBD has her character listed as Zuzu not Susan
Hi Mary, I really enjoyed seeing your reaction to one of my all-time favorite movies. I few interesting facts; Lionel Barrymore who played old man Potter was instrumental in talking Jimmy Stewart into getting back into films after he returned from the war. Stewart was contemplating giving up acting after serving in WW2 and felt that acting was no longer important to him after what he went through flying bombing missions in Europe. Second, the scene where Mary throws a rock through the window when they first met was Donna Reed really making that throw. She grew up on a farm in Iowa and was a bit of a tomboy She told the director that she could do it since she played a lot of softball growing up. Just in case she couldn't do it they had a former sharp shooter from the war who was on standby to break the window by shooting at it. Lastly, to show you how good of an actor Mr. Stewart was, the scene where he tells off Potter during the board meeting after his father's death was all done on the first take, one shot, no editing needed!
I love the origin of this movies popularity. It flopped at the time (I'd guess thematically ahead of its time) and due to a clerical error the studio that owned the rights didn't renew the copyright putting it in the public domain. TV networks were able to show it for free, and it gained following as a classic.
It was nominated for Best Picture, so not exactly a flop. It exceed its budget, and did not recoup at the box office.
@@catherinelw9365 Terminology obviously can vary, but I don't think I'm misusing it.
"In the film and media industry, if a film released in theatres fails to break even by a large amount, it is considered a box office bomb (or box office flop), thus losing money for the distributor, studio, and/or production company that invested in it."
It's a wonderful movie, I'm not disparaging.
🤣 It never fails, everybody cries at the end. Even the hardest souls surrenders at the end of It's a Wonderful Life. Merry Christmas!
Definitely one if not my favourite Christmas films with my favourite actors James Stewart hard to believe this wasn't a hit when it was released.
I cry at the end of this movie every time I see it. I'm so satisfied that you cried too! It's a wonderful life and a wonderful movie!
Mary my Christmas season doesn't start till I watch this movie. Growing up this movie was such a necessity we named our first dog Bailey because he had the same kind of long face as Jimmy Stewart . Mary have a wonderful Christmas 💚🎄🎄❄️
I remember watching this film in a Robyn Movie House in Leeds, with 4 old ladies in the front row talking about how handsome Jimmy Stewart was and “ ooh, my Harold looked just like him when we wed”. A wonderful film from a golden age of cinema. So glad you enjoyed this Mary. Merry Christmas & a happy new year!
d:)
This film ALWAYS makes me cry. I love it so much and I love that people are constantly discovering it.
Jimmy Stewart won a Oscar for his role in the Philadelphia Story! He stared with 2 of the greatest actors of all time Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant! Mary you would love it!!!”
Mary, your reaction is exactly what the Director was going for.
I watch it every Christmas Eve, it's become a family tradition :)
Nice reaction. The reason this movie is still popular today, after all these years, is because it was just a great story. Great acting, (for the time) Really pulls on the heart strings. I guess this is about the 15th time I've seen it... with your reaction. Again, nice reaction, glad you appreciated it.
What a gosh darn tear-jerker, every time.
One of the loveliest films ever made. You are a pretty crummy person if you can't derive pleasure and joy from this film!
Potter in the movie is just the idol and one has to get joy from seeing him do stuff!
In the bar when George is praying before being punched, there is a couple singing in the background. The woman is Adriana Caselotti, who in 1937 voiced "Snow White" for Disney.
The ending of this film gets me every time.
This movie was my dad's favorite. I watched it with him every single Christmas since I was a baby in 1976. When he passed in Feb 2003, I swore I would never watch it again. Then Christmas time came around. And my 9 year old stepson, who'd known my dad all his life, came to the computer room one day and he said to come into the living room right now. When I got there, he looked at me and he said "come on, it's about to start". On the table there was a bowl of chips, a bowl of pop corn, Coca-Cola with ice, some gummy bears etc... Like there had been every year my entire life. That's when I heard the music. My heart broke and I opened my mouth to thank this boy for his nice gesture but I wasn't going to be able to watch it this year.
Before I could say anything he sat on the couch and said "I think it's time I watched it, even though it looks boring. Don't make me watch it alone."
And the first time he heard a bell ring after he saw that movie, he smiled the biggest smile and told me "grandpa got his wings".
This boy is 28 years old now. And every year he comes over with chips, pop corn, gummy bears and cokes. And we watch it together.
Victory in Europe and Victory in Japan are VE day and VJ day. Great reaction, one of my faves.
Helping you cry at the end of the movie is the most I've cried at it for a long time. One of my favorite movies.
You have become my favourite person to watch movie reactions with. This film is so special. There's a colour version too but i prefer the black and white one.
VE: Victory in Europe. VJ: Victory in Japan, which officially marked the end of WW2
That greatest Christmas movie ever, in my opinion.
It's probably just my warped sense on humor, but I found Mary's question about the squirrel to be hilarious.
Well done, Mary. It's a nostalgic film, but a reminder of the goodness in life. Your reaction made me cry, in a good way. Chris
I start crying at the way the child Mary looks at George in Mr. Gower's shop.
Mary you are flawless on picking black-and-white movies! I believe this is your fifth one and every one of them has been a iconic classic! I don’t expect you to react to this request this Christmas, but put this away for next year. A lot of people have done versions of ‘A Christmas Carol’ but they always do modern versions that are not set in the period Dickens wrote the book. The original story is the best and it’s the reason the others copy it. I suggest you do the 1951 version starring Alistair Sim. It’s actually a British version and most people believe it’s the best. I always laugh and cry watching it.
Such a beautiful movie that will always be remembered.
Another Christmas movie with James Stewart I really enjoy is The Shop Around the Corner (1940).
This is my favorite Christmas movie ever. I am 66 yrs old and every year for many years i would watch this . In my opinion a better Christmas story never was made.
Every small town class has some kind of saying known only amongst themselves. For these kids (and now adults) it was Hee Haw. They showed it in the first scene with the sled shovels and continued it throughout their lives.
This is by far my favorite reaction from you. This was a joy to watch. Merry Christmas!🎄
The scene when he asks his mother to take him in and she says she doesn't know him, and he runs and turns to the camera, does a slow burn, that's great acting.
Great reaction to this classic. For more Christmas movies try A Christmas Carol starring George C. Scott and Scrooge starring Albert Finney. Scrooge is kind of a musical and I think you'd absolutely love it.
hands down one of the greatest movies ever made. people will still be watching it in 100 years. its a wonderful life is a timeless classic.
What I love about this movie is the fact that most of the movie is following George through most of his life. This allows the audience to really see the character development, fall in love with the characters, and draw more from the timeline where George does not exist. We saw the significant events that happened, but we do not see the regular events in between. We even forget through the movie some of the events that took place, or can’t draw conclusions from what may have happened to the characters that is not shown. The alternate timeline not only shows the impact of the significant acts like Harry, Mr. Gower, Mr. Martini, Uncle Billy and Mary. But, it also show others that were indirectly affected like Bert, Ernie, Ma Bailey, Violet, and the rest of the town.
We could all learn a lot from this movie. I bet many times we see things through George’s eyes where we only see the negative right in front of us at the time. One of the quotes that hits me now is “Strange isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole doesn’t he?”
I've been watching your reaction videos for nearly a year now, and have enjoyed all of them very much. However, your reaction and closing comments for this move was so touching for me. I grew up watching this film nearly every year, and to see that youth, like yourself, can still see and understand the message of the story, even today, is extremely reassuring. It reminds me that even with the troubles, challenges and negativity I see in the world everyday, that the good that lives in the heart of mankind still exists. Thank you for being you. ♥
I watched this movie for the first time when I was 10, and I've watched it every year since then, and it's been decades. It's a family tradition to have our Christmas Eve meal and then watch it together as a family. It is without a doubt imo the BEST Christmas movie ever made, and one of my favorite movies just generally. I've cried each and every time I've watched it, from poor young George crying because he's getting hit on his "trick" ear, to that heartbreaking scene where adult George is praying for help, to the final act where you both laugh and cry. A word about Donna Read as well. She's kind and sweet and luminous as an angel herself, the wife we'd wish for our sons. I hope you do show this to your children, Mary, as I showed it to mine. I was very careful what they watched as they were growing up, and they saw many, many "old" movies, because I believed many of them taught the values I wanted to imbue in them. I think it "stuck"! :). If you get a chance, you might like The Bishop's Wife with Cary Grant and Loretta Young, and of course there's the various "Scrooge" movies. My favorite is still the 1951 Alastair Sims one by far, but the George C. Scott one is pretty good as well. If you watch Little Women, let me put in a word for the old version with June Alyson; I think it's the truest to the book, and if not that, then the Wynona Ryder one. A good romantic comedy set during Christmas is While You Were Sleeping with the wonderful Sandra Bullock.
Mary, you asked what if you hadn't been born. Think about this - there are probably many people who would not have seen this movie on RUclips without you. I don't know about all of those people but this movie has always kept me going whenever times were bad. I certainly believe it has for many others as well - - one of your many friends who watch this channel.
“If I have ever kids I want them to watch stuff like this” I cried with you throughout the movie (as did many of us who have watched this over 20 times). Thank you for the beautiful reaction and congratulations on your recent expectancy! One day you’ll be watching this Christmas Classic with your Son or Daughter and sharing your experience when you first watched it with all of us :)
This classic movie is one of the best ever made. I’m not crying, you’re crying.
The strings on his hand were a trick people used to use to remember things. They’d tie a string to their finger to remind themselves they had something important to do.
Like for many, this was a family tradition to watch on Christmas eve every year. Seen it so many times we know all the lines by heart and often quote it for laughs. But after so many years of watching it we kind of pressured my mother into letting us not watch it every year awhile back.
But a couple years ago, another youtuber did a review of the movie and it just hit a chord with me that we hadn't watched it in so long, I insisted we watch it. Family gathered around, nice cozy fire in the fire place, it was great and little did I know that literally would be the last time I would watch the movie in my childhood home as my folks ended up moving within a year after living there for some 35 years.
I don't think I'll ever be able to feel the same about the movie since.
I have watched this movie countless times, starting back in the 1960s. I still tear up at the end.
Excellent reaction, Mary.
Jimmy Stewart, the actor who played George Bailey, had just come back to the States after serving in Europe, during WW2. He was a B-17 pilot who flew at least 30 missions over France, Belgium and Germany. During the scenes where he's losing it emotionally, he really didn't need to act. As someone else said, he was suffering from PTSD and knew what it was like to be overwhelmed by what was happening.
I like that the alternate Universe is not a fantasy. It is simple mathematics if there is one human less.
Every time my RUclips notification bell goes off...an angel gets his wings.
The stars are angels and heaven. Greatest Christmas movie of all time
It is my favorite Christmas (and one of my favorite movies) of all time! I always cry happy tears at the end. It reminds us to put things into perspective.
This and Miracle on 34th Street (the original black and white version) are my two favorite Christmas movies. If you enjoyed this you will definitely love that one too.
I love watching movies with you Mary, so happy you enjoyed this absolute classic!!!!!!! VE Dsy was victory in Europe day for WWII and VJ Day was victory over Japan day!!!
Wonderful reaction . We all feel like that sometimes, but this movie has such great message. Remember all your friends and family. Nothing can get better if you give up.
"I'll Be Seeing You" (1944) another old Christmas movie. A smaller movie but one that deals with wartime years back home, the social stigmas of debilitating PTSD and prison time, keeping secrets, romance, and family.
Never gets old, Mary, and I've seen this movie dozens of times. Great reaction! More, please!
I've probably seen this movie a couple hundred times, it doesn't get remotely stale.
4:10. People used to tie strings to their fingers to remind them of something they were supposed to do.
Apparently no one under 40 has ever heard of this.
So many movies from the 30s and 40s are utterly magical. It was the golden age of hollywood.
I've been watching films for about the last 40 years and am an avid film fan. I rarely missed any iconic movie countdown of the best lists, or the favourite as voted by viewers etc, and It's A Wonderful Life often featured near the top of these polls, yet, because it was released in 1946 I was automatically deterred from watching it thinking that it couldn't possibly stand up to more modern film making. Then many years later, it was on, and I decided to give it a go.
All I can say is that I was totally invested with the characters, enthralled by the film making (knowing the technology that existed back then) and astounded by the sets, the film making and especially the story and its originality. It really did stand up after all those years. By the end I was a blubbering mess and the ending always gets me choked up.
This film has a firm place in my all time top ten.
Its a great classic, timeless in its message. Merry Christmas Mary & everyone!
So glad you watched the un-colorized version! The colorized edition just doesn't look right.
31:25 George said in the beginning" he wanted to travel and do great things"...... but, he didnt have to leave town to accomplish this. George never realized before that he- and he ALONE - kept Potter in check, which prevented the town from turning to vice and misery ... just by taking up his fathers mission,- becoming his successor, he prevented this from happening.Not to mention he saved his brother- a future war hero's life,and prevented a child from dying by a distraught pharmacist.
The things he knocks over in the living room during his breakdown were models of bridges and buildings that he wanted to build. Destroying them shows that he has finally given up on all of his dreams. He has no hope left.
This is what Capra movies were known for.... for more like this I recommend Cant Take It With You, Mr Smith Goes To Washington, It Happened One Night, And Mr Deeds Goes To Town...
This movie is a masterpiece. One of my favorite movies of all time,!! I absolutely LOVE it!!
I have seen this movie dozens of times and I always am sobbing by the end. LOL!
One of the best movies ever. Best Xmas movie ever.
Stewart was worried about making a movie so soon after he'd returned from his service in WW2. In the scene at Martini's bar, when he prayed for help, he was able to tap into his PTSD and it come out in a glorious way. This thing makes me cry every damned time. Well done.
THIS is why I watch reaction videos.
May God Bless you Mary, and your family as well. May your Path be the Light!
The nostalgia of this wholesome movie makes it a must watch every year. So glad you enjoyed it 💞
I love your reactions Mary and it's great to see you exploring older titles. If you're looking for another vintage Christmas classic, I heartily recommend The Bishop's Wife (1947) starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven. You won't be disappointed!
Hi Mary, I loved, loved, LOVED your reaction to this old classic! As my 3 kids grew up, it was a tradition at our house to watch this move around Christmas time. Jimmy Stewart is one of my all time favorite actors. Please keep checking out these old movies. They're wholesome and quite entertaining.