Surprisingly enough a lot of all-time favorite movies flopped at the box office. The Wizard of Oz, flopped terribly... when it was released in theaters. Supposedly the bad press lasted for so long that movie didn't actually become popular until it started running on television, over 20 years later in the mid 50s. Other box office flops come to mind such as 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks', 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' and "Citizen Kane" 😊
I've always been touched by the scene near the end, of George on the bridge, crying out in desperation to Clarence for help. But it's not until the very instant he prays, "Please, GOD!" that it begins to snow, and he is back to his present day. I don't know if the timing of that was planned or accidental, but it directs his prayer right where it belongs: to God. Beautiful moment. ☺
The first time I saw this movie, I was in 5th grade at 3am Christmas night…early 70’s. My 4 years older sister told me she saw it once before and I would like it. I never heard of it before. I loved it. Sadly, in the ‘90’s became THE Christmas movie as somehow NBC got it. Played the heck out of it. This year E! Played it non-stop. Sad as I can’t sit through a minute of this movie anymore. My younger siblings can. This was by far James Stewart’s best performance ever. God rest his soul. He was suffering from PTSD from the war and wanted to give up acting. He was so raw with hurt and anger it hurts. He should have won an Oscar. God bless him.
one of the advantages of making such a good movie is that most people won't notice the continuity gaffs. i must've seen this movie 50 times and never noticed any of the one's you mentioned. and i'm pretty good at noticing things like that. thanks for the video.
There's a SNL skit (Dana Carvey era. He was George Bailey) of this movie where Uncle Billy (Phil Hartman) remembers what happened to the money, and everyone in town heads over to Potter's (John Lovitz) where it is revealed that Potter was not wheelchair bound.
I love this movie, I try to watch it every year at Christmas time. I was recently asked what my favorite Christmas movie is in a group of guys, half said one movie, and the other half said this movie. It's a Wonderful Life is a true classic!
The 'angels' speaking in the beginning of the movie is really Stephan's Quintet, a group of 5 galaxies and you can see them in amazing color detail in images taken by the Hubble telescope.
And I thought I looked closely "behind the scenes"! Nothing like you do! GREAT JOB! The stagehand is always credited with the crashing sound as Uncle Billy steps off screen, However, no one mentions that Uncle Billy ad-libbed "I'm alright". He deserves some credit for that!
In the diner, when young Mary whispers into young George's bad ear, you can see a piece of tape on the counter when she leans over - obviously put there to show the actress where to position herself. A few seconds later, the tape is gone.
Now this film is hardly seen at all on TV due to greed, as well as others like "A Charlie Brown Christmas " ,"A Christmas Story " and others....its a shame
Every time I watch and hear the $10 blooper I always imagine how much stuff crashed and the stage hands facial reaction. Kudos to Jimmy Stewart reaction though, classic. Jimmy Steward almost rejected the role completely due to his PTSD from the war.
My wife and I watched this movie on Christmas Eve,I said,when Clarence showed up,why didn't he tell George that Uncle Billy accidentally gave Potter the 8000.00 dollars.
I think Clarence wanted to teach George a lesson on how great his life was and that he had a whole lot of friends. But, they probably should have explained that.
GOOD NEWS - none of these inconsistencies in the movie detract from it's powerful message and beauty. Reminds me of the French Impressionist art movement, in which the artist is aware that the eye of the viewer (audience) catches impressions rather than the minute details.
I hope you all have a great Christmas season. I wonder if anybody has seen this movie more times than I have. I bet I'm up to somewhere around 50 times, at least, counting all the times I got in the middle of it when it was running constantly in the 80's on every channel. Anybody seen it more than that possibly?
I am probably pretty close. I discovered "It's A Wonderful Life" in 1980. I was 14. I did not even know the name of the movie until I looked it up in the TV guide! Just channel surfing and came across it. FELL IN LOVE! I'm not sure I saw it again (but never forgot it!) until 1986 when I bought it on VHS. I have seen it almost every year since then. Often a couple times a year. It does NOT have to be during the Holidays either!
Great to be amongst fellow fans of this beautiful film that I’ve watched many times. Here’s something I’ve always wondered: the rather grim henchman who has no lines and stands behind Potter witnessed the discovery of the $8000 and did NOTHING! He could have turned Potter in to the Police and been one of the happy people in the final scene. But then I guess that would defeat the whole twist in the film. Duh!!
This is a very good follow-up of what got to be a Holiday classic when for a few decades it was under appreciated but then got to be so appreciated that it was played multiple times each Christmas until NBC had bought the exclusive rights to it so that then it got to be from there limited to being played only once a year each Christmastime not only was there a colorized version but at Christmastime of 1977 a TV-Movie remake called It Happened one Christmas which is an inspiration of another Capra classic of It happened One Night and to put Christmas in place of the last word in the title.Also in 1977 there was a remake of It it's a Wonderful Life under that same name with both Christian and Ryan Slater playing George Bailey in different time periods but please do check it out for yourselves too.
This is my fave Christmas movie. I also love the Marlo Thomas version which was hard to find on dvd but now I have it. I watch the Jimmy Stewart first, then the next day watch Marlow Thomas’s.
That was a made-for-TV film "It Happened One Christmas" with role reversal so Marlo could be the hero, and demonstrates why one should NOT re-make a classic.
Yes it seems that Capra wasn't too careful with details in his directing.. I have noticed other errors as well...in dialog, like when George is arguing with Mr Potter...he says "what were you saying just a minute ago that they have to wait" Potter never says that line in the film 🤔....Since I've seen the film so many times, I always look for details that a hadn't noticed before....like watch some of the lights go out at the end of the street when Bert the cop fires his gun at George Bailey...its seems his bullets put out I couple of lights...though blanks
I remember one Christmas, either the 70s-80s, this movie was on everyday in December and on multiple channels on top of that. It was way beyond overkill, good movie or not.
Here's another blooper...the clock used to count down the Building & Loan closing at 6:00 pm (where Potter threatened that if they closed before 6:00 pm they would never re-open) was a spring driven calendar clock without a second hand. The ring around the outside, if you notice, has 31 increments to track the day, therefore, the hand only moved once per day. However, Capra used the 'calendar hand' as a second hand to show them counting down to 6:00 pm. That clock could not have counted down any seconds prior to 6:00 pm but I suppose it is what they had on the set. I wonder how they got the clock calendar hand to move like a second hand...the only way I know of is to take the clock apart and move it manually from behind the face. That's a lot of setup time to take for a 3-4 second shot!
All time best scene is the at the cemetery "you didn't save Harry , so he couldn't save them " . Everyone is on the earth for a reason that has to something to think about
Everything you do or not doing creates millions of possibillities. Example: Once you met your (later) husband at a Party. Just think about all consequences if you never visit that Party. So how much infuence it can have if you never was born...?
You also forgot that the movie production code at the time of filming stated that (in better, contractual words) that any villain or "bad" person that committed a major crime in a movie scene HAD to be shown in the film paying for his crime, poor choice of actions, etc., either via arrest, death or other similar repense. Mr. Potter stole $8,000 in cash from Uncle Billy and was never confronted, charged or made to repay.
I've watched this movie more times than any other movie in my lifetime. I know every scene and almost every line. But, I am SHOCKED to learn that actor was "Alfalfa"!!!
You, sir, have got an incredible eye! I don’t know how many times I’ve seen this film-most recently just two weeks ago-and yet, I never noticed any of this.
Enjoyed your video. I actually noted another inconsistency when watching the movie over the holidays. Note Mr. Potter’s bodyguard or assistant early in movie when George enters his dad’s office to consult with him. When George first opens the office door, you see the back of the assistant. He has a top hat on. When George enters the office, from a frontal view, the assistant is absent the hat. Goes to show how many anomalies there are in movies - just not recognized.
Yes, Potter got away with stealing George's $8,000, but George got away with not being charged with DUI. He was driving drunk when he drove his car into the tree.
There are some more facts you didn't mention. When George was looking for Mr. Martini in the Pottersville universe, he comes across Harry's grave. I've read that the reason why Nick owned the bar instead of Mr. Martini was because the Martini family died in a house fire in Potter's Field. I think there was a deleted scene where George discovered Martini's grave right near Harry's.
interesting. usually any deleted scene would be included in the script. also, the production schedule should list any unused scenes that were shot. sounds like an good idea though. it makes sense. sure is a damned good film. i always thought the fantasy sequence would've been more horrific if george found mary was married to mr potter. you think the censors would've allowed such a horrifying thing?
i have a couple of bloopers for you the first one, when Clarence shows George the cemetery and George sees his brothers gravestone George wipes away the snow and reveals when his brother was born and died Clarence says his brother fell through the ice and died at the age of nine, but when they show the dates it says he was born in 1911 and died in 1919 so he would only have been 8 years old when he died, also at the bar Clarence was asked how old he was and he says 204 next may, but that would mean he lived and died in the 1700's but Mark Twain didn't write the adventures of Tom Sawyer until the late 1800's so Clarence would have died at least 100 years before that so how would he have had that book.
@@tvcrazyman no but when I was very young (4 or 5 y/o) we went to go visit him and his wife at June Lake. Then we saw him again at my grandmother’s funeral when I was about 20 y/o. My brother went to Frank’s home town in Sicily and went to the home he was raised in. My brother also met a distant cousin
The scene where George is praying and crying, is not an act. Jimmy really was in emotional agony over something (I can’t recall what), and he was genuinely crying and praying. They just happened to have caught it on film, and kept it in the movie.
I may have the answer. This was Jimmy's first film after serving in WWII. I heard or read somewhere that Jimmy replayed some difficult memories from his war experience in his mind during the scene to make his emotional upset more convincing.
@ Yes! I knew it had something to do with the war, but I couldn’t remember exactly what being that WWII was over. Thank you! 😁 Christmas is over, but now I feel like watching it again.
I often wondered why it stopped snowing when Clarence made it so George was never born? I never noticed the postcard before that though. With all the times I've seen this movie I never noticed the wreath move in George's arms but I did notice the age discrepancy on Harry's grave when he passed away. Supposely harry was 9 when he passed away but the grave said 1911-1919, which would make Harry 8 years old at the time of this passing. I love this movie and I love the way this video was presented. Happy new year to everybody from New Jersey USA
When I was first aware of this movie it was in married with children as one of Al's most hated movies on tv but i was not sure if It's a wonderful life was a real film or just something that was made up just for married with children but you just shown me it is a real film.
They also showed this film in an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air where Charlton was wishing the same thing about never being born while watching the movie! I remember Tom Jones played his guardian angel in that episode!
Missed the blooper where George was clearing the snow away from the gravestone. In the scene before you could see the year, and then the scene after you could not see the year because the snow was covering it up.
A small town in upstate NY, Seneca Falls, claims it was the inspiration for the town Bedford Falls. I am from Seneca Falls and I would like to believe that may be true yet I can't find any proof of their claim? Does anyone really know it this is true?
I just heard a troubling fact from the young actor who played a young George. He said that the actor who played Mr. Gower was really drunk and was actually hitting him.
How come no one ever points out that Georges life insurance would not have paid out for suicide? Or did they back in the forties? He intended the payout to save his savings and loan I believe.
..could have stumbled out of the vehicle disoriented following the impact of the _unintentional_ crash, wandered into the river, was carried away by the current and drowned Many suicides are assumed to be accidental deaths
In the scene were George is sitting before the desk of Mr.Potter, there is something sitting othe desk near George's right hand, something with a little crumpled chain . When George stands up, the object is completely gone. And, during that scene, in the shots of Mr. Potter, his assistant can be seen standing behind him, with his right hand clasped onto the back of his wheel chair. But in the backside shots of Potter, the handof that man has vanished
The guy who wrote it kept getting turned down by publishing companies. So he printed off 30 copies himself and one ended up in Hollywood. Writing teachers often use the movie as one of the best ways to tell a character driven story.
Thank you for an easy-going and fun look at a "wonderful" movie within your video presentation here. I really loved your closing comments about family and prayer and the spirit of the individual(s). I would like to point out, however, that, (especially) with the changing times toward more inclusive gender recognition/identification, that you might want to correct a couple of gender references that were included in your closing comments. "Every man has value."--and--"...the individual's belief in himself." are probably still "technically" correct, grammatically speaking, at least the way this aspect of grammar was taught in schools, presumably up until more recent times. As you probably are aware, the use of "they" and "their" to represent SINGULAR person references--without the specific gender being acknowledged--are now (obviously) considered appropriate usages; so this gets away from the need to use a specific gender bias/identification, which I believe to be a societal preference. We're in a time now, finally, where, in looking at your two statements above that are both "male--referenced," it is no longer considered appropriate in a society that's trying to be all more inclusive. That's all.
It was a low-budget Christmas movie set in the middle of winter, but shot in the peak heat of a hot summer. I'm surprised it produced the exquisite classic that it has become. These few extremely minor missteps are as irrelevant today as they were in 1946.
OK, me and my whole family love this movie since decades and its essential on Christmas. But my favourite fun fact about it: Its THAT Christmas classic, but its only Christmas for the last 10, 15 minutes of a real long Movie... So its not a Christmas Movie, strictly taken... The cutting mistakes here in the vid are not that interesting, you find this in thousands of movies. Just use a frame by frame on your Blu Ray. And then notice that this classic is from the late 40s. More interesting are the not-on-screen facts, maybe that "Uncle Billy" was offered the role of Potter before...or that Barrymoore, an Ebenezer Scroogy Character speaks Scrooge in Radio year by year before...or that nobody noticed that Potter comes through with the stolen Money, no regret, no trial... Or that the makers of Sesame Street take the Names Ernie and Burt (Bert) for their puppets.
Three more movie facts Donna Reed won a bet that she could milk a cow of Barrymore . The youngest daughter in the movie didn't see the movie until she was an adult, and instead of auld Lang syne, at the end of the movie,they were going to play old to joy
Years ago, I read an explanation of that, which helped clear that up---something about an expression people used in the 40s, substituting "two" (i.e "trees") for "one" ("tree"). It may have been in the IAWL companion book.
I always assumed two other trees referred to George being drunk and having double vision...like when Uncle Billy saw three hats when he was drunk. But the man quoting the line about TWO trees didn't get the concept, so didn't put the right emphasis on the line.
If Potter should have been punished, presumably for not returning the money that Uncle Billy lost, shouldn't Uncle Billy have been punished for being so irresponsible in the first place? Even if is a lovable drunken old coot? Finders keepers. Instead, Uncle Billy is exultant at being let off the hook at the end. But would you trust him with so much as fifty cents ever again? So many great values in the movie? Like how an entire town is so dependent on one man that it would literally die without him? That doesn't speak very well for the rest of the population. I still say, though, that if George Bailey never existed, Mary would have had no reason not to marry Hee-Haw, like her mother wanted her to, and she'd have been very rich. Also, if Boy George hadn't been there to rescue his brother from drowning, the other boys would have just stood there and let it happen? Frightening. And it's not a teacher's job to make sure the students are properly dressed. It's still a great movie; almost as much fun as Frank Capra's other holiday classic "Meet John Doe," which presents a scam as a holy crusade; and shows the Common Man it's meant to glorify as fickle, judgmental, disloyal, ready to turn on you at a moment's notice, and all too easily led.
I remember to read somewhere that the Film Institute/Censors had complained while reading the script about that, because that time it was common sense in Movie industry that the Bad never should be come through with crime. Normally good triumphants and bad loose. But the Writer and Director dont find a way to give the money back into the story.
Back in the 40s and 50s girls wore leggings to school which the teachers would help them to get into along with boots, etc and wrap their mufflers around their throat. The teachers looked after the elementary kids and just as the little ones usually obeyed their mothers on wearing proper clothing, so also did they obey their teachers. This time Susie got away. And, Mary and Hee-Haw may not have been close friends w/o George to connect them. So many 'what ifs' and 'if onlies' in life.
There's an inconsistency between George's real life and the sequence when he wasn't born. When he approaches the homeowner whose tree he'd hit with the car, the homeowner leans into George, smells his breath and says, "You must mean two other trees."--implying that George has been drinking. Well, if he was never born, that means he wasn't drinking at Martini's place and would not have had liquor on his breath.
I used to like this movie until I found out that James Stewart was a known racist. Now I can't bring myself to watch it anymore, but I really like your channel! Keep up the good work!
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Im 62. I dont think I saw this until I was in my late 30's.
Now I try to see it every year.
Absolutely wonderful Capra film.
I saw it soon after its release, then listened to the Lux Radio Theatre version, later that same year, with my dad in his car.
How was this movie NOT popular when first released? It boggles the mind!
I know it is weird, but maybe it was just bad timing.
It premiered in January 1947.
Possibly the long run time
Surprisingly enough a lot of all-time favorite movies flopped at the box office. The Wizard of Oz, flopped terribly... when it was released in theaters. Supposedly the bad press lasted for so long that movie didn't actually become popular until it started running on television, over 20 years later in the mid 50s. Other box office flops come to mind such as 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks', 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' and "Citizen Kane" 😊
“A Christmas Story” was not popular when it was released either. Cable TV in the 1980s-90s did a lot for old Christmas movies!
I've always been touched by the scene near the end, of George on the bridge, crying out in desperation to Clarence for help. But it's not until the very instant he prays, "Please, GOD!" that it begins to snow, and he is back to his present day. I don't know if the timing of that was planned or accidental, but it directs his prayer right where it belongs: to God. Beautiful moment. ☺
He was running for life, literally.
AMEN!
In fact: While filming there are NO unplanned things. Not at big Hollywood productions
The first time I saw this movie, I was in 5th grade at 3am Christmas night…early 70’s. My 4 years older sister told me she saw it once before and I would like it. I never heard of it before. I loved it. Sadly, in the ‘90’s became THE Christmas movie as somehow NBC got it. Played the heck out of it. This year E! Played it non-stop. Sad as I can’t sit through a minute of this movie anymore. My younger siblings can.
This was by far James Stewart’s best performance ever. God rest his soul. He was suffering from PTSD from the war and wanted to give up acting. He was so raw with hurt and anger it hurts. He should have won an Oscar. God bless him.
A perfect movie.Great morals.prayers acknowledge God etc...we need to show this movie alot more often..
Adriana Caselotti , who sang the original song as Snow White , can be heard singing in the back ground of the bar that James is sitting in praying .
one of the advantages of making such a good movie is that most people won't notice the continuity gaffs. i must've seen this movie 50 times and never noticed any of the one's you mentioned. and i'm pretty good at noticing things like that. thanks for the video.
There's a SNL skit (Dana Carvey era. He was George Bailey) of this movie where Uncle Billy (Phil Hartman) remembers what happened to the money, and everyone in town heads over to Potter's (John Lovitz) where it is revealed that Potter was not wheelchair bound.
This was just wonderful, Mr. Crazyman! Thanks so much and Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Thank you for this. I have always loved this movie. I am a huge fan of Frank Capra movies. These goofs just make the movie more endearing.
Glad you enjoyed it.
I love this movie, I try to watch it every year at Christmas time. I was recently asked what my favorite Christmas movie is in a group of guys, half said one movie, and the other half said this movie. It's a Wonderful Life is a true classic!
I saw this movie when I was eight or nine years old in 1946/47. I loved it then and love it now.
That would be neat to see it in the theater when it was a new movie.
Also See 'The "Sequel" to "It's a Wonderful Life" - Starring Jimmy Stewart - Mr. Krueger's Christmas (1980)'
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The 'angels' speaking in the beginning of the movie is really Stephan's Quintet, a group of 5 galaxies and you can see them in amazing color detail in images taken by the Hubble telescope.
Interesting. I did not know that.
And I thought I looked closely "behind the scenes"! Nothing like you do! GREAT JOB! The stagehand is always credited with the crashing sound as Uncle Billy steps off screen, However, no one mentions that Uncle Billy ad-libbed "I'm alright". He deserves some credit for that!
Thanks
I can remember I was like 10 or 12 years old something like that it come on TV and my dad would watch it today I’m 65 and it’s still a classic to me
In the diner, when young Mary whispers into young George's bad ear, you can see a piece of tape on the counter when she leans over - obviously put there to show the actress where to position herself. A few seconds later, the tape is gone.
Now this film is hardly seen at all on TV due to greed, as well as others like "A Charlie Brown Christmas " ,"A Christmas Story " and others....its a shame
I can never understand how they regained the copyright for the movie. It is a shame it's not out there as much as it once was.
Every time I watch and hear the $10 blooper I always imagine how much stuff crashed and the stage hands facial reaction. Kudos to Jimmy Stewart reaction though, classic. Jimmy Steward almost rejected the role completely due to his PTSD from the war.
The items that crashed were most likely empty film cans (made of metal).
Apparently, it was Lionel Barrymore who convinced Stewart to take the role.
My wife and I watched this movie on Christmas Eve,I said,when Clarence showed up,why didn't he tell George that Uncle Billy accidentally gave Potter the 8000.00 dollars.
I think Clarence wanted to teach George a lesson on how great his life was and that he had a whole lot of friends. But, they probably should have explained that.
GOOD NEWS - none of these inconsistencies in the movie detract from it's powerful message and beauty. Reminds me of the French Impressionist art movement, in which the artist is aware that the eye of the viewer (audience) catches impressions rather than the minute details.
I hope you all have a great Christmas season. I wonder if anybody has seen this movie more times than I have. I bet I'm up to somewhere around 50 times, at least, counting all the times I got in the middle of it when it was running constantly in the 80's on every channel. Anybody seen it more than that possibly?
I am probably pretty close. I discovered "It's A Wonderful Life" in 1980. I was 14. I did not even know the name of the movie until I looked it up in the TV guide! Just channel surfing and came across it. FELL IN LOVE! I'm not sure I saw it again (but never forgot it!) until 1986 when I bought it on VHS. I have seen it almost every year since then. Often a couple times a year. It does NOT have to be during the Holidays either!
I saw this in 1946 or 1947 in the theater. I probably have watched no less than 150 times. I'm now 85 years old. The movie is a classic.
Also See 'The "Sequel" to "It's a Wonderful Life" - Starring Jimmy Stewart - Mr. Krueger's Christmas (1980)'
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@@chuckberger3196 Also See 'The "Sequel" to "It's a Wonderful Life" - Starring Jimmy Stewart - Mr. Krueger's Christmas (1980)'
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This was good. Thanks,man. I’ll never watch it the same way again. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
Great to be amongst fellow fans of this beautiful film that I’ve watched many times. Here’s something I’ve always wondered: the rather grim henchman who has no lines and stands behind Potter witnessed the discovery of the $8000 and did NOTHING! He could have turned Potter in to the Police and been one of the happy people in the final scene.
But then I guess that would defeat the whole twist in the film. Duh!!
The fellow playing the grim henchman is brilliant. Doesn’t change expression throughout the entire film.
Also See 'The "Sequel" to "It's a Wonderful Life" - Starring Jimmy Stewart - Mr. Krueger's Christmas (1980)'
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I started watching this movie in 1978 when I was 24. I bought it on DVD in 1999 and my husband and I have watched it ever since then.
Back in the 70's and 80's this was shown on several different TV channels throughout the holiday season. Now, I can't even find it .
Yeah, it's because they regained their copyright and now TV channels have to pay to show it.
I posted almost the same thing as you did. 👍😄👍
👍@@philbrown9764
It was also shown for 24 straight here on my local tv station. Back to back to back !
I know! It has been monopolized...they have no Christmas spirit...the greedy so-n-so's
This was Stewart's first film back from the war. He suffered from a mild form of PTSD. That is why this film is so great.
This has got me right in the Christmas mood with these Goofs top job as always bud 😀
Merry Christmas!
& to you hope you have a great Christmas 😀
This is a very good follow-up of what got to be a Holiday classic when for a few decades it was under appreciated but then got to be so appreciated that it was played multiple times each Christmas until NBC had bought the exclusive rights to it so that then it got to be from there limited to being played only once a year each Christmastime not only was there a colorized version but at Christmastime of 1977 a TV-Movie remake called It Happened one Christmas which is an inspiration of another Capra classic of It happened One Night and to put Christmas in place of the last word in the title.Also in 1977 there was a remake of It it's a Wonderful Life under that same name with both Christian and Ryan Slater playing George Bailey in different time periods but please do check it out for yourselves too.
Great content! The continuity person was on vacation for Christmas
This is my fave Christmas movie. I also love the Marlo Thomas version which was hard to find on dvd but now I have it. I watch the Jimmy Stewart first, then the next day watch Marlow Thomas’s.
That was a made-for-TV film "It Happened One Christmas" with role reversal so Marlo could be the hero, and demonstrates why one should NOT re-make a classic.
Also See 'The "Sequel" to "It's a Wonderful Life" - Starring Jimmy Stewart - Mr. Krueger's Christmas (1980)'
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Yes it seems that Capra wasn't too careful with details in his directing.. I have noticed other errors as well...in dialog, like when George is arguing with Mr Potter...he says "what were you saying just a minute ago that they have to wait" Potter never says that line in the film 🤔....Since I've seen the film so many times, I always look for details that a hadn't noticed before....like watch some of the lights go out at the end of the street when Bert the cop fires his gun at George Bailey...its seems his bullets put out I couple of lights...though blanks
I remember one Christmas, either the 70s-80s, this movie was on everyday in December and on multiple channels on top of that. It was way beyond overkill, good movie or not.
Well, it sort of became as much a part of Christmas as decorations. It was part of the background.
Since Clarence knew everything, why did he not tell George that Mr. Potter had the 8K. 🤔
That is actually something I didn't think about. 🤔
Here's another blooper...the clock used to count down the Building & Loan closing at 6:00 pm (where Potter threatened that if they closed before 6:00 pm they would never re-open) was a spring driven calendar clock without a second hand. The ring around the outside, if you notice, has 31 increments to track the day, therefore, the hand only moved once per day. However, Capra used the 'calendar hand' as a second hand to show them counting down to 6:00 pm. That clock could not have counted down any seconds prior to 6:00 pm but I suppose it is what they had on the set. I wonder how they got the clock calendar hand to move like a second hand...the only way I know of is to take the clock apart and move it manually from behind the face. That's a lot of setup time to take for a 3-4 second shot!
All time best scene is the at the cemetery "you didn't save Harry , so he couldn't save them " . Everyone is on the earth for a reason that has to something to think about
Everything you do or not doing creates millions of possibillities. Example: Once you met your (later) husband at a Party. Just think about all consequences if you never visit that Party. So how much infuence it can have if you never was born...?
You also forgot that the movie production code at the time of filming stated that (in better, contractual words) that any villain or "bad" person that committed a major crime in a movie scene HAD to be shown in the film paying for his crime, poor choice of actions, etc., either via arrest, death or other similar repense. Mr. Potter stole $8,000 in cash from Uncle Billy and was never confronted, charged or made to repay.
I've watched this movie more times than any other movie in my lifetime. I know every scene and almost every line. But, I am SHOCKED to learn that actor was "Alfalfa"!!!
It was kind of a shock. I can't think of any other movie I've seen him on after Little Rascals.
You, sir, have got an incredible eye! I don’t know how many times I’ve seen this film-most recently just two weeks ago-and yet, I never noticed any of this.
Thanks. I appreciate it. I have to admit I also do a lot of research which helps me spot a lot of goofs.
Enjoyed your video. I actually noted another inconsistency when watching the movie over the holidays. Note Mr. Potter’s bodyguard or assistant early in movie when George enters his dad’s office to consult with him. When George first opens the office door, you see the back of the assistant. He has a top hat on. When George enters the office, from a frontal view, the assistant is absent the hat. Goes to show how many anomalies there are in movies - just not recognized.
I'm surprised that you didn't mention the blooper at Harry's grave that showed he was eight, when Clarence said he was nine.
You're not the only one who noticed that blooper!
Thank you…and a Very Merry Christmas to you!!!!!
Merry Christmas!
The Movie wizard of ozz didn't make money untile it starting playing on TV
Yes, Potter got away with stealing George's $8,000, but George got away with not being charged with DUI. He was driving drunk when he drove his car into the tree.
You know I never thought of that.😀
There are some more facts you didn't mention. When George was looking for Mr. Martini in the Pottersville universe, he comes across Harry's grave. I've read that the reason why Nick owned the bar instead of Mr. Martini was because the Martini family died in a house fire in Potter's Field. I think there was a deleted scene where George discovered Martini's grave right near Harry's.
interesting. usually any deleted scene would be included in the script. also, the production schedule should list any unused scenes that were shot. sounds like an good idea though. it makes sense.
sure is a damned good film. i always thought the fantasy sequence would've been more horrific if george found mary was married to mr potter. you think the censors would've allowed such a horrifying thing?
Donna Reed was smokin’ hot
i have a couple of bloopers for you the first one, when Clarence shows George the cemetery and George sees his brothers gravestone George wipes away the snow and reveals when his brother was born and died Clarence says his brother fell through the ice and died at the age of nine, but when they show the dates it says he was born in 1911 and died in 1919 so he would only have been 8 years old when he died, also at the bar Clarence was asked how old he was and he says 204 next may, but that would mean he lived and died in the 1700's but Mark Twain didn't write the adventures of Tom Sawyer until the late 1800's so Clarence would have died at least 100 years before that so how would he have had that book.
He had the book, The Adentures of Tom Sawyer, given to him from Samuel Clemens in heaven.
I love this movie what a classic and beloved film the best Christmas movie hands down love these videos
thanks
Your welcome
Merry Christmas everyone 🎄 🎉
Merry Christmas!
Frank Capra was my great uncle, grandmother’s brother
Very neat. Did he ever come over for Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner or anything?
@@tvcrazyman no but when I was very young (4 or 5 y/o) we went to go visit him and his wife at June Lake. Then we saw him again at my grandmother’s funeral when I was about 20 y/o. My brother went to Frank’s home town in Sicily and went to the home he was raised in. My brother also met a distant cousin
In Martinies George says he's not a praying man. However they said on VE day he wept and prayed and on VJ day he wept and prayed.
The scene where George is praying and crying, is not an act.
Jimmy really was in emotional agony over something (I can’t recall what), and he was genuinely crying and praying.
They just happened to have caught it on film, and kept it in the movie.
I may have the answer. This was Jimmy's first film after serving in WWII. I heard or read somewhere that Jimmy replayed some difficult memories from his war experience in his mind during the scene to make his emotional upset more convincing.
@ Yes!
I knew it had something to do with the war, but I couldn’t remember exactly what being that WWII was over.
Thank you! 😁
Christmas is over, but now I feel like watching it again.
Favorite Xmas movie
Merry Christmas indeed!
I often wondered why it stopped snowing when Clarence made it so George was never born? I never noticed the postcard before that though. With all the times I've seen this movie I never noticed the wreath move in George's arms but I did notice the age discrepancy on Harry's grave when he passed away. Supposely harry was 9 when he passed away but the grave said 1911-1919, which would make Harry 8 years old at the time of this passing. I love this movie and I love the way this video was presented. Happy new year to everybody from New Jersey USA
Thanks
When I was first aware of this movie it was in married with children as one of Al's most hated movies on tv but i was not sure if It's a wonderful life was a real film or just something that was made up just for married with children but you just shown me it is a real film.
They also showed this film in an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air where Charlton was wishing the same thing about never being born while watching the movie! I remember Tom Jones played his guardian angel in that episode!
I saw it the first time it came on tv loved it
Missed the blooper where George was clearing the snow away from the gravestone. In the scene before you could see the year, and then the scene after you could not see the year because the snow was covering it up.
Not so sure about the "values" part but it was a great picture and a good analysis. Cheers.
Thanks.
You missed the Clarence saying his little brother died at 9 years old, but when uncovering the tomb stone his life span was 1911-1919.
A small town in upstate NY, Seneca Falls, claims it was the inspiration for the town Bedford Falls. I am from Seneca Falls and I would like to believe that may be true yet I can't find any proof of their claim? Does anyone really know it this is true?
I just heard a troubling fact from the young actor who played a young George. He said that the actor who played Mr. Gower was really drunk and was actually hitting him.
How come no one ever points out that Georges life insurance would not have paid out for suicide? Or did they back in the forties? He intended the payout to save his savings and loan I believe.
..could have stumbled out of the vehicle disoriented following the impact of the _unintentional_ crash, wandered into the river, was carried away by the current and drowned Many suicides are assumed to be accidental deaths
good job !
Thank you.
In the scene were George is sitting before the desk of Mr.Potter, there is something sitting othe desk near
George's right hand, something with a little crumpled chain .
When George stands up, the object is completely gone.
And, during that scene, in the shots of Mr. Potter, his assistant can be seen standing behind him, with his right hand clasped onto the back of his wheel chair.
But in the backside shots of Potter, the handof that man has vanished
The guy who wrote it kept getting turned down by publishing companies. So he printed off 30 copies himself and one ended up in Hollywood. Writing teachers often use the movie as one of the best ways to tell a character driven story.
Thank you for an easy-going and fun look at a "wonderful" movie within your video presentation here. I really loved your closing comments about family and prayer and the spirit of the individual(s). I would like to point out, however, that, (especially) with the changing times toward more inclusive gender recognition/identification, that you might want to correct a couple of gender references that were included in your closing comments. "Every man has value."--and--"...the individual's belief in himself." are probably still "technically" correct, grammatically speaking, at least the way this aspect of grammar was taught in schools, presumably up until more recent times. As you probably are aware, the use of "they" and "their" to represent SINGULAR person references--without the specific gender being acknowledged--are now (obviously) considered appropriate usages; so this gets away from the need to use a specific gender bias/identification, which I believe to be a societal preference. We're in a time now, finally, where, in looking at your two statements above that are both "male--referenced," it is no longer considered appropriate in a society that's trying to be all more inclusive. That's all.
It was a low-budget Christmas movie set in the middle of winter, but shot in the peak heat of a hot summer. I'm surprised it produced the exquisite classic that it has become. These few extremely minor missteps are as irrelevant today as they were in 1946.
They got an Oscar for the special for this movie created snow. Not asbestos or paper. Thats why it looks that real.
Hardly, _'low-budget'_
Stewart used his experience in WW2 to help him show emotions
Some believe that Stewart was suffering from PTSD when he made this movie as a result of his wartime experiences.
@@michaelbaker602 very true the poor guy he had to give orders that could send men to their death which bothered him greatly
@@ilfarmboy The 20 missions he flew over Europe watching his fellow flyers going down around him didn’t help much either.
plastics have ruined us...tyvm...
OK, me and my whole family love this movie since decades and its essential on Christmas.
But my favourite fun fact about it:
Its THAT Christmas classic, but its only Christmas for the last 10, 15 minutes of a real long Movie...
So its not a Christmas Movie, strictly taken...
The cutting mistakes here in the vid are not that interesting, you find this in thousands of movies. Just use a frame by frame on your Blu Ray. And then notice that this classic is from the late 40s.
More interesting are the not-on-screen facts, maybe that "Uncle Billy" was offered the role of Potter before...or that Barrymoore, an Ebenezer Scroogy Character speaks Scrooge in Radio year by year before...or that nobody noticed that Potter comes through with the stolen Money, no regret, no trial...
Or that the makers of Sesame Street take the Names Ernie and Burt (Bert) for their puppets.
That's true.
I was about to look for this movie I saw that went I was watching gremlins
It was popular before 1974!
Three more movie facts Donna Reed won a bet that she could milk a cow of Barrymore . The youngest daughter in the movie didn't see the movie until she was an adult, and instead of auld Lang syne, at the end of the movie,they were going to play old to joy
Carl Switzer did not Freddie. The kid that opened the pool was Othello! Where'd Freddie come from? Lol
Maybe hat lady is a ghost.
But what about the most obvious blooper of all? "You must mean two other trees." What was THAT about? Two other trees? George only crashed into one.
Its You must mean two or threes(Drinks)
Years ago, I read an explanation of that, which helped clear that up---something about an expression people used in the 40s, substituting "two" (i.e "trees") for "one" ("tree"). It may have been in the IAWL companion book.
I always assumed two other trees referred to George being drunk and having double vision...like when Uncle Billy saw three hats when he was drunk. But the man quoting the line about TWO trees didn't get the concept, so didn't put the right emphasis on the line.
I watch a lot of first time reviewers. Some over analyze. Like gen Z. Just enjoy the movie. Some can not.
❤
If Potter should have been punished, presumably for not returning the money that Uncle Billy lost, shouldn't Uncle Billy have been punished for being so irresponsible in the first place? Even if is a lovable drunken old coot? Finders keepers. Instead, Uncle Billy is exultant at being let off the hook at the end. But would you trust him with so much as fifty cents ever again?
So many great values in the movie? Like how an entire town is so dependent on one man that it would literally die without him? That doesn't speak very well for the rest of the population. I still say, though, that if George Bailey never existed, Mary would have had no reason not to marry Hee-Haw, like her mother wanted her to, and she'd have been very rich. Also, if Boy George hadn't been there to rescue his brother from drowning, the other boys would have just stood there and let it happen? Frightening. And it's not a teacher's job to make sure the students are properly dressed.
It's still a great movie; almost as much fun as Frank Capra's other holiday classic "Meet John Doe," which presents a scam as a holy crusade; and shows the Common Man it's meant to glorify as fickle, judgmental, disloyal, ready to turn on you at a moment's notice, and all too easily led.
I remember to read somewhere that the Film Institute/Censors had complained while reading the script about that, because that time it was common sense in Movie industry that the Bad never should be come through with crime. Normally good triumphants and bad loose. But the Writer and Director dont find a way to give the money back into the story.
Back in the 40s and 50s girls wore leggings to school which the teachers would help them to get into along with boots, etc and wrap their mufflers around their throat. The teachers looked after the elementary kids and just as the little ones usually obeyed their mothers on wearing proper clothing, so also did they obey their teachers. This time Susie got away. And, Mary and Hee-Haw may not have been close friends w/o George to connect them. So many 'what ifs' and 'if onlies' in life.
There's an inconsistency between George's real life and the sequence when he wasn't born. When he approaches the homeowner whose tree he'd hit with the car, the homeowner leans into George, smells his breath and says, "You must mean two other trees."--implying that George has been drinking. Well, if he was never born, that means he wasn't drinking at Martini's place and would not have had liquor on his breath.
That's true, unless he assumed he'd been drinking and didn't really smell anything
Flaws in a classic? Look at yourself in a mirror.
Boring
Zthe movie sucked. It was the nightmare version of Groundhog Day.
Am I the only one who hates this movie
No.
I used to like this movie until I found out that James Stewart was a known racist. Now I can't bring myself to watch it anymore, but I really like your channel! Keep up the good work!
James Stewart was not a racist, well-known or any other type. He was a devout Christian and one of the nicest, kindest actors in Hollywood.
@@susancammerer5350 do a little research on his variety show. If you don't believe me just look it up!
@@susancammerer5350 By the way a good number of klan members claim they're christan.
I gotta read about his racism.
Got a source?
Name your sources when you make such a comment
One of my all time favorite movies! Thank God for that clerical error! 🥹❤