It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

It's not immediately clear what It's a Wonderful Life sets out to accomplish. Beginning with a suicidal George Bailey, the movie spends most of its time in flashback recalling the important moments of his life: saving his brother's life, working in a pharmacy, constructing the series of events that lead him to a career in his father's loan business, and his marriage and the birth of his children. Viewers – even those intimately familiar with the film – will find themselves enthralled with the life of George Bailey as it unfolds for the first two acts of the film, and Director Frank Capra does such a marvelous job of so fully immersing the audience in George's life that it seems impossible that anything could threaten to destroy it, and the film's open seems almost an accident, the footage of a different film somehow mistakenly tacked onto the beginning, for one simply can't imagine the honest, hard-working, cheerful, and loving George suffering through such a decline that could lead him to even contemplate ending his own life. Nevertheless, the crux of the film, as found in the final act, reveals a story of both thematic importance and moral sincerity. As George allows himself to quickly become unhinged at the prospect of a failing business thanks to an accidental loss of a large sum of cash, he contemplates throwing away everything his life has, to that point, given him, his friends and family in particular. Ultimately, the film delivers the message that life is a treasure, that worldly riches mean nothing next to the gift of love, family, friends, honesty, and integrity that prove more valuable than those other fleeting items of value that man so often holds in higher regard.

It's a Wonderful Life works so well for many reasons, not the least of which is thanks to its impeccable cast. Outside of George, it's arguable that the most important character in the film is Mr. Potter. The antithesis of everything that George stands for, Potter represents a man, that through the entirety of the film, sees the world as George sees it only once he allows those lesser things dominate his life. The upright George counteracts the crooked Potter, and as Clarence shows George, only standing firm against those that look out only for their own interests – no matter how they may disguise their intentions – can result in the betterment of society on the whole. Jimmy Stewart and Lionel Barrymore are wonderfully cast opposite one another; Barrymore plays Potter as a villain but not a completely disagreeable one; he's not a Tony Soprano sort, but he's sufficiently uncouth and dishonorable to play in contrast to Stewart's famous "aw shucks" demeanor which serves him here perhaps better than any other role in his storied career. In addition, Stewart shifts gears at the drop of a hat (or the plunge of an Angel, as the case may be) to transform his character into a man at first on the verge of doing the unthinkable, and later, as a man lost in time and place, confused, physically disheveled, and spiritually broken. It's a fabulous effort all around, and his uncanny ability to cover not only the range of emotion but sell the meaning of the movie at the end truly makes it a hallmark performance in the history of cinema, as treasured as the film itself.

Certainly not a traditional Christmas Movie in the generic sense of the term, It's a Wonderful Life is nevertheless perhaps the one film that truly defines the spirit of the Holiday as it was meant to be understood. George's actions – though he in no way sets out with such lofty ideals – impacts the lives of all around him, and for the better, not because of power or wealth, but because of spirit and a sound heart. It's a Wonderful Life, then, states that being rich – or being Mr. Potter – doesn't equal being happy – or George – and it's when the definition becomes confused that life can take a turn for the worse. The film depicts wealth as the love of family, the respect of friends, and the nobility of being a good man, and in the end, it captures not only the spirit of Christmas but the meaning of life, a fitting combination seeing as how the two are forever spiritually entwined. Paramount's Blu-ray release of It's a Wonderful Life is itself wonderful. Though it sadly lacks a more robust supplemental section, it does offer a stunning picture quality (and the inclusion of a colorized version for those so inclined) and a monaural soundtrack that does all that's needed of it. For those that have seen It's a Wonderful Life dozens of times and newcomers alike, Paramount's Blu-ray release of this all-time cinema classic comes highly recommended.