It's A Wonderful Movie

'' The Greatest Gift'' was a short story that Philip Van Doren Stern tried to peddle in 1939. No one seemed interested in the story of a man  finding himself. This was still the Depression, and World War Two was just around the corner. So, after striking out with producers and agents, he made the short story even shorter. He condensed it into a Christmas card and sent it to 200 people. Eventually, the card and story made its way around all the studios. One major director saw it. His name was Frank Capra.... Capra saw the story in 1945 after getting out of the military. The war had just ended and Capra, after seeing the horrors of war, decided he wanted to make something that lifted the spirits of the population again. He had a history of doing this. He made '' Mr. Smith Goes To Washington'' and ''Meet John Doe'' before the war. All of Capra's films had the same theme: a good man fighting injustice in the world, and ultimately, triumphing over adversity to restore the goodness of life and human spirit. Capra decided to make the movie and he changed the title to ''Its A Wonderful Life''.... Now, we all have seen the movie. It has become a stable for annual viewings every Christmas. It is the ultimate family movie. And, we all shed a tear or two at the end when George Bailey comes back home to his family. The images and feelings of this movie have stayed in us for all of these years because, quite simply, we identify with George. We all had the dreams of big ideas and limitless dreams, but, as we all know, reality knocks you down and you settle for what you have. The redemption of George, and, of us as the viewer, is that as time goes on you cherish what you do have. Family, friends, the little moments of pleasure that add up to a wonderful life. It is all in the movie. George gradually accepts his fate and realizes how blessed he truly is. We do also as we age... The running strength in the movie is the cast. Jimmy Stewart was, simply put, America's star. He was the Everyman. From the first moment on screen, you want all the best for this man. Decency and sweetness can sometimes be very hard to project on screen. Stewart does it here-- in fact, in almost any role he did-- but, in this movie he achieves the perfect performance. Stepping back from the story, George Bailey has been dealt quite a bad hand in life, but, through Stewart we root for Bailey to succeed. When he gets knocked down time and time again, we also feel the brunt of the disappointment... As his loyal wife Mary, Donna Reed has the patience and soul of an angel. Loving George from childhood, this strong woman not only gives George children and homelife, but, also, compassionately consoles George after life kicks him down time and time again. This is a good woman. Whatever dreams she may have had, she lets go of them for the love of her husband. It pains her to see George so unhappy. She tries to sooth the troubled demons that lurk in him. Perhaps, more than George sees in himself, she knows that once he lets go of what might have been, he will see what a kind and good man he truly is.... The town of Bedford Falls doesn't really exist. It should, however. It is a town in America where everyone knows everybody and cares about each other [ except for Mr. Potter, played brilliantly by Lionel Barrymore]. The cops, Burt and Ernie--- yes, '' Sesame Street'' took those two names because Jim Hensen loved the movie so--, Violet Bick, Uncle Billy, Mr. Gower, and, good ole Clarence The Angel. We know them so well from watching the movie many times that they also feel like family. We feel pain for their losses in life, too. These are simple people, but, life also had chipped away at them. Although it is never gone into deeply, Violet seems to me to be classified as a loose woman in town. Therefore, she is excluded and shunned. Only George takes pity on her. At the end, she is redeemed also. How, it is not said, but, she shares with George a sense of self worth and awareness.... When Clarence enters the picture, he takes George back to Bedford Falls, now called Pottersville. I must say, it does look like a fun little town if you watch a touch of Las Vegas, but, I will stick with the story as is. George goes through the ritual of not being born and seeing the results. This is another area where I think the viewer has visited in his or her own mind. If you weren't born, then what? If you are a parent, obviously your children would not exist [or, would in some other form with your partner with someone else]. Would those children be the same people without your genes and personality? Would your parents have had a rougher life without you? Would the love of your life be with someone else and be miserable, or, in Mary's case, a lonely soul? Would your friends be harsher and less joyful if you were never in their lives?... All of these scenarios are touched on in the movie and give all of us a pause for thought. Yes, we all do touch other people's lives in our own way. Some touch strongly, some touch gently. Some bring knowledge and wisdom, some bring simplicity and sweetness. But, we do touch and connect. If , as they say so powerfully in the movie, '' No man is a failure who has friends'', then you are just as rich and blessed as any millionaire. More so, I believe. Because you are accepted on a pure level of someone caring for you because you are you, not your money or power. It is an acceptance of the heart and soul which is the basis of all human behavior. Mr. Potter has more money than most people, but, would you want to be him at the end or George Bailey?..... And, that end!! That wonderful end!!! Show me a person who doesn't cry at the end of the story and I will show you someone who did not understand the movie. Crying is a form of love. You cry in an argument and you cry when a loved dies. Why are you crying? Because you love the person. And, we love George Bailey and his loved ones, too. They deserve our love. These are good people in that far away from reality town. Fictional characters, to be sure. But, the lives they lead and the passion to care will never be fictional.... Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed and most of the cast are gone now. Wherever they are I hope it is a little like Bedford Falls. With them dancing over the floor that turns into a swimming pool. Singing about ''Buffalo Gals''. And, knowing that they aren't failures because generation after generation considers them friends.... Hee Haw!!!!!!