Here comes Christmas, lets get chilled out and some time off with repeats on the telly !
oh,,If I p...
Here comes Christmas, lets get chilled out and some time off with repeats on the telly !
oh,,If I promise to come back with an 'E', THEN REMIND ME !!, I will not be offended.Greg
Member since:24.09.2004
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IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. *******************************
Produced and Directed by Frank Capra.
Starring: Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey. Donna Reed as Mary (Mrs Bailey). Henry Travers as Clarence the angel. Lionel Barrymore as Mr Potter.
James Stewart once said this was HIS favourite performance of all the films he had starred in.
My favourite film of all time, something I oddly share with Dave Lister! I really should get out more.
Introduction: ************** Set in Bedford falls the story follows George Bailey from his early childhood right up until he contemplates suicide on the icy bridge one Christmas Eve. It takes you beyond that point and into the future but with a magical twist.
Synopsis: ************ George is in trouble and several people around Bedford falls are praying. Their prayers are heard and an angel named Clarence is sent down to help George in his darkest hour. Now Clarence is no bright spark, in fact he was a clock maker 200 years earlier, but he has faith and that's just what's needed on a job like this one.
We are shown George as a young boy when he bravely jumps into the icy lake to save his younger brother and looses his hearing in one ear as a result of the pneumonia he later caught. We see George prevent the pharmacist from poisoning a family when accidentally places poison into their prescription.
George is a dreamer who can't wait to travel the world but fate conspires against him. Firstly his father dies leaving him to run the family business, The Bailey Home & Loan Company. Then his brother returns from college supposedly to take over the business but he has gotten married and been offered a job elsewhere. All the time like a big black cloud waiting, waiting to either close down or take over the building and loan is potter the meanest, saddest old man ever to draw breadth. Then on the eve of the bank examiners arrival some money is lost and the only way to avert the crisis is for George and his new wife to give up their honeymoon money to stave off a run on the bank. The bank examiner is looming, the police are coming and George has reached his darkest moment……..
The above is a Very condensed version of the first halve of the movie what happens from this point on is a 'Wonderful' and Magical story.
The acting given by Jimmy Stewart is sublime, you feel his desperation. You feel his angst and you see a man trapped and being crushed by circumstances beyond his control. The final scenes of his unbridled delight are a joy to experience.
It is a truly heart warming film which will put you in the Christmas spirit. The film does have a similarity to 'A Christmas Carol' but is miles ahead in the acting stakes.
It's a Wonderful Life is Stewarts crowning glory and long may it be an enduring classic.
Greg.
The boring stuff: DVD Features: Format: Black & White, Language: English with Subtitle option Region: Region 2 Number of discs: 1 Classification: U Run Time: 130 minutes ASIN: B000WOTTRE
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This is my favourite film to, its such a magical enchanting film that makes you realise how important goodwill and friendship is to other mankind :o) x
Hollywood's best-loved star teams up with America's favourite director to create one of ... more
the most popular films.It's A Wonderful Life is the ultimate 'feel-good' film. Starring the unforgettable James Stewart as George Bailey, the man who receives the g...
Advantages: It's heartwarming, moving , and hey, it's a Jimmy Stewart film. Disadvantages: Some people are put off because they've heard of it but think it might be corny, being an old Christmas Classic
Advantages: A great Christmas film, with a real meaning and emotion Disadvantages: Maybe depicts a too perfect family scenario
christianfilmcritic 11.12.2006 (02.12.2007)
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