Since IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is on the ol' timeline again, let me recommend Kim Morgan's 2017 essay. Her view of Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell)—💔: "Someone has not been having such a wonderful life, and it’s not George Bailey." thenewbev.com/blog/2017/12... - ThreadSky

selfstyledsiren.bsky.social • 88 days ago

Since IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is on the ol' timeline again, let me recommend Kim Morgan's 2017 essay. Her view of Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell)—💔: "Someone has not been having such a wonderful life, and it’s not George Bailey." https://thenewbev.com/blog/2017/12/kim-morgan-on-its-a-wonderful-life/

Comments

temari-stitcher.bsky.social•88 days ago

📌

tommytimp.bsky.social•87 days ago

Kim writes more than once that Uncle Billy "gives" Potter the money. I'm assuming she means he gives it by mistake, because otherwise it sounds like he just up and gives the cash to Potter on purpose instead of being a string-around-the-finger forgetful old dude.

daraann.bsky.social•87 days ago

📌

teds302.bsky.social•87 days ago

📌

avoter.bsky.social•85 days ago

Thanks for sharing. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE also seems it's about Director Frank Capra's anxiety/PTSD after returning home from WWII. In the article, it described Capra 'could related to a fear of being forgotten.' INTOIT. Perhaps this is why Capra passed on IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVE in order to do IAWL🤔

londonlee.bsky.social•88 days ago

That was great. TBH sometimes I hate Uncle Billy more than Potter

jeffmakos.bsky.social•88 days ago

I love the film. I find it interesting that, for all the religious undertones (sacrifice, redemption), the alternate life that George’s Guardian Angel shows him is so bleak. It’s literally a vision of hell on Earth. Was this the only alternate future Clarence could show George? It’s almost cruel.

andrewmale.bsky.social•88 days ago

Great essay.

selfstyledsiren.bsky.social•88 days ago

One of the best I've read on this film. Now I have to find GDT's!

roq11.bsky.social•87 days ago

📌

jennocal.bsky.social•87 days ago

Fantastic Read!

apcrft.bsky.social•88 days ago

📌

aiabx.bsky.social•88 days ago

I got sick of that sentimental pile of sludge decades ago, but now I think I need to go back and watch it differently. There just might be more than I was seeing.

jregan.bsky.social•87 days ago

This essay makes me wonder if it would play out like a noir if the movie *started* with George in Potterville with flashbacks to some of the darker first act scenes (Gower, the Uncle Billy scenes, etc.)

No idea how you’d do the ending though lol. Maybe someone’s made a fake trailer in this style?

lukeepplin.bsky.social•87 days ago

What an amazing piece. Thanks for sharing it.

selfstyledsiren.bsky.social•87 days ago

I think so too. I always found the scene where George shouts at Uncle Billy close to unbearable, and Kim put it into words and explained so much more. It is so hard to write about such a familiar movie.

leedaviddalton.bsky.social•87 days ago

There’s nothing harder than in even the hardest noir

tansyjean.bsky.social•87 days ago

Great recommendation and article.

leewashere.bsky.social•87 days ago

As good a breakdown of the movie as I’ve ever read. Capracorn my ass!

selfstyledsiren.bsky.social•87 days ago

I agree. It's a Wonderful Life is maybe the supreme example, but I would argue (and have) that all of his best movies are balanced between grim and sweet.

jackfiehn.bsky.social•87 days ago

This essay reminded how visceral those scenes are. I can barely watch Mr Gower in the drug store.

samvonwallace.bsky.social•72 days ago

What a beautiful piece of writing

Thank you for sharing

evankirshenbaum.bsky.social•87 days ago

📌

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