Every year,It’s A Wonderful Lifestirs up a range of emotions. My heart breaks as George Bailey has to put his dreams on hold time and time again, and gets as crushed as he is by the weight and frustration of it all. However, it’s all made worthwhile by the beautiful, uplifting spirit that it finds throughout.
By the time ofIt’s A Wonderful Life’s endingand Harry declaring his brother“the richest man in town,”I’m guaranteed to be crying happy tears. It’s a perfectclassic Christmas movie, and watching it on Christmas Eve at my local theater is one of my favorite traditions, as it is for so many.“Merry Christmas, movie house,”indeed!
Among the joy, sadness, romance, and frustration, though, is anger. It may not be an emotion commonly associated withIt’s A Wonderful Life, but said ire is an important part of it, because it’s another critical feeling. Often it’s directed at Mr. Potter, and deservedly so, as the greedy old bastard finds his only delight in the misery of others, and the misery of the Bailey family more than most. But while we’re absolutely supposed to root against Potter, the movie has another almost-villain whom I not-so-lowkey fume at every single year.
I Get So Angry At Tom In It’s A Wonderful Life
He Stands Out Among The Residents Of Bedford Falls
The part ofIt’s A Wonderful Lifethat makes me irate is when there’s a run on the bank. Admittedly, frustrations and tensions are already high: George just can’t help himself from going back to see what’s going on and deal with the crisis (but if he could, he wouldn’t be George Bailey). Poor Mary has to give up on her honeymoon, the cash instead to be used to keep the Building & Loan open and give its customers enough money to tide them over until the banks reopen.
While sweet Mrs. Davis can make do with just $17.50, bless her heart, Tom insists on the entire amount no matter what…
Sensing the sensitivity and severity of the situation, everyone plays ball… except for Tom. That damn Tom and his $242. An amount that apparently won’t ruin anybody. Except,Tom, it damn-near ruins everybody, given the Building & Loan survives by just $2, and thus avoids falling into the clutches of Mr. Potter.
15 Heartwarming Quotes From It’s A Wonderful Life
The beloved Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life is filled with wonderful quotes that make it a heartwarming part of the holiday season.
While sweet Mrs. Davis can make do with just $17.50, bless her heart, Tom insists on the entire amount no matter what, in what’s one of the most aggravating acts of selfishness I can think of in a Christmas movie. George should’ve let him close his account.
Tom Makes It’s A Wonderful Life More Realistic
He’s An Important Part Of Bedford Falls
Of course,while I cannot help but get mad at Tom’s selfish actions, that’s also the point, and part of what makes this movie so greatto watch every single year.It’s A Wonderful Lifeis, quite simply, about being human. The beauty is that it shows the ugly side of that, too: we have to see the worst of people to truly appreciate the best of them.
James Stewart’s 10 Best Movies, Ranked
James Stewart is known for playing likable everyman characters and psychologically complex roles, these include some of the best movies ever made.
The movie understands that most people - except Mr. Potter - are multifaceted, capable of good and bad. George himself is a perfect representation of this, which is played remarkably well by James Stewart - we get to see his own foibles and frustrations, his flashes of anger and darkness, as much as we get to see his pure heart and generosity, and it’s why I love him so much and what makes him so relatable.
“Stewart obviously drives the whole film forward. Watching it now, you can trace back every one of the best performances by Tom Hanks, or Denzel Washington, or any actor gifted with both pathos and disarming charm to him. The timeless feel of the performance comes thanks to Capra’s bold acceptance of darker themes, and the fact that George is far from a flawless hero. He’s prone to outbursts, is conflicted by his altruism, and is, at times, as raw as an exposed nerve. He is human: a quality that is so often overlooked in the world of theatrical exaggeration."- Simon Gallagher, inScreen Rant’sIt’s A Wonderful Lifereview.
Thus,it’s very realistic that in such a scenario as the one with the bank and Building & Loan, some people’s reaction would be to think of themselvesand ensure they’re fine, damn the rest. That was true of society in 1946, and it’s true today, and in reality there’d likely be more than one Tom. That doesn’t mean I won’t get angry at him again this year, because I can already feel my blood pressure rising just thinking about it, but it’s all part of the enjoyment of the movie.
It’s A Wonderful Life’s Ending Almost Redeems Tom
Yes, The Ending Is That Perfect
Tom does play a part inIt’s A Wonderful Life’s ending, as he’s among the many residents of Bedford Falls who show up to George’s house at the end and give him some money (though it’s unclear if it’s $242, and I’d wager it isnt!). Even Tom comes through when someone needs help, which helps to make the movie’s messaging stronger. Still, he can still f**k off with his"what’s this, another run on the bank?“joke. Read the room, Tom.
It’s a Wonderful Life
Cast
Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film tells the story of George Bailey, a small-town business and family man who, after a series of personal and business losses, attempts to jump off a bridge on Christmas Eve. Bailey is stopped before he can jump by Clarence, an angel who wishes to show him how much impact he has had on those around him in order to keep him from killing himself. Jimmy Stewart stars as George Bailey, with a further cast that includes Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, and Henry Travers.
