I’ve written before of my interpretation of It’s a Wonderful Life (such as here briefly in ’05 and here earlier this month.) as a rather grim view of life, rather than merely heartwarming fare. Now here’s yet another take in the NY Times: Wonderful? Sorry, George, It’s a Pitiful, Dreadful Life.
Wendell Jamieson writes:
Lots of people love this movie of course. But I’m convinced it’s for the wrong reasons. Because to me “It’s a Wonderful Life” is anything but a cheery holiday tale. Sitting in that dark public high school classroom, I shuddered as the projector whirred and George Bailey’s life unspooled.
Was this what adulthood promised?
“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a terrifying, asphyxiating story about growing up and relinquishing your dreams, of seeing your father driven to the grave before his time, of living among bitter, small-minded people. It is a story of being trapped, of compromising, of watching others move ahead and away, of becoming so filled with rage that you verbally abuse your children, their teacher and your oppressively perfect wife. It is also a nightmare account of an endless home renovation.
And I have to agree with Jamieson’s final assessment. Many of the people in Bedford Falls infuriate me a little. George’s travails frustrate me. I feel bad for him and where his life ends up. But I have this same reaction:
That last scene, when Harry comes back from the war and says, “To my big brother, George, the richest man in town”? Well, as I sat in that classroom, despite the dreary view of the parking lot; despite the moronic Uncle Billy; despite the too-perfect wife, Mary; and all of George’s lost opportunities, I felt a tingling chill around my neck and behind my ears. Fifteen years old and imagining myself an angry young man, I got all choked up.
And I still do.
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The Pop View » Other Christmas Movies Says:
[...] a Wonderful Life (1946) is also widely hailed. I’ve pointed out (here and here) how wonderfully dark and bitter that movie [...]