What's So Good About It?

Will (5) was talking a blue streak through It's a Wonderful Life. Having been told it was everybody's favorite Christmas movie he was stymied, and full of questions. "I don't get it!" he finally lamented.

Thinking it would help, I condensed the plot into a few sentences, explaining that George Bailey was having a terrible time and was going to kill himself, but his guardian angel would save him. As soon as I said it, I realized the phrase "kill himself" was pretty heavy for a little boy, but it caught Will's attention. If something that exciting was going to happen, he'd stay tuned.

Every second or so he asked, "When's he going to kill himself?" I said, "It won't be for a while. First he has to fall in love, get married and have some kids." "Yuck! I don't want to fall in love," said Will. "George Bailey doesn't either," I told him. "Most boys don't want to fall in love until they meet the perfect girl. So they just fall in love."

"Then they kill themselves?" Will asked.

A Wonderful Quiz

1. Who was the first choice to play George Bailey?
2. Who was the director's choice to play Mary Bailey?
3. Why was Old Man Gower so angry that he boxed George's ears?
4. Carl Switzer plays a boy who is also in love with Mary. What other famous character did he play?
5. What is the name of the small town in Pennsylvania that Bedford Falls is based on?
6. Uncle Billy is played by Thomas Mitchell. He played the part of whose father in another famous movie?
7. After the run on the bank, the staff drink a toast to the two dollars they have left. What do they want the dollars to do?
8. Ellen Corby is the actress who tells George Bailey she needs only $17. In her later years she was a famous Grandma. Who was she?
9. How many Academy Awards did It's a Wonderful Life win?
10. During the final scene of the movie, when Jimmy Stewart was happy with the whole town bringing him money and he knew he was going to be saved, who was watching the whole scene as if he were living it himself, with tears flowing down his cheeks?

The whole premise of the show is summed up by Clarence, George's guardian angel.

"Each man's life touches so many other lives. If he wasn't around, it would leave an awful hole."


Wonderful Answers

1. Cary Grant was the studio's first choice, but Frank Capra's first and only choice was Jimmy Stewart.
2. Capra asked Ginger Rogers to play Mary, but she thought the part was too bland. He also considered Olivia De Havilland.
3. Mr. Gower had just received the news that his son had died.
4. Mary's other suitor played Alfalfa in The Little Rascals.
5. Bedford Falls is based on Indiana, PA, a town of 16,000 people in the western hills of Pennsylvania.
6. Scarlett O'Hara's father was Uncle Billy.
7. George hopes that mama and papa dollar will have lots of babies.
8. Ellen Corby played Grandma Walton.
9. It's a Wonderful Life didn't receive any Academy Awards and lost $480,000. It was ranked #27 on the list of movies released in 1946-47.
10. The director, Frank Capra, cried as he watched the final scene. This was his favorite movie, and the one he was most proud of.

I think my little Will felt like George ought to just kill himself and get it over with.
Others might feel that way when it's on TV for the 1,000th time in a month.
I could watch it anytime. It always reminds me that
It's a Wonderful Life!