Comments on: Lessons in Manliness from It’s a Wonderful Life

By: Thom

Thom — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:05:40 +0000

Great article and great comments. Thank you all!

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:09:56 +0000

Great post (which I wish I’d found sooner) – an excellent portrayal of why this is my absolute favorite movie of all time. Thanks…

By: R Noessel

R Noessel — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 15:50:29 +0000

In regards to Jimmy Stewart – he kept in touch every year with a Christmas card to those he served with in World War 2. I happen to know this as my brother was in the army for many years and one Christmas I spent with him we visited some army friends of his. I was looking at Christmas cards displayed on the mantel and one of them was signed Jimmy Stewart. I wondered if this was THE Jimmy Stewart and I was told that the man whose house I was in had served with Mr. Stewart during WW2 and every year received a card from him.
I have always remembered what a kind gesture this was and a showing of gratitude on Mr. Stewart’s part for men who served in WW2.

By: Cindy Sue Causey

Cindy Sue Causey — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 12:18:04 +0000

Found you a little bit ago, goodness only knows now from whither.. Love this piece, in particular where you highlighted Violet as part of how to treat women.. That was cool..

Will be sharing along the way when opportunity presents..

Cyber hugs from North Georgia, USA.. :)

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:08:20 +0000

George was a real man because he had to make the hard decisions. Sometimes being a man is doing something you hate just because it’s the right thing to do. Years later you may find out it was the right choice and the choice that made you the happiest and was best for you. George finds this out at the end of the movie.

A few random lines I recall from scenes where George had to and did make the manly decision despite his conflicting dreams and goals:

“I don’t want any plastics, and I don’t want any ground floors, and I don’t want to get married, ever, to anyone!” -George marries Mary, gives up his dream of bachelorhood and the free life.
“But George, they’ll vote with Potter otherwise!” -George gives up his dream of higher education…forever to save the BB&L.
“It’s purely mercenary, I’ll tell you. Father offered Harry a job.” George sees his last hope to get out of B.F. slipping away when Harry gets married, but he tells Harry to take the job.
“Hey! I got 2,000 dollars. How much do you need?” Gives up his honeymoon to save peoples’ investment in the BB&L.
“I don’t need 24 hours” turns down Potter’s rich-lifestyle offer on moral grounds.

I am sure there are a lot more than I can think of right now.

By: George

George — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:02:31 +0000

First, I can never see another movie ever replacing It’s a Wonderful Life as my favorite. I hate to say it, but I think it truly changed my life and possibly saved it given my own state when I stumbled upon the movie.

I couldn’t help but notice the prior comments about poverty and poverty in the America. I think you may want to watch the movie again. While they had a roof over their head, the luxury of a piano, and he worked at a bank, it certainly doesn’t indicate he was middle-class either. He drove an old car with mechanical issues, lived in a formerly abandoned home, couldn’t afford any “decent clothes” for his kids to wear to school, and the bank (which didn’t get bail-outs in those days) was broke. So, yes, he was worried about where his next paycheck and his family’s next meal would come from. That, my friend, generally is poverty “in America” for those who do not have a heroin addiction. And you can thank God for it.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:28:48 +0000

It’s a Wonderful Life is truly a great film.

And i totally agree with the fact that Jimmy Stewart was a great man himself. He’s definitely one of my heroes and role models, he’s a class act through and through. Definitely my favorite actor of all times as well as one of my favorite human beings.

By: Harland

Harland — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:21:44 +0000

Craig & Christine –
I really appreciated your comments. There is so much to enjoy from the film beyond just the feel good movie. And yes, the harsh impact of the war on Stewart is evident on this and future films. I think that the Stewart had little choice but include his personal character in his roles, and you see in the change of George the same thing in Stewart. An almost redemtive action to try and outlive the dark (noir) parts of life.
I do think both of you are right – and the dark stuff, the fact that a man can work his whole life and never “achieve” anything of monetary value or richness is what makes him a better character and of course an excellent example. I try to awknowledge this and the imperfection in my notes. Wendell Jamieson’s NYT notes are interesting, although I believe are painted in a somewhat bitter, Potter-esque view of life where we count success as stock points and saved dollars. Many of us will live our lives ‘trapped’ to some degree by circumstances, but the choice to be happy, the choice of proactivity and the choice to life that “wonderful life” is what makes one manly.
Perhaps this is why there is so much rumor about Capra’s alternate ending with Potter getting what he deserved (or you can watch SNL’s version with WIlliam Shatner where Mary holds the walking Potter while George hits him). It’s hinted Capra wanted to film a sequel about the characters, perhaps offering a hint at the hope that goodness earns. But I like it where it lies. Because good did earn. It earned so many in Bedford Falls homes out of the slums. It earned the priceless, “free” things in life. And goodness knows good men don’t always get what they derseve – and so I think the point of living life in gratitude (being middle class) is a great lesson for the holiday.

By: Christine the Soccer Mom

Christine the Soccer Mom — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:46:22 +0000

Craig, I understand where you’re coming from, but poor people have the capability to be happy. And not feel put-upon. Americans have very few people who are actually poor, if you think about it. And I am certainly not saying that there is an excuse for those deemed as “rich” to ignore the plight of our poorer brethren!

However, I’ve come to understand that there is something to be gained through our sufferings, whether they be lack of money or lack of good health. It’s difficult to explain, but my Catholic brethren might have a better grasp of it than I or even just instinctively know what I mean. I’ve been in situations where I’ve had little money, and situations where I was in very poor health. When I understood that I can gain graces in such situations, that I could offer up my suffering (to use the old Catholic phrase for it), these sufferings were far more bearable.

I really think that the focus on what is deemed the darker sides of this movie discount that there is more to life than getting money and getting out of a small town to see the world. Love of neighbor and George’s cherishing of his family make him far richer than our society would readily admit. I have friends who just returned from Guatamala with their newly-adopted son who saw people who were incredibly poor, living in dangerous surroundings, with little to no creature comforts that you and are are used to. And yet those people were kind, friendly, and happy in life. They lived with grace.

Grace is a status that anyone can enjoy. Grace is freely given, and only only need to seek out that grace in every day life. The key is knowing Who to ask for such graces!

By: Craig R.

Craig R. — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:24:24 +0000

Christine- While I respect what you have said- I have one objection-”Poverty is not a crime, and living in poverty with the kind of grace George and Mary display is a beautiful thing. ” There is never any grace in being poor in America, or any place else for that matter, and only rich , happy people – who wants to excuse themselves from the ills of proverty- would make it seem like a decent, noble thing. Being middle class is a comfort level that a great many Americans take for granted. If you had to worry about your next meal, or a child getting sick or the safety of your surroundings you would find it hard to be graceful. Grace is status that very few people can enjoy.