ALL-TIME CLASSIC MOVIE FAVOURITES – IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)

“It’s A Wonderful Life” is a fantasy family drama co-written and Directed by Frank Capra based on the story by Philip Van Doren Stern.

The film is a slightly dark, almost bittersweet tale of a savings and loan manager George Bailey (James Stewart), a bit an earnest do-gooder who struggles against a greedy banker Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) and his own self-doubting nature in a small town.

After suffering a financial catastrophe, he see’s suicide as a possible solution to his predicament only to be rescued by a whimsical, endearing, trainee-angel named Clarence (Henry Travers).

However its only when George says he wished he had never been born that Clarence is able to show him what life would be like for his mother (Beulah Bondi) and Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell), his friends Ernie, Bert and Violet, (Frank Faylen, Ward Bond and Gloria Grahame), former employer Mr. Gower (H.B. Warner) and his loving wife Mary (Donna Reed), in a world in which he had never existed.

So, George Bailey, after years of feeling trapped in a small town finally recognizes his life to be wonderful and truly rich.

A typical performance by the ever-dependable James Stewart and ably supported by the beautiful Donna Reed and the incomparable Lionel Barrymore as the grasping villain of the piece.

It’s definitely not the kind of film that would be made today as it is definitely on the schmaltzy side and nobody seems to write happy endings anymore, but no Christmas would be complete without watching Frank Capra’s Christmas classic.
Even thought it was not a success at the box office at the time, it is now one of the most popular and heart-warming films ever made...

DINNER SINNER

 

When you’re a kid and dinner tastes good

You can't have anymore. That’s the trouble

If it tastes like crap you have to clean your plate

And you’re even allowed to have double

SMOKERS ANONYMOUS

 

Members of Smokers anonymous

Will sniff at the clothes of fellows

For any scent of cigarette smoke

And their breath for a hint of polo

I’M AT THE STAGE IN LIFE

 

I’m at the stage in life

When I’m sometimes forgetful

Although let’s face it

There’s a lot in life

That is better off forgotten

But as forgetful as I am

I never forget the important things

WHERE

 

Where there’s a will

Where the hot wind blows

Where the river runs black

Where the rivers flow north

Where the green ants dream

Where the sidewalk ends

Where it’s at

ARE YOU WEARING BRUT?

 

Are you wearing brut?

How 1970s of you

And it smells as if

You splashed it all over too

COMMUTING

 

Why must people commute into the city centers?

Why not take the work to the workers instead

There has to be a better reason to keep a city address

Than “it look’s good on their letter head”