' It's a Wonderful Life ' - another James Stewart classic

James Stewart as 'George Bailey' in It's a Wonderful Life.

It was recently that i happened to watch two brilliant Alfred Hitchcock classics, Vertigo and Rear Window both starring James Stewart as the protagonist. While Vertigo and Rear Window are Hitchcock masterpieces, one can't simply ignore James Stewart's brilliant performances in the lead roles. He took the films to another level and it is hard to imagine any other actor reprising those characters. It was my attempt to watch more James Stewart movies that made me watch It's a wonderful life(1946) , a film by Frank Capra. 

Films are the director's brainchild, but this film I feel is an out and out James Stewart classic. He as George Bailey is perfect, note the maturity he brings to the role at each stage of George's life from his teens to being a middle aged family man. I still consider Vertigo and Rear Window to be several notches above It's a wonderful life, and if it wasn't for Stewart's exceptional performance as George the film would never have received such recognition.

The film is about a middle aged family man on the verge of committing suicide because he faces money debt and is tired of living a life that he never wanted. A guardian angel is being sent from heaven to save George from giving up his life and to make him understand it's value. The film paces slowly showing George's life from his childhood to the day he decides to give up his life. Over his life he has influenced the lives of many people around him. George longs to go places, dreams of making buildings and getting far away from Bedford falls as possible. 'I am shaking the dust off this crummy little town off my feet' he says at one instance. George's father dies and he has to take up the responsibility of 'Bailey Bros Building & Loan Association' and save it from going to the wrong hands. George who still longs to go after his dreams, sends his brother to college hoping that he could pass the baton to his brother after he returns back from college. George again finds himself in a state of distress when his brother returns married and already engaged with another job. He is frustrated, but keeps it within himself. George falls in love and marries Mary and they have kids. He repeatedly tries to leave Bedford many times but fails. Meanwhile he helps a lot of people in Bedford, builds and lends them money to build houses. 

George soon finds himself in a situation where his uncle misplaces 8000$ of the company. George is frustrated and he starts to show his frustration to his children and the people around him.  He tries to seek help from Potter, a rich landlord and the antagonist in the film. Potter denies to help, and George decides to commit suicide in order to pay the debt the company faces from the insurance amount his family receives. This is when the guardian angel sent from heaven, Clarence appears and saves him from suicide and later shows him what life in Bedford would have been if George hadn't existed. The rest of the film is just brilliant, Clarence shows what George meant to the people around him and how he has touched the lives of many. It is this part of the film that takes it to another level. 

We all plan our lives, and very rarely it goes as planned. Blessed are those who get all they had wished for, and often we get frustrated when things don't go as planned. Life is a precious gift, You have to respect and value it. People who have been successful in life have always courageously faced challenges. This is the perfect film to watch when you are down. The last line of the film is what i loved the most.

No man is a failure who has friends.

I am glad that i watched It's a Wonderful Life. Vertigo and Rear Window could be the best films he acted in. But this film is where the actor in him overpowers the screenplay and the direction. This is strictly my opinion. If you haven't watched it yet, i suggest you do soon. God bless YIFY. :)