ENG 225 Week 4: Acting and Acting Styles in It’s a Wonderful Life

Identify three actors from your film and classify each according to the types of actors listed in your text:

The three actors from It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) that I will be discussing are Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, and Jimmy Stewart.

Donna Reed

Donna Reed is a clear example of a character actor. A character actor is able to fit invisibly into a wide variety of roles, adapting to the specific needs of the director and film that they are working with. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) It is because this actor is so good at blending into a role that it may take the actor years to achieve “star” status even when they are in high demand. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) In the early part of her film career Donna Reed was often cast as the “girl next door” type of character. Although Reed was in demand and had been starring in films since 1941 she was not highly recognized until 1945 when she starred in the film The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) which is considered by many to be the best role she ever played in a film. (IMDb, 2015)

In the film It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Donna Reed plays mild mannered and sweet Mary Hatch. Donna Reed’s character becomes the wife of the main character George Bailey. However, in the later portion of the film during the fantasy sequence where George sees an alternate reality where he was never born, Mary is transformed into a shy and reclusive old maid. Donna Reed adapts to this change in her character well and is quite convincing as both the Mary from George’s world and old maid Mary in the alternate reality.

Furthermore, it is interesting to see the differences in the types of acting that Donna Reed uses in these roles. Reed’s acting as the Mary from George’s world is very realistic as it gives off the impression of genuine human actions and reactions. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014). However, once Reed switches into the role of old maid Mary in the alternate reality her acting seems to be almost stylized, calling attention to the fact that she is acting. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) Near the end of the scene where George meets Mary in the alternate reality she screams and dramatically faints as George tries to claim that she is his wife. Although the fainting action is very exaggerated and is probably not how most real people would react to this type of situation, it fits here and is used to highlight how drastically different the lives of George’s loved ones would be if he had never existed.

Donna Reed as Mary from George’s world:

The Dance Scene, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Donna Reed as “old maid” Mary in the alternate world:

Mary The Old Maid Scene, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Lionel Barrymore

Lionel Barrymore plays the rich, greedy and cranky old Mr. Potter in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). On the IMDb biography page (2015) Barrymore is described as “one of the great cinema character actors.” Throughout his career Barrymore was frequently cast as the “Mr. Scrooge” type of character and in fact used to play this role on the yearly radio broadcast of Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol.” (IMDb, 2015) Barrymore’s ability to blend into his roles and play the greedy old miser so believably are what make him such a strong character actor. His acting in the role of Mr. Potter appears to be stylized as his greed and grouchiness seem to be somewhat exaggerated. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) In fact not all elderly wealthy people are so greedy and mean in the real world. However, in the film this character type is purposely exaggerated because Mr. Potter is supposed to be the antagonist almost to the point of being the “villain” in the film. He even goes so far as to return George’s enthusiastic “Merry Christmas” with a “Happy New Year to you, in jail!” in the second film clip below. (It’s a Wonderful Life, 1946) The character of Mr. Potter is meant to be symbolic of the corporate greed and corruption that George Bailey tries so hard to fight against within his community.

Lionel Barrymore as Mr. Potter:

The Boardroom Scene, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Mean Mr. Potter wishes George a Happy New Year “in jail”:

Return to Reality Scene, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

James Stewart

In the film It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) James or “Jimmy” Stewart plays the role of the main character George Bailey. George is a kind, compassionate and idealistic businessman who works to fight greed and corruption within his community of Bedford Falls. George is also portrayed as an “everyday” average American man, representative of the working class American of the time period. (IMDb, 2015)

Jimmy Stewart is known in particular for being an excellent character actor (Lee, 2015). A character actor is versatile enough to be able to play a wide variety of character types and adapt to the individual needs of each script and or director. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) It is because of this that he is really able to effectively portray George Bailey, the “All-American” man who also has a bit of a dark side. (Lee, 2015) However, Jimmy Stewart’s ability to play the everyday American man so effectively also stems from the fact that he was also a personality actor. (Lee, 2015) A personality actor typically relies on their own strong personality and on a certain level plays themselves in each role. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) His natural stutter, the fluid manner in which he speaks, and the American catch phrases that he used made him very relatable for the average person. (Lee, 2015) In fact, Stewart himself was once quoted as saying the following, “Sometimes I wonder if I’m doing a Jimmy Stewart imitation myself.” (IMDb, 2015) These qualities shine through in his role as George Bailey, who throughout the film the audience comes to truly like and care about because he is an average guy. George Bailey is also a champion for the everyday people of Bedford Falls, he could perhaps even be considered a hero. In his article Lee (2015) discusses Jimmy Stewart’s acting style and his role in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) in the following passage,

“A war hero, Jimmy Stewart really did live that All-American image. In his most famous characters, though, he reveals an astonishing complexity, certainly beyond either “all-American” or “movie star” labels. He crosses over the line, most often in the company of Alfred Hitchcock, but also in portraying an alcoholic (“Harvey”) or a man driven to attempt suicide (It’s A Wonderful Life). But in all the dark side and complexity, he gives us himself – honest, straightforward, modest, kind and good. These are not the traits of an actor, but, as he himself said, a re-actor.” (Lee, 2015)

Jimmy Stewart fighting corruption as George Bailey:

The Boardroom Scene, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

George eating dinner as the “everyday” kind of guy:

The Dinner Scene, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Stewart was well known for his roles where he often played an honest, average middle class American man who is unwittingly drawn into a crisis or conflict. (IMDb, 2015) More than once Stewart also played the role of an average but idealistic American man working to fight against greed and corruption. He played these same types of roles in several other famous films, being a true character actor by blending into the roles to create a realistic and relatable character. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) In each one of these films Stewart also brings his characters to life with his own personality as an average American man who is at times too kind and idealistic.

In The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) Stewart plays Ransom “Ranse” Stoddard, an idealistic attorney who rises to success and eventually becomes a United States Senator after he is believed to have shot and killed an infamous outlaw in Shinbone who is thought to be undefeatable. (Wikipedia, 2015)

Jimmy Stewart as Ransom Stoddard, Attorney at Law:

Ransom Stoddard Attorney at Law Scene, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

In the famous film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) Jimmy Stewart plays Jefferson Smith, a naïve and idealistic youth leader who becomes a U.S. Senator and works to fight corruption and greed. (Wikipedia, 2015)

“I will not yield!” Mr. Smith fights corruption:

Courtroom Scene, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

References

Bvon44. (2009, Aug 16). It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) – James Stewart – George Bailey’s Speech

To Potter & the Loan Board [Video file]. Retrieved from:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4ne13Zft9Q

Donna Reed. (2015). IMDb. Retrieved from:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001656/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego,

CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) Trivia. (2015). IMDb.  Retrieved from:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv

James Stewart. (2015). IMDb. Retrieved from: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000071/

Lee, N. (2015). The Jimmy Stewart Review – MovieActors.com [Web log post]. Retrieved from:

http://www.movieactors.com/acting-reviews/jimmy-stewart-review.htm

Liberty Films. (2013, Aug 1). High School Dance Scene from “It’s a Wonderful Life”

[Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTctqB-co4k

Lionel Barrymore. (2015). IMDb. Retrieved from:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000859/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Movieclips. (2011, Oct 9). It’s a Wonderful Life (7/9) Movie CLIP – Mary The Old Maid (1946)

HD [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SLDMMGzkyI

Movieclips. (2012, Oct 6). I Will Not Yield! – Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (7/8) Movie CLIP

(1939) HD [Video File]. Retrieved from:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPv0S1-ETdI

Movieclips. (2011, Oct 10). The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1/7) Movie CLIP – Ransom

Stoddard, Attorney at Law (1962) HD [Video file]. Retrieved from:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exObFY-sHQw

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. (2015). Wikipedia. Retrieved from:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Smith_Goes_to_Washington

NeovisionFilms. (2009, Oct 27). It’s A Wonderful Life – Dinner Scene [Video file].

Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Casf9U2gaOI

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. (2015) Wikipedia. Retrieved from:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_Who_Shot_Liberty_Valance

Urbansmooth. (2011, Dec 24). Merry Christmas Bedford Falls [Video file]. Retrieved from:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBa2Mm-nP50

Week Three ENG 225: The Use of Sound in the Film It’s a Wonderful Life

Source: http://www.brad-weismann.com/2011_12_01_archive.html

Categories and Functions of Sound in Films:

During the “Silent Era” of film adding music and sound effects to a film was done by the theaters where the film would be viewed. However, with the development of sound technology filmmakers were able to take control of this part of the film experience and were able to begin adding audible dialogue to a film. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) As sound became an established and important part of the filmmaking process, the individual elements of sound took on their own importance. Goodykoontz and Jacobs (2014) describe the three categories of sound in the following passage,

“The three basic categories of film sound—dialogue, sound effects, and music—require careful balancing to serve the story; because of this, each category is typically recorded separately and mixed together during the final editing process.” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014)

Dialogue

When the characters in a film speak to one another this is known as dialogue. Dialogue plays an important role in films and serves several purposes. Dialogue may be used to further plot development, enhance characterizations, and can be used as quick way to give the audience important information that is necessary to understand the action. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014)

Source: MovieClips. “Angel Second Class.” It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

This scene takes place in the film just after Clarence jumps into the river and is saved by George. In this scene Clarence’s true identity as George’s guardian angel is revealed as Clarence has a conversation with George and the bridge-keeper. Clarence is questioned by George and the bridge-keeper about his identity and why he jumped into the river. Clarence explains briefly but in detail who he is, where he came from, and why he jumped into the river. This bit of dialogue serves two important functions at this point in the film. This conversation gives the audience information about the identity of the man who jumped off the bridge and was saved by George. The audience finds out that he is Clarence Odbody, the guardian angel of George Bailey. In the opening scene of the film Clarence’s voice is heard as he receives his mission from Joseph to save George Bailey from ending his life. However at this point in the film, the audience is given no further information about Clarence.

The dialogue in the scene with Clarence, George and the bridge-keeper also furthers the development of the plot. This is the point in the film where George expresses a wish that he had never been born, and Clarence decides to grant him this wish. George and Clarence are transported into this alternate reality where George never existed, and it is through George’s experience in an reality that he comes to the realization that his life is far more valuable than he ever knew. Without the dialogue that takes place in this scene the audience would have no understanding of who the mysterious man is (Clarence), why he jumped off the bridge, and what his role will be in the following scenes. Furthermore, this dialogue prepares the viewer for the fantasy sequence that is about to occur with Clarence the angel and George being transported into an alternate reality.

Sound Effects

Sound effects in a film consist of both popular and unconventional sounds effects that may commonly be heard in films. A sound effect used at the right time and place in a film may help to establish the environment and can be used to enhance the viewer’s ability to identify with what they see. Sound is used in every film to keep the viewer focused on the film and what is happening in it. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014)

Source: Movieclips. “Lasso the Moon.” It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

In this scene George and Mary are having a conversation in front of an abandoned and broken down mansion, which is rumored to grant a wish to the person who successfully throws a rock at a window and breaks it. As George talks about what he wants out of life, Mary picks up a rock and pauses for a moment, presumably as she makes her wish. Mary then throws the stone and successfully breaks a window in the upper floor of the house. Although the viewer does not have a clear and up close view of the stone breaking the window, after Mary throws the rock the sound of glass breaking can be heard. This alerts the audience to the fact that the window did break. Without this sound effect the window breaking would not have been as obvious since the audience does not actually see the rock hitting the window. Just prior to this scene Mary states that she would like to live in the house one day. The sound of the rock breaking the window is significant because it foreshadows the fact that her wish will be granted later on in the story. Although the audience does not actually hear Mary’s wish it can be presumed that she has wished for George to stay in Bedford Falls, marry her, and live in the house with her.

It is interesting to note that in this scene Donna Reed (Mary) actually does throw the rock and break the window. The sound of the glass breaking is amplified and enhanced so that it can be heard clearly on film. (IMDb, 1995-2015) This is an example of a diegetic sound, as it is a naturally occurring and realistic sound effect that one would expect to hear accompanying the action that takes place. A diegetic sound is also heard by both the audience and the characters in the film, where a non-diegetic sound is only heard by the audience. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014)

Music

“Music has been a crucial part of the moviegoing experience since before the advent of recorded sound in films. So important was its use that over time directors began inserting indications for specific music to be played at specific times. After the conversion to talkies, music became a basic element of constructing a movie, as essential an element as lights and cameras.” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014)

The musical score in a film is the music that is heard in the background while the action of a scene is taking place. This type of music is typically used in a film to enhance and reinforce the theme or mood of a scene, and may at times give the audience hints about what events will soon take place in the film. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014)

Source: Miles, T. “One Life Touches Many.” It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

In this scene George is truly beginning to realize that he is in an alternate reality as he speaks to his Mother. He finds out what has become of his other family members, and that in this reality his Mother never had a son named George. In fact, she has no children at all because her only child Harry (George’s brother) died in his youth. George leaves his Mother’s house and the viewer can see the look of utter terror and panic on George’s face. At this point an eerie music can be heard in the background, which grows progressively louder throughout the scene. The music used in this scene really enhances the sinister and ominous feelings, making this alternate fantasy world a dark and frightening place. The background music in this scene is an example of a non-diegetic sound, as the characters in the film do not hear it. Only the audience can hear the music in this particular scene. The eerie and ominous background music that was used for this scene helps to establish this film as a part of the fantasy genre by enhancing and dramatizing the fantasy sequence portion of the film. This music really creates the impression of a twisted and dark fantasy world. The musical score for this scene was created by Dimitri Tiomkin and conducted by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. (IMDb, 1995- 2015)

Dialogue also plays a key part in this scene, helping the viewer understand what is happening and why it is important. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) After George leaves his Mother’s house he heads to what is supposed to be the Bailey Homes Park with Clarence. However, in this reality the field is a graveyard where George’s brother has been buried. Clarence explains that in this world George did not exist, therefore he was not there to save Harry when he fell through the ice while sledding. Clarence also tells George that as a result all of the men that Harry saved while he was in the war are dead because Harry was not alive to save them. At this point Clarence tells George the true message that he has been trying to convey by sending George to this alternate reality. “You really had a wonderful life. Don’t you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away?” (It’s a Wonderful Life, 1946)

Source: http://fogsmoviereviews.com/2012/12/24/movies-that-everyone-should-see-its-a-wonderful-life/

References

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

IMDb. (1995-2015). It’s a Wonderful Life Trivia. Retrieved from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/trivia

It’s a Wonderful Life [Photograph]. (n.d.) Retrieved July 24, 2015 from: http://www.brad-weismann.com/2011_12_01_archive.html

It’s a Wonderful Life, Harry’s Grave [Photograph]. (n.d.) Retrieved July 24, 2015 from: http://fogsmoviereviews.com/2012/12/24/movies-that-everyone-should-see-its-a-wonderful-life/

Miles, T. [revdarkwing]. (2010, Dec 2). It’s a Wonderful Life – One Life Touches Many      [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PlYcT6DmJY

Movieclips. (2011, Oct 9). It’s a Wonderful Life (2/9) Movie CLIP – Lasso the Moon (1946) HD [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAERYfeiYBc

Movieclips. (2011, Oct 9). It’s a Wonderful Life (3/9) Movie CLIP – Angel Second Class (1946) HD [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fIrXo0raaU

ENG 225 Week Two: Lighting Techniques in It’s a Wonderful Life

Photo Source: Adams, B. (2012, Dec 17). It’s a Wonderful Life.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) is a drama-fantasy film that tells the story of a caring but also frustrated businessman George Bailey, who is helped by an angel in training and is given a rare opportunity to see what life would be like in his community if he had never been born. (IMDb, 2015) This film uses a combination of lighting techniques to create specific moods and impressions in different scenes. The lighting techniques that are used in this film include three-point lighting, high-key lighting, and low-key lighting. It is also interesting to note that the scenes in this film that occur at night were for the most part filmed in the day time. A technique known as “day for night” lighting is used to create the impression of a night scene. (Peterson, 2008) In the days of black-and-white films such as this one, the filmmakers could use a blue dye to tint or tone the clear film base to give the impression of a night scene. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) The amount of blue tint used could dramatically change the appearance of the scene. A lighter amount of blue occasionally combined with a yellow tint would give the impression of soft moonlight, while a more generous use of blue tint would give the impression of a dark and cold night scene. (Peterson, 2008) (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) The reasons why this type of technique would be used vary, however, it is mostly attributed to the fact that it is more difficult to try to film a scene at night and most actors would prefer to work during day time hours. (Peterson, 2008)

Three-Point Lighting

“This style of lighting is based upon careful control of shadows by using three main light sources. Two are in front of the subject, but on opposite sides of the camera aimed at roughly 45-degree angles (about 90 degrees from each other).” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) Three-point lighting creates a three-dimensional appearance to an actor’s face without the more harsh effects of bright high-key lighting. Backlighting is also used to light the backs of the actors which makes the actors stand out from the background of the scene. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) The above scene of the dance at the graduation party uses three-point lighting to create a lively scene that makes the characters stand out and draws the attention of the audience. Although this film has strong elements of drama and fantasy, this particular scene has a light-hearted and fun theme. The use of three-point lighting for this scene enhances this feeling by showing off the amused expressions on the characters faces, and the use of backlighting draws the viewer’s attention to what is going on in the scene. The use of high-key lighting would have been less effective in this scene as it would have made the actors and the background blend together. Low-key lighting would have been less effective in this scene as well because it would turn what is meant to be a light-hearted moment into a more dramatic and serious moment. This type of lighting is well suited for films of the drama genre as it highlights the reality of human emotions, which is an important aspect of drama films. (Dirks, 2015)

High-Key Lighting

“This style of lighting is typical of comedies, happy scenes, institutional and office scenes, and the like.” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) High key lighting casts a bright light over a scene, which creates less shadows and a lower contrast between the lightest and darkest portions of the scene. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) In the above scene George joyfully returns home to his family after seeing what Bedford Falls would be like without him, and is greeted by the entire community who have come together to support George and honor the spirit of Christmas. High-key lighting is used in this scene to brighten up the mood and to create a theme of love and unity. This is also highly symbolic of George coming out of the darkness and back into the light after a traumatic and stressful experience. Three-point lighting could have been used in this scene to highlight the looks of joy on the actor’s faces, however, this would have lessened the impression of light and love that is such an important part of this scene. Low-key lighting would have been completely inappropriate for this scene as it would have made the moment more dramatic and serious rather than impressing feelings of love and light upon the audience. The use of high-key lighting in this scene appropriately reflects the drama genre as it places emphasis on love and relationships, as well as the ways that we relate to one another as human beings, which is an important part of dramatic films. (Dirks, 2015)

Low-Key Lighting

Low-key lighting is typically used to create a dramatic or intense scene. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) “A low-key lighting design looks dark overall by comparison. It is marked by extreme use of deep shadows, with very high contrast between the brightest parts of the scene and the darkest parts, which are obscured in shadows. Often there may be only a single source of light, coming from the back or the side of the main characters.” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014) The above scene occurs where the film turns to fantasy but also becomes more dramatic and serious as George and his guardian angel Clarence see what Bedford Falls would be like if George had never been born.

Photo Source: Adams, B. (2012, Dec 17). Rock Bottom.

The deep shadows and strong contrast between the actor’s faces and the rest of the scene creates a feeling of foreboding and truly strengthens the themes of darkness and chaos that are present in this portion of the film. The use of any other type of lighting here would have completely weakened the cold and harsh atmosphere that is intended in this scene, making George’s journey into this dark fantasy world much less frightful, and would hence decrease the significance of the scene. This portion of the film is where it truly becomes a part of the fantasy genre, and the use of low-key lighting here really creates an intense atmosphere in a fantastical world. Like many other fantasy films, this portion of the film also portrays an important message that goes beyond the purpose of mere entertainment; that every life is important. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2014)

References

Adams, B. (2012, Dec 17). Bailey Building and Loan vs. Macy’s Incorporated. Retrieved from:

http://www.overthinkingit.com/2012/12/17/its-a-wonderful-life-miracle-on-34th-street/

Dirks, T. (2015). Main Film Genres. AMC filmsite. Retrieved from:

http://www.filmsite.org/genres.html

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego,

CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

IMDb. (2015). It’s a Wonderful Life. Retrieved from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/

Movieclips. (2011, Oct 9). Every Time a Bell Rings an Angel Gets His Wings – It’s a Wonderful

Life (9/9) Movie CLIP (1946) HD [Video file]. Retrieved from:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfUV-F9jFro

Movieclips. (2011, Oct 9). Pool Party – It’s a Wonderful Life (1/9) Movie CLIP (1946) HD

[Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rha-6qG4OQ

Peterson, B. (2008, Dec). Day For Night Shooting Tutorial. Retrieved from:

http://www.videomaker.com/article/14001-day-for-night-shooting-tutorial

revdarkwing. (2010, Dec 2). It’s a Wonderful Life – One Life Touches Many [Video file].

Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PlYcT6DmJY

ENG 225 Narrative & Storytelling: It’s a Wonderful Life

Photo Source: Sunday, S. (2014) Black & White Movies, It’s a Wonderful Life.

Title: It’s a Wonderful Life

Writer: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, and Frank Capra

Director: Frank Capra

Year: 1946

Actors: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Ward Bond, Frank Faylen, and Gloria Grahame

Story: It’s a Wonderful Life tells the story of a young man named George Bailey who has big dreams. As George prepares to leave home he soon finds out that life has other plans for him, and he ends up living the settled life that he swore he would never have. Later on, George is tested by a series of unfortunate events which culminate in a suicide attempt. However, his plan to commit suicide is thwarted by his lighthearted guardian angel Clarence, who blunders in to save him at the last moment. George is given a rare gift that leads to a revelation of what is truly valuable in life: family, love and friendship.

Photo Source: Wikipedia, Theatrical Release Poster.

Plot: The movie begins with darkness and distant voices which soon become distinguishable. These are the voices of people praying for a man named George Bailey who has fallen on hard times and is considering ending his life. George’s guardian angel Clarence is summoned in the heavens and is given urgent orders to go to Earth and save George. Before departing, Clarence is to be shown the story of George’s life up to this point, and this is when the audience begins to see flashbacks of the important events that have formed George’s life and brought him to this point.

The story begins with a glimpse into a particular day in George’s childhood where he rescues his younger brother Harry from drowning while sledding on a frozen pond. George and Harry both survive the incident but George develops an infection which causes him to become permanently deaf in his left ear. Then we are shown another day from George’s childhood where he ends up saving his boss Mr. Gower from committing a grave error that would have resulted in the death of a customer, and would have ruined Mr. Gower’s life. He tearfully hugs and thanks George and the flashback moves on to George’s adulthood where he receives a suitcase as a gift from Mr. Gower. George prepares to leave his hometown of Bedford Falls, New York to travel the world.

Later that same evening George attends his younger brother Harry’s high school graduation party. At the party George becomes reacquainted with Marry Hatch, a young woman who has had feelings for him since they were children, having once declared into George’s deaf ear that she would love him until the day she dies. George and Mary spend the evening together dancing and later strolling through the countryside as they talk and laugh and discuss their individual hopes and dreams for the future. To Mary’s dismay, George reveals that he wants nothing more than to travel the world and build things. The evening is soon cut short by the tragic revelation that George’s father has had a stroke. George finds out during a meeting that if he does not agree to run the family’s small building and loan business until his younger brother returns from college, then their rich and greedy competitor Mr. Potter will have the business shut down. George postpones his travel plans and agrees to run the business until his brother comes home.

The story flashes ahead to the day that George’s younger brother Harry returns from attending college. George is surprised to find that Harry is married and that the woman’s Father has offered Harry a good paying job within his company. Although Harry states that he still plans to take over the family business for George and will decline the offer, George hears what a good opportunity it is and convinces Harry to take the job. George gives up on his dreams of traveling the world and grudgingly decides to remain in his hometown running the family business. Later that evening George’s Mother convinces him to go and pay Mary Hatch a visit as she has just returned from college as well. George is hesitant to do so, arguing that since she is engaged to his wealthy and successful friend Sam she would have no interest in someone like him, but he ultimately decides to go and see her. George and Mary talk and George realizes that Mary is in love with him and not Sam. George becomes frustrated and angry and begins to leave, when the phone rings and he finds out that it is Sam. Sam asks Mary to put George on the phone and Sam offers George a job in New York City. George becomes angry and begins to yell at Mary only to end up embracing her and admitting his own feelings for her. They are soon married and the story flashes ahead to their life together.

From this point the story progresses through George and Mary’s life after they are married. George continues to run the family business, at one point turning down a job offer from Mr. Potter, and helps people many people in the community to obtain affordable homes by building Bailey Park. George and Mary have four children and spend their spare time fixing up their home, an old abandoned mansion that Mary had been in love with since childhood. Meanwhile George’s brother Harry is drafted and goes off to fight in World War II, and it is announced that Harry will be returning home as a hero having saved the lives of several men in his unit. As the town prepares to celebrate Harry’s return, a series of unfortunate events are set off when Uncle Billy, who also works at the family business, ends up losing an $8,000 deposit at the bank. Frightened, frustrated, and facing an arrest on embezzlement charges, George returns home and has an argument with Mary which causes him to leave the home disgruntled and with plans to commit suicide as he sees no other way out and believes that he is worth more dead than alive.

Photo Source: Wikipedia. Guardian Angel Clarence.

After visiting his friend Martini’s bar George becomes intoxicated, ends up getting punched in the face by the husband of his daughter’s teacher who he argued with on the phone earlier, and drives away only to end up crashing his car into a tree. George wanders to a nearby bridge and contemplates jumping into the river below to end his life. However, just as he is about to jump a strange man falls into the water and George goes in to save him. After getting warm and dry George begins to question who the man is and why he jumped into the water. George finds out that the man is Clarence Odbody and that he is George’s guardian angel who came to Earth to save George from making a terrible mistake by committing suicide. Clarence also tells George that if he is successful in changing George’s mind he will finally earn his wings. George declares that he is worth more dead than alive and that he wishes he had never been born. Clarence receives permission from above to give George a rare gift, the gift of seeing what the world would be like if he had never been born. George is then transported into a reality where he never existed only to find that the lives of the people he loves and cares about are either miserable or nonexistent without him. George comes to a revelation that his life is important because he has touched the lives of many others, and that the the most valuable things in life are not money and possessions, they are family, love and friendship. After begging to have his life back, George is returned to reality and goes home to his family. George is surprised to find that his wife has put the word out about his financial troubles and the entire community has come together to help him. With tears in his eyes George embraces his wife and children, and then looks down to find a copy of Clarence’s favorite book with a note inside thanking George for the wings. A bell on the Christmas tree rings and George’s daughter says that every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings. George smiles as he realizes that he has helped Clarence earn his wings, and the film ends with everyone singing a Christmas carol.

Discuss whether your film is presented chronologically or non-linearly?  In your discussion, address the following:

• How did this aesthetic choice contribute to the general effect on the audience?
• How are elements like character development or foreshadowing impacted by the choice of storytelling methods?

Although the film begins with George’s decision to commit suicide, which occurs near the end of the film, the rest of the story progresses chronologically from this point. The audience is guided through a series of important events in George’s life from childhood, through adulthood, and up until the point where he decides to commit suicide. At this point events move forward as George ultimately chooses not to end his life. The story being told in this manner allows the audience to understand the chain of events that lead to George’s suicide attempt. As the audience travels through the most important events in George’s life it is also revealed that he has touched the lives of so many others through his kindness and his very existence. All of these elements draw the viewer in, making the viewer invested in the story and truly caring about what George’s fate will be. The way this story is presented helps the viewer to connect emotionally with George as his story reminds us all of times when we were down on our luck and might have questioned our worth and place in the world. All of these elements come together to reinforce the core message of the story: that every life has value, and the only things that truly matter are family, love, and friendship.

If the film had followed a different presentation style, how would the general effect on the audience have been different?

If the story in this film had been told in a non-linear fashion I think the message would have been entirely weakened or lost. In order to see the significance in George’s decisions near the end of the film, it is important that the viewer understand how and why George ended up in this predicament. The best way to help the viewer understand is by leading us in order through the chain of events. By being taken linearly through the important chain of events in George’s life, the viewer is allowed to see how George has improved the lives of so many people just through his own existence and his willingness to help others. At the end it is revealed how different these same people’s lives would be without George, and the results are startling and terrible. As a matter of fact the entire community is revealed to be much worse off without George. If this story had been told in a non-linear fashion it would be more difficult to truly understand the impact that George had on these people’s lives. The core message of this story revolves around an understanding of how the life of one can touch the lives of so many others. When told in a non-linear order this would just be a story about a man that falls on hard times and tries to commit suicide.

Resources:

Guardian Angel Clarence [image]. It’s A Wonderful Life. Wikipedia. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Wonderful_Life

Jay Bhatt. (2011, Oct 20). Its wonderful life . Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGLeMdlYN60

Sunday, S. (2014). Black-and-White Movies, It’s a Wonderful Life 1946 [image]. Retrieved from: http://www.black-and-white-movies.com/its-a-wonderful-life.html

Theatrical Release Poster [image]. It’s a Wonderful Life. Wikipedia. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Wonderful_Life