It's a Wonderful Life

How many times have we all seen this movie. Five times? Ten Times? More? Yet tonight we watched it again. Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey. Donna Reed as his wife Mary. Bert, Ernie, Uncle Billy and Mr. Potter.

The story has become a Christmas story but it is not really. The day that the major event takes place is Christmas Eve but it could be any day. Jimmy Stewart is extremely likable as George Bailey. A man who as a youth had many dreams and they all consisted of getting out of the one horse town of Bedford Falls but continually gets pulled back. First the death of his father, then his brother's decision to marry and even losing his honeymoon when there is a run on the bank.


We have all seen it so why do we watch it. Why do I watch it. I love Jimmy Stewart. Donna Reed was bueatiful and wholesome and fun to watch. As Clarence writes in his gift to George at the end of the movie, any man with friends is a rich man. George Bailey is as his brother toasts him " the richest man in town." A good and decent man, a man involved in his community. Today with the reputation of bankers around that of Congress the idea of a bank executive such as Stewart's George Bailey seems unlikely. It was unlikely for that time too however.

I teared up tonight watching the end. You know whats coming, still the look of Donna Reed's face lit up with joy as friends help them out, his brothers toast, even the bank examiner chipping in to help....it is a story we enjoy because who would not like to entertain the thought that when in trouble that many people would come to help them. Karma says you reap what you sow and for too many of us we are afraid what might come to us in our reaping.

George Bailey is a man we can all love. A man we could all strive to be.

It's a Wonderful Life is a morality tale told with sugar and not with spice. A great movie. I will watch it again next year.