‘Tis the season, folks! Shall we just dive right in?
What’s So Wonderful About “It’s a Wonderful Life”: A List
George Bailey
George Bailey, hearing the whistle of a train
For years I struggled: George Bailey or Atticus Finch? To which fictional character should my heart hypothetically belong? In the end, as you may remember, the answer was Atticus. But George certainly gave him a run for his money.
Because he’s adorable.
And totally relatable.
And utterly rare.
The ultimate Extraordinary Ordinary Man.
Full of integrity and wanderlust and duty to family and love of independence and ornery angst and clumsy affection and disappointed hopes and wearying worries and (most ordinary and extraordinary of all)… love of neighbor.
Add to that his grasshopper-y build, his “trick ear,” and the way he gleefully croaks out, “This is a very interesting SITUATION!!” (when a naked Mary gets trapped in the hydrangea bush), and you can’t help but completely be won over by this unwittingly charming man.
Who wouldn’t love George Bailey?
Which brings me to…
Mary Bailey (née Hatch)
“Your caboose, mi’lady.”
There are so many things I love about Mary.
For instance,
She gave away her honeymoon stash when there was a frenzied run on the Savings and Loan.
She spent her wedding day transforming a ramshackle old house into a romantic hideaway (and managed to roast a chicken using only a record player and a spool of thread).
And, after having two children and making daily improvements on their drafty old house (in which she apparently did all of her own wallpapering), “Mary had two more babies, but still found time to run the USO.”
Clearly, Mary’s family has many reasons to rise up and call her blessed.
But the loveliest thing about Mary…is her love for George.
You have to hand it to her–the girl’s got chutzpah. She set her heart on George from the very beginning. And she never wavered.
She staked her claim and stuck her tongue out at Violet. She made a wish and broke a window. She spent hours (presumably) cross-stitching an image of George lassoing the moon. And she eschewed the attentions of soon-to-be-millionaire Sam Wainwright (HEE-HAW!). All for the love of frustrated George Bailey.
He may have felt stuck in Bedford Falls. But once the audience realized he was stuck there with Mary, his lot in life no longer seemed quite so regrettable.
And loving George didn’t seem to do Mary any harm, either. Here’s proof.
Mary WITH George in the world
Mary WITHOUT George in the world
(Incidentally, can anyone explain to me why Mary needs glasses when she’s a lonely, spinster-librarian? But not when she’s the married mother of four? I understand that LOVE may improve a person’s appearance. But their EYESIGHT?! I don’t buy it. Does this bother anybody else?)
(ALSO, while we’re on the subject, what’s so very sad about being unmarried and hanging out at the library? George is kneeling at his brother’s GRAVE, and Clarence is afraid of telling him Mary is an OLD MAID?! Come on.)
Petty grievances aside, I think Mary is a dear. And because I care so much for George, I’m delighted and relieved he gets to live out his extraordinary ordinary life with a woman such as she.
Glasses or no glasses.
“It’s the chance of a lifetime.”
…
Well, this is a good beginning, folks. But I need you to take it from here.
For two very good reasons.
First of all, you should know that Nathan and I are working on a little Christmas project to present to you in a couple of days. (This post is Phase One.) But we’ve both been experiencing a myriad of technical difficulties this evening–and each of us is in danger of losing our Christmas cheer. Thus, I need you to pick up the torch and carry on with this list.
And second,… I don’t want to be greedy. I’m sure many of you are lovers of George and Mary dancing on the edge of the gymnasium pool. And Bert and Ernie serenading them in the rain. And Clarence ordering a sarsaparilla. And Mr. Martini moving his family (and goat) into his very own home. And Mrs. What’s-Her-Name asking for only $17.50 at the Savings and Loan. And George fixing Zuzu’s petals. And Harry lifting his glass to George in the final scene–
Ah! The final scene. It’s Christmas and Capra at their very best.
So here’s the deal, friends. You jump in and share some of your favorite Bedford Falls moments with the rest of us, and–in a couple of days–my brothers and I will invite you to experience some It’s A Wonderful Life Christmas magic of your very own.
Feel free to share a holiday greeting with some familiar names–and stay tuned!
a february day 
I realize I say this all the time, but YOU ARE AMAZING!!
in one sentence: Alissa’s perspective is totally refreshing and Fun!!
Thank you dear friend! and Merry Christmas to you and Nathan and David!!
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Totally agree that she is amazing!
I think Clarence the angel is my favorite character, but then I’ve always been partial to angels.
Your comment made me think about other movies with angels and I’m having trouble coming up with many that I love like this one! Clarence really does stand in a league of his own.
“Here’s to George Baily, the richest man in town!”
Yes Alissa, the glasses on Mary as an old maid, plus her lack of makeup on that otherwise, beautiful, porcelain skin, always perplexed me as well. I always shrugged it off as the area in which the film was made, because as we all know; in the 1950’s a woman could not possibly be attractive unless she was married and keeping house in her dress and string of pearls! Of course it could have been attributed to the town no longer bearing the name Bedford Falls, but instead the detestable Potterville, with it’s dingy streets, distasteful girly clubs, casinos and bars! Never the less, I wholeheartedly agree that Mary’s virtues are very distinguished and worthwhile. Her sacrificial love for family and especially George are something we rarely see anymore. I always wondered what happened to Mr. Potter after that fateful Christmas Eve when the entire town turned out in support of George, even the Bank Examiner got in on the fun. I think of him surrounded by his finery, utterly alone and bitter, a kind of hell that he created by his life’s work. Not that finery is hell, but rater bitterness and loneliness, not the place one wants to find oneself on Christmas Eve let alone at the end of their life. We can invest in stocks and bonds all our lives and end up with lots of money in the bank, but be very alone, but when we invest in mankind and are surrounded by grateful friends and family we can be as George Baily “the richest man in town”!
I love your thoughts about this….easy to vilify Mr. Potter but it’s also easy to feel sorry for him in the world he created for himself.
Oh my goodness! So many great scenes to choose from….
1. I love it when he paces in front of his house and his mom knows exactly what he’s thinking and where he’s going 🙂
2. When they are on the phone together, my heart feels like it might burst.
3. But what really gets me…every time…is when he prays and says, “show me the way….show me the way.”
Can’t wait to see Part 2!
“It’s a Wonderful Life” was always a favorite of my dads, so I grew up watching it. And my favorite scenes are
1. When George and Mary are dancing and everyone begins back up because the pool is opening up but they think it’s because the crowd is admiring their dancing. And not only does it delight them to be in the spotlight but they totally try to rise to the occasion and really put on a show! Splash!
2. When George returns the medicine to the pharmacist because he knows it has poison in it. Protecting a grieving man from further grief. I do appreciate that he struggles to do the right thing, to question authority and point out a mistake.
3. When George is hugging and kissing his family after returning to his wonderful life. That face!
Thanks Alissa! There really are a lot of great scenes!
These are great scenes! That face, indeed…
After reading the blog and comments, I’m thinking I need to re-watch the movie. Maybe this time with pen and pad. George Bailey has had an enviable opportunity. Though nightmarish, he has had the chance to see what the world, his world, would look like if he hadn’t impacted it. And someone might say, “Well, that’s the whole point!” And I get it! At the other end of the spectrum, Ebenezer Scrooge, through more Christmas magic, discovered before it was too late that his contribution to his world was negligible and negative. A large turkey to the Cratchits and a hefty gifting to the charity helped him turn this all around even before the end of Christmas Day. I’d want to be spared the nightmares, but wouldn’t it be helpful to get a glimpse of the impact of one’s life. You know, for course correction or encouragement to keep doing what you’re doing because it really does matters. Life is full of a lot of ordinary stuff and an occasional bit of great stuff along the way. George Bailey would probably remind me that the ordinary adds up to more meaning and impact than I realize. Last month we had a beautiful memorial service for my mother-in-law. She was truly honored and would have delighted, and maybe been a bit surprised, in all that was said and done in celebration of her life. All the words of admiration and appreciation about her, usually sparked by her ordinary acts of kindness and interest, spur me on to keep up with the ordinary and to acknowledge others’ impact on me to their “live face”. I didn’t have to have a nightmare to discover this, just an awakening. On another note, I’ve not read it, but there is a book Bedford Falls: The Story Continues by Ann Morse that is about George Bailey’s grandson. I know reading sequels is a bit risky, but this one was recommended and it might make a nice seasonal read. Part of my “ordinary things” is writing Christmas narratives and I’m including a link to one I wrote a few years ago. https://www.dropbox.com/s/a87iyd70dewi9e9/The%20Shepherds%20PDF.pdf?dl=0 I’ve reflected on this one particularly this season and thought you might enjoy it also. Thank you, Alissa, for doing what you do by bravely posting a blog and giving me the opportunity to comment. You served me as I know you do others. I whole-heartedly look forward to your sequel!
Well, Mrs. Shabaz…Let me say to your “live face” that you have always encouraged me, loved me and included me. Included probably isn’t the right word because it is so much more than that. I am always invited into your life and your family by you and it reminds me so much of Jesus. This sentiment is not exactly live through the internet but hopefully it will do until we see each other face-to-face. Merry Christmas!
I certainly does the job. Thank you! Merry Christmas!