I happened to know about this movie as it is in the IMDB top 250 movies of all time. Otherwise, chances are I would never have heard about this movie. Man, am I glad that there’s this site called IMDB where users/readers/members watch movies and comment on it and rate it.
IMDB rating:
IMDB rates the movie 8.6/10 and the movie is 31st on the best 250 movies ever. (As on date at-least)
IMDB rates the movie 8.6/10 and the movie is 31st on the best 250 movies ever. (As on date at-least)
Cast:
James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore are prominent figures in the star cast. I know James Stewart from a couple of Hitchcock movies I had watched earlier. (Funny isn’t it ? He looked much older in those movies of course and his acting seemed a little mellowed. His voice however remains almost the same.) As for Donna Reed, I am in love with this woman. Or at-least with the character portrayed by her in the movie. (Well, it’s easy to sit here and say almost 60 years later that such things don’t happen in real life. Maybe these things were that way 60 years back.)
The Movie:
Directed by Frank Capra, this is probably Capra’s best movie. It had the working title “The Greatest Gift”. The movie is in Black and White. It’s based on a short story by Philip Van Doren Stern.
I consider the movie one of the best movie I have ever seen. I just loved it. It probably trumps every other movie I have seen till date with the possible exception of Schindler’s List. What’s funny is, I have seen all the other 30 movies in the IMDB top 250. (This movie is 31st)
James Stewart as George Bailey is excellent. The character is amazing and very well portrayed. Donna Reed as Mary Hatch is absolutely lovely. Lionel Barrymore portrays his role with ease and it comes across as intended.
More than anything, this movie touched me in a way few other movies have. It had it’s share of faults, no doubt. For instance, James Stewart’s style of acting may be considered these days as overdoing it, some instances in the movie being predictable and a girl as pretty as Mary getting married to George.
It’s a must watch movie for people of all ages.
You can read the entire plot and more here (Wikipedia)
Notable Things about the movie:
(source: IMDB)
- In 2004 the BBC TV listings magazine “Radio Times” conducted a poll into the Best Film Never to Have Won an Oscar. “It’s a Wonderful Life” came second (The Shawshank Redemption (1994) was first).
- In 1947, an FBI analyst submitted, without comment, an addition to a running memo on “Communist infiltration of the motion picture industry,” recording the opinion of an industry source who said that the film’s “obvious” attempt to discredit bankers “is a common trick used by Communists.”
Soundtrack:
I loved the song Buffalo Gals(Won’t You Come Out Tonight) in the movie. I Love You Truly was also pretty good. I remember Auld Lang Syne from Sainik School days. We sang it for our seniors’ farewell as a part of the band/music club.
P.S: If someone can find the song “Buffalo Gal (Won’t You Come Out Tonight)” on-line or you own it, then I may want a copy of the song. Kindly lend me the link or the file itself. Many Thanks.
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