Last week, my best pal Kirk mentioned casually on his Facebook how he was not especially fond of It’s a Wonderful Life. I mentioned –equally casually– that my favorite Capra movie was and forever shall be It Happened One Night. Well you would’ve thought we said we hated America, apple pie and happiness!
And it’s not like there’s anything WRONG with It’s a Wonderful Life other than it’s boring, long and not-at-all-interesting, but it’s just not a very good movie. No, for my money the best Christmas movie from that era has got to be The Bishop’s Wife, starring Cary Grant as Dudley, David Niven as the Bishop and Loretta Young as his titular wife.
(Bishops are ALWAYS making that face. ALWAYS.)
If you haven’t seen it, do so immediately. If it’s been a while, watch it again. I find that in these times of tightened belts the film resonates even more than before. Click here
Oh, thank goodness I’m not alone in my dislike for It’s a Wonderful Life. For me, that movie is all hurt, no comfort. Give me A Christmas Story any day.
Comment by Chicklet — December 22, 2009 @ 12:28 pm
I rather like Denzel Washington’s version of this movie, too. I wish Whitney were healthier throughout, but she’s still awfully pretty. And it’s a hottie line-up; love Courtney Vance, love Denzel, love Gregory Hines. Love them.
But of course there is only one Cary Grant.
Comment by Lisa — December 22, 2009 @ 1:31 pm
I like It’s a Wonderful Life because it is puts capitalism in such a bad light, but is considered the Classic American Christmas Movie. But I’ll have to watch this, has been years!
Comment by Catherine — December 22, 2009 @ 1:58 pm
I really liked this movie, despite the long-suffering wife and it seemed like she should end up with Cary Grant even though he’s an angel. My fave Holiday Movie is “Holiday Inn,” with Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby. But this type of thing is extremely personal.
Comment by Debs — December 22, 2009 @ 3:17 pm
I got to watch It’s a Wonderful Life when I was in high school. The TV was small and the volume was so low. I couldn’t see or hear anything. I will definitely have to watch the movie again. I’ve heard so many great things about it over the years.
-Denise
Comment by All Women Stalker — December 23, 2009 @ 11:17 am
I LOATHE It’s a Wonderful Life, and I’m happy to stand up … sit down and say so. I’ve seen it more than once, and as far as I could tell, everybody ELSE was better off because of George, but … not so much so.
And it’s been utterly poisoned by the fact that in REAL life, the most decent person I ever knew, who always bailed out those in trouble – well, they DIDN’T come to his aid when he needed it. Even 10% of what he’d given people in trouble over the years, if those loans had actually been repaid, would have helped.
It doesn’t happen in real life.
Comment by La BellaDonna — January 4, 2010 @ 6:59 pm