Analyzing Evil: Mr. Henry Potter From It's A Wonderful Life

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Welcome everyone and welcome to the sixtieth episode of Analyzing Evil! Our feature villain for this video is Mr. Henry Potter from It's a Wonderful Life. I hope you enjoy, and thanks for watching. If you have any feedback or questions feel free to let me know below!
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The songs in this video are part of Beethoven's 9th Symphony
#Itsawonderfullife #Christmas #MrPotter

[@Jm-ki4su]

he's a business man. my dad would always go off on how this old man got away with so much, but in the end of the film mr potter is a crabby old scamp, stewing in his venom, while George bailey got the recognition and love of his friends and family.

[@akiameko1984]

The sad part is that your dad is right. George Bailey is the only thing in his way, everyone else just lets him d whatever. The second Bailey slips, or isn't in town on a day he acts, it's over.

[@KutWrite]

Maybe, but ya can't take recognition and love to da bank!

[@purgetheXYs]

@@KutWrite true but as someone who's worked as a CNA, too many of these ppl live the end of their days alone, with ko visitors and with only us caregivers at their side at the end. If I had family left, I would feel terrible if not one felt enough for me to comfort me in the end...

[@modenasolone]

Don't put Mr Potter's behavior off on all businessmen. You can run a business and not be evil. This man made a choice to do so

[@carolynmaroney276]

Maybe so, but I'm a firm believer in karma, and he should of got his in that movie. I hate it when the bad guy gets away with things, like a certain former president. Theirs a lot of similarities with those two.

[@chucksenhowzen9740]

Loved that the actor playing Potter was also a mentor for James Stewart throughout filming

[@bookwormaddict3933]

Lloyd Barrymore

[@reallyawesometitle7653]

@@bookwormaddict3933 *Lionel

[@jeffreymeehan3116]

@Greg Elchert They also brought in a marksman to shoot out the window Donna Reed was supposed to take out with a rock. She played baseball all her life. She nailed it in one take.

[@thehouseofcm]

@@reallyawesometitle7653 Drew Barrymore's great uncle.

[@steveharrison76]

I personally think that the fact that we don’t see what becomes of Potter is actually important to the story itself. I think he is there to act as a force of negation, nature and opposition - he is an obstacle. The story isn’t about how George wins and Potter loses… the story is about how George is renewed in his faith in life… after all, that’s the name of the movie. As an obstacle, Potter isn’t important… George has overcome the obstacles he faced by the end of the film, and is renewed. Potter, in effect, is a literal allegory, and is incidental to the plot. It could just as easily have been a dragon, a plague, a war. He is in opposition to George, and that - not the man himself - is the important part to the story as it is told to us. Just an idea.

[@Geezer-yf8hv]

Good analysis!

[@mwright80]

Niiice

[@alicianelson1252]

Yeah I guess the idea is that since it’s a Christmas movie we should forgive the villain but redemption must come first

[@steveharrison76]

@@alicianelson1252 I don’t think the fact that he is a villain is the main point. It’s that he’s an obstacle. That’s the point. That’s why it doesn’t matter whether or not he gets his comeuppance, it’s actually not the central thesis of the movie - which, for me, is having faith in oneself and the people who love you, regardless of what is put in your way. Fair play though - it is just my opinion.

[@CLAIMofLife]

So true, he has no development, but he’s such an iconic villain because each action he commits hurts good people.

[@soflsteel777]

I've always felt like I'm living in the world where George Bailey doesn't exist and Henry Potter got his greedy mits on the ol Building and Loan. Wonder what life would be like with him here.

[@higginswalsan]

I know just what you mean

[@martinsandoval9380]

Or you could be like George Baily

[@soflsteel777]

@@martinsandoval9380 being like George is dangerous for your health... could lead one to suicide

[@rickblaine9670]

This is the same thing as "I wish I had a Samwise Gamgee in my life, carrying me up Mount Doom in my hardest moments". I sympathize, but it's up to us to try and be the Sam or the George, man. They're not gonna pop out of nowhere😅

[@ladymacbethofmtensk896]

Meanwhile the people keep waiting for salvation, whether from Jesus or from the Government. Heaven knows that the Bedford Falls town council was full of progressives trying to rein in Mr. Potter with various ordinances and taxes that he only turned to his own use.

[@aaronrowell6943]

Like a lot of the villains covered on this channel probably the scariest thing about Mr Potter is that he was very much real during that time and you can definitely say there are people still like him now causing misery to anyone and everyone. We need more George Bailey's in the world.

[@dansmith1661]

The chosenites.

[@aidanhever3369]

He's one of the main inspirations for Mr. Burns from The Simpsons.

[@KutWrite]

Excellent!

[@x-rex7236]

Feels more like more Mr Krabs

[@ChelseaKTBFFH-qm9gk]

It’s Jacob Rothschild , who mr burns is based on

[@imsocringeandidocringestuf7301]

@@ChelseaKTBFFH-qm9gk “one of the”

[@TheLukeMonster]

Plenty of more physically and vocally imposing actors were considered for the role of Mr. Potter, including the great Vincent Price, whom I adore, but I'm glad that wheelchair-bound Lionel Barrymore won the part. It reminds us that evil comes in all shapes and sizes, including deceptively diminutive ones. Fun fact: Potter was supposed to keel over from a heart attack while the town came to George Bailey's aid, but the scene was deemed too dark and shocking for such an otherwise wholesome film, so it was cut. In the live stage production, there's now an added scene where Clarence uses his powers to expose Potter to the police. There is one crucial scene I feel you overlooked: when Potter becomes head of the draft board during WWII. Maybe I'm reading too deeply into this, but the rate at which he approves drafting countless citizens of Bedford Falls while barely glancing at their files strongly suggests to me that he knew many of them should've been rejected 4F but enlisted them anyway because he was looking forward to seizing their assets once they died overseas. And even if their surviving estate holders managed to stop him with George Bailey's help, Potter still saw their deaths as a benefit because it meant fewer people to hate and oppose him. Being head of a draft board with no oversight committee despite the obvious conflict of interest, he'll never be held accountable for essentially committing mass murder and war profiteering, which is far more egregious than stealing the $8,000 later on. If you're looking for another great Frank Capra villain, you should do Jonathan Brewster from Arsenic and Old Lace.

[@JacobGen]

Maybe Sydney Greenstreet as well.

[@BadGuyRants]

I’m surprised Edward Arnold wasn’t given the role since he played villains for Capra several other times. Barrymore is amazing though.

[@dansmith1661]

I imagine him and his ilk would have funded both sides if they could get away with it, just to keep accumulating power.

[@DG360MaN]

"And a merry Christmas to you George!...........IN JAIL" this quote has bounced around my brain for the longest time, what a great movie this is

[@mr._otis9840]

"Happy New Years," silly goose muffin

[@osmanyousif7849]

Imagine he found out he doesn’t go to jail and throws a huge angry tantrum and suffers a stroke in the middle of it and has to go to the hospital. Then he won’t have a Happy Holiday indeed.

[@TheVileEye]

Happy holidays everyone!

[@daniellavaladez7820]

You too, Vile Eye! I LOVE your analysis videos and I always look forward to them! Could you analyze Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter series in a future episode?

[@SK-ih3mz]

Can you do the prince of darkness 1987

[@staceymeans134]

I figure that the fact of Potter being in a wheelchair is the key to his character. Most likely from an avoidable accident than an illness. He possesses all of his mental facilities, yet is never even seen standing, much less walking with the aid of a cane or crutches. His infirmity must have been complete and happened in the prime of his life, its cause leading him to be permanently angered and embittered toward humanity itself. And, of course, Barrymore was one helluva an actor.

[@SlappersOnly819]

A favorite detail about that is in certain scenes, you can see Potter slightly elevated above everyone else. Even though he is always sitting in a wheelchair. Like when George was seeing him in his office and the guest chair was way lower than expected. It might have been something he did on purpose to give himself an ego. The only way to defeat that was to stand up to him. (Literally and figuratively)

[@staceymeans134]

@@SlappersOnly819 That's part of the reason I would forget that he was in a wheelchair years ago.

[@susanb2015]

The actor was in a wheelchair in real life because he hurt his back.

[@trevorp8124]

One of our close family friends is a retired financier and last year around xmas, he said "Aside from keeping the envelope of money, I wouldn't have done much different from Mr Potter"

[@pointysidedown]

I think your friend would have kept the money irl, lol

[@fabreezethefaintinggoat5484]

Christmas

[@jadedavis822]

That’s sad

[@mortsnerd5100]

He would have kept the money, but won't admit it because it's a criminal act.

[@commanderclown8620]

Wow. What a great friend.

[@OmnicidalClown1992]

I know that we're suppose to hate Mr. Potter, but I hate the fact that he stole $8000 from the Baileys's hands, put out an arrest warrant for George Bailey, and technically got away with his crimes. Sure, with the help from the town's residents George was able to get the money, and in term was no longer going to jail, but the fact remains is that Mr. Potter stole the money so that he could bring down George, and still kept the money on his person. Rot in Hell, Henry F. Potter.

[@pointysidedown]

I like that potter gets away with it, more realistic.

[@OmnicidalClown1992]

@@pointysidedown But wouldn't it be a bit more satisfying if Clarence revealed that to George that it was Potter who has the $8000? In fact, why couldn't it end with George, who's happy with his life turn out, goes to the window of Mr. Potter, and says; "Merry Christmas, Mr. Potter! And as for my Christmas gift, you can have the $8000 you stole from Uncle Billy!" Just imagine the state of shock and confusion on Mr. Potter's face.

[@g.m.5395]

👏✌️👌👍🏾😉

[@Stormkrow280]

@@OmnicidalClown1992 that would undercut the theme and message of the movie though. It’s about how even the smallest of lives can touch thousands of people.

[@OmnicidalClown1992]

@@Stormkrow280 I still don't think that's a good enough excuse. I'm not asking for much, just a bit of closure, even if it's just a little bit.

[@mjlamey1066]

I always envisaged Mr. Potter as being the future recipient of a Christmas Carol-style ghostly visit, after which he finds redemption, because maybe someone in Bedford Falls was out there praying for Mr. Potter, too.

[@johnsmith8906]

Just started writing my fan fiction, :)

[@jackswan3420]

Headcanon accepted

[@JoJoJoker]

Same here; I see this film as a companion to A Christmas Carol. It would be interesting to see someone make that film. But knowing filmmakers today, it would be dogshit.

[@osmanyousif7849]

Ironic, because Lionel Barrymore was actually the voice of Scrooge in a Christmas Carol for the radio broadcasts at the time.

[@JoJoJoker]

@manny022 there would be loads of praise, with art exhibits and educational programs praising him for decades… Society hates learning life is great for many people, even past the end of it.

[@MadnessInLivingColor]

One of my all-time favorite Christmas movies. Thank you for analyzing this “warped, frustrated old man”!

[@exploremore4937]

Few things I would love to see. An analyzing hero's playlist added. Seeing that the characters we hold to be true and virtuous are in fact very flawed. Contrasting the protagonist with the antagonist could easily be yet another playlist. Last is more esoteric as you can't really know where the author, director or real life person's direction but a what could they have done differently. Thanks for this series, it is really infotainment at its core and I personally love it.

[@Brolly5]

I like the think the act of kindness the whole town expressed towards George in his greatest time in need, put Potter in the grave.

[@isaacmontoya9636]

I saw the movie recently and yes I agree, this guy was totally a douche, I just never expected him to get a spot on this channel 😂 but hey, you're the pro man.

[@j.1759]

he'll do any character that is highly requested enough, the guy listens to his audience

[@osmanyousif7849]

I mean Mr Potter was ranked in AFI's 100 Years..... Villains as #6.

[@DerekPower]

1) I see Pottersville as what happens when you get people to be slaves through their own desires, which is something that Potter must have understood given his cynicism. By getting people to “live for themselves”, they become easier to control. This is also ties into despair, misery and loneliness. 2) Relatedly, Potter never being married and having a family is indeed a strong contrast to nearly everyone else at Bedford Falls, who are married and have families. For Potter, people should be a “thrifty working class” (and he could even be quite derogatory by calling them “garlic eaters”). Owning a home, to him, is a privilege, not a necessity to both present families and to their future. 3) I was actually thinking of the very criminal act that Potter does commit, which would be grand larceny ($8,000 1945 is about $120k 2020) and malfeasance as well as a gross violation of his duties as a B&L stockholder and the *president of a bank*. 4) Until I heard “alternate Violet” knowing Potter personally, I always thought that Potter had already died in “alternate 1945” and “his spirit lives on in the town”. 5) Potter is what happens when you treat economics and commerce as a system to be used and manipulate rather than humans interacting with each other to everyone’s benefit. Furthermore, he is also happens when you let people with ambitions for power, control and dominance “have their way”. George Bailey, even with his flaws, is truly the bulk-wart against him.

[@dansmith1661]

There were once people in Germany who treated his people with the contempt and punishment they deserved. This kind of thing has been going on for over 2000 years.

[@princessmarlena1359]

Mr. Potter: “But I’ve got a monopoly to maintain! I own the electric company, AND the waterworks, not to mention that hotel on ‘Baltic Avenue’!”

[@dougcarey2233]

Great video. I always loved Potter as a wonderfully realistic type of villain. As a practicing Christian, I also really appreciate the respect with which you treat the religious aspects of this film.

[@IronDragon-2143]

This timeless classic has aged remarkably and is hands down my favorite Christmas movie.

[@AABB-bm9kk]

Hmmm doing this one made me think how about doing Mr Burns from The Simpsons 🤔🎄✌️… Happy holidays to Mr Vile Eye and the entire Vile Eye community 😀😎🐶

[@reallyawesometitle7653]

Just watched this the other night. Stellar acting from Lionel Barrymore (Drew Barrymores grandfather) Also, Kratos from God of War!!!

[@bradydefelice2944]

Interesting fact

[@straburyred]

Actually, Lionel is Drew's great-uncle. John Barrymore was her granddad

[@reallyawesometitle7653]

@@straburyred Ah. Thanks for the correction

[@johnlawful2272]

Kratos is played by the actor from the sitcom living single and also by the guy from stargate

[@HauntFormer]

Just watched this gem last night! One of the greatest films ever.

[@daniellavaladez7820]

Love this movie, easily the best Christmas film ever made and one of the best movies ever, period! Makes me cry every time ❤️ And I HATE Mr. Potter! As much as I love this movie, the fact that he never got any comeuppance or suffered any kind of punishment for his actions is the one major flaw I have with the movie.

[@pointysidedown]

I thought it was realistic that potter got away with it. Life's not fair. Sometimes bad guys win and good guys loose.

[@alkristopher]

It's accurate to real life. Name me one wealthy person who ever sees any kind of justice for their misdeeds. You can't.

[@KutWrite]

@@alkristopher If they get close, they fake their death, probably using some homeless person for a body. E.g. (probably) Ken Lay and Jeffrey Epstein.

[@osmanyousif7849]

In the original planned ending, Clarence in the alternate timeline confronts Potter and he dies of a heart attack. This happened at the climax when George was realizing he never existed, and starts to cause a bit a a riot and Mr Potter happened to be there. My guess for why they cut this was for being too dark juxtaposed with the rest of the ending, which is joyous and uplifting.

[@NoHands46]

@@alkristopher R. Kelly?

[@EB1493]

Here are a couple of suggestions for Analyzing Evil: 1. Hal Stewart/Tighten from Megamind 2. Rasputia Latimore from Norbit 3. Jafar from Aladdin 4. Zira from The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride

[@cockylockridge8644]

Rasputia would actually be fire 🤣

[@williamcisson7161]

I love watching analyzing evil.

[@bradydefelice2944]

Me too

[@allright]

John Kreese, from Karate Kid/Cobra Kai, would make a good episode, and Jax Teller from the Sons of Anarchy

[@BR33CH.]

Analyzing Evil: Colin Sullivan From The Departed

[@clindholm9396]

Part of what makes the film so compelling is how easy it is to relate to George. He is a regular guy struggling with his own emotions and feelings, not wanting to do what is right but who knows he has to do what is right or else he would regret it later. It is the tension between doing what we want and doing what we know is best that makes him relatable. He is a good man who is not perfect - this is what makes it a classic story.

[@chrishaddock5886]

Happy Holidays. An interesting insight of a Scroogy styled villain. As suggestions for more videos in the future; 1. Ned Trent - The Specialist 2. Vicious - Cowboy Bebop (Anime) 3. Dorian Tyrone - The Mask 4. Simon Phoenix - Demolition Man 5. Athena - Noir (Anime) 6. King Haggard - The Last Unicron

[@beCoCOi]

Vicious is a man who seized power because be believed that it was his right to take it.

[@JoJoJoker]

Simon Phoenix is a good one. The others? Meh.

[@santos8468]

If we're going with Cowboy Bebop, I'd put Vincent Vilaggio from Knocking On Heaven's Door on this list.

[@shadejakva9367]

I can definitely agree with Simon Phoenix, though I'd add in the movie's other main antagonist Raymond Cocteau in the same analysis as well since they are two sides of societal extremity. Simon is a barbaric sociopath, an anarchist who does whatever he wants because he knows he cannot be stopped, he is chaos and freedom taken to its most extreme form, with his core beliefs being along the lines of "survival of the fittest" and "might makes right". Cocteau, meanwhile, is an autocratic dictator who under the surface of his pristine society has robbed everyone of privacy, choice, and lifestyle and convinces the populace they must do so for the greater good while punishing and otherizing any who don't fully submit and smearing those who outright oppose his despotism as terrorists, authoritarianism taken to its most extreme form.

[@tattered666]

A lil analyzing evil for my lunch break? Don't mind if I do

[@DefyDTF]

Dude, your growth has been insane. I've been watching you since you were in the hundreds and even just the past year going from a couple thousand to hundreds of thousands is insane. Fantastic job👍

[@domwalker6526]

Great video for the holidays. One of my favorite Christmas movies, that and die hard. A lot of people would say all Mr. Potter did was play the system to the best of his abilities, but he was an evil wicked man. After he took the 8 bands I was like he had no redeeming qualities

[@straburyred]

Here's another greedy SOB you might want to analyze: Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), "Wall Street"

[@justiceduran3752]

I had the pleasure to be cast as Mr. Potter for my theatres show, and it was such a fun time. In the show script he visibly finds the money and think about returning it but changes his mind and shoves it in his pocket. I was shooting to be cast as George but ended up thinking Mr. Potter was more fun to play

[@ebinrock]

I just want to say here how great Jimmy Stewart's acting was, and how much he deserved an Oscar for this film. In the boardroom scene where Potter motions to dissolve the Building and Loan, Stewart's character George tells Potter that he wants what he "can't get his fingers on". When he says the line "can't get your fingers on", his voice creaks, as I think commonly happens when we're really angry at someone and stressed.

[@jadedavis822]

I just always wondered why George never asked the angel where did his uncle put the money lol

[@knightofarkronia9968]

Considering how stressed out George was, along with the fact that he had been drowning his sorrows earlier, it’s clear that he wasn’t thinking straight at the time.

[@lordschnitzel7961]

Please. Analyzing Evil : Jim/James Moriarty (BBCs Sherlock)

[@14JoeThompson]

My head just exploded 🤯 I’ve watched this movie every Christmas Eve for the past 20 years and never saw the connection you made. Well done 👏👏👏

[@licmy2]

Every little town in America had this duel fate most of the time. Sad thing is the Potters win most of the time.

[@ironsevs]

One of my favorite movies of all time.

[@StylesV13]

So no mention of Potter being confined to a wheelchair? Which is pointed out in the movie to be one of the reasons why he is bitter? He probably came from a well off family, contracted Polio when young and lost the use of his legs. Back in that time people in his condition were often sent to live their life in care homes, sent out of the public eye. He became bitter and resentful in life as a result.

[@darklight6921]

and the protag thinks he got dealt a bad hand.

[@dragoninthewest1]

Fun fact: Harry Potter had a great grandpa was also named Henry Potter but went by Harry. Be funny if someone did a parody were turns out Mr. Potter was a wizard in disguise. This would also explain all the wealth young 11 y/o Harry had at Gringotts. The timeline matches up, too.

[@Stormkrow280]

7:18 I wouldn’t say it’s “Temptation” per say, more like he targets a persons desperation perfectly, choosing his words carefully in order to make a person think they have no choice other than to side with him.

[@superpheemy]

Have a very Merry (and Vile) Season. I look forward to each of your Analyzing Evil vids! Keep up the stellar work.

[@stephendesjardins3626]

In the spirit of the season - Ebenezer Scrooge; from specifically the best (imho) Christmas Carol ever. The Allistair Sim "original" (1951 b&w). Just curious about your take on ES. Love your work btw.

[@christmashake8968]

It’d certainly be a good introduction to V.E.’s thoughts on “redeemed evil”-type characters and whether future actions of atonement/redemption balance out past actions of clear evil, at least in his eyes.

[@thegunslinger1363]

Could you cover Lord Shen from Kung Fu Panda 2?

[@EthanKnight97]

Auric Goldfinger arguably the most iconic Bond villain I would love to see a analysis of. He's loves gold, only gold.

[@idrkbruh1]

Excellent choice with Mistborn! I read it earlier this year and I loved it, and the sequels were even better. Great video too!

[@teethadore]

One of the great ironies of this is that the role of Mr. Potter was one of the very few heavies that Lionel Barrymore portrayed during his career. He usually portrayed gruff but kindly characters. But seems that he is always associated with the role of Mr. Potter.

[@EarsTotheStreetsMedia]

Great work as usual! I think a breakdown on Marlo Stansfield from The Wire would make for a great episode of analyzing evil!

[@GiveMeYourFACE9089]

Your Analysis of evil characters should be mirrored by a Analysis of heroes. In depth reflections of movie protagonists can be just as compelling as that of villains. In the same vein that not all villains are purely evil, no hero is purely good.

[@justindenney-hall5875]

GiveMeYourFACE I agree, I've always wanted to see him do that.

[@pointysidedown]

I don't want him to do protagonists, this channel is about bad guys. Good guys get enough spotlight

[@cindychoo7]

Imagine a Forrest Gump character analysis

[@TeamCap623]

@@pointysidedown Hey the good guys deserve a deep dive analysis to buddy.

[@YorkistWhiteRose]

I'm always fascinated by the voiceless character who seems to be Potter's PA (pushing his wheelchair and so on). He sees Potter steal the money, and he gets a close-up showing his disgust and discomfort. It's a great little character moment, and I wish we saw more of him.

[@ebinrock]

In a sense I'm glad that Mr. Potter didn't get his "come-uppance" at the end for what he did. That way, the film more realistically portrays that evil is sadly not always punished, but we all must press on the best we can despite that...That said, SNL's alternate ending is very entertaining!

[@goodman4966]

Happy Holidays Everyone!

[@benjaminstacy3227]

I absolutely love this channel! I have a weird one for you though. I've been binging Seinfeld on Netflix and I think you could do one on George Costanza from that show. He's a great example of every day evils that we come across in our day to day lives. Selfish, cowardly, manipulative, a pathological liar. Shallow, cheap, whiny and so on so forth.

[@alwaysplotting2096]

How long has it been since you last did a video game villain? I suggest Frank Fontaine from Bioshock.

[@fox-jake8784]

Mr. Potter reminds me a little bit of Brad Wesley from the film, "Road House". Both are greedy businessmen who go out of their way to extort money out of small businesses in their respective small towns and bullied the residents into submission. Though Wesley is more of a criminal than Mr. Potter, because he committed acts of violence and racketeering to get where he was, and he got his comeuppance in the end.

[@ericwhite1942]

Yep good eye but Westly is more of a "beat the crap out of the George and blow up his house to make him sign over" kind of guy, I'm thinking

[@justindenney-hall5875]

The Vile Eye I hope one day you do an episode on "Daddy" and "Mommy" from "The people under the stairs" (1991) they are two of the most irredeemable villains in horror movie history, and a character lesser known movie I would recommend is "Otis P. Hazel" from "Dark night of the scarecrow" (1981) and for a future christmas episode you should cover "Mother Superior" from "Silent night, deadly night" 1/2.

[@shadejakva9367]

Awesome analysis! Well worth the wait! Mr. Potter isn't just an iconic Christmas villain but an iconic cinema villain, I'm glad you did this video! The thing about Pottersville is it may look appealing to the visiting tourist, but the residents are clearly miserable and then taking into account the establishments(all owned by Potter) are all a designed as a means to entice people into carelessly spending their money on the temporary pleasures and distractions they provide from the poverty Potter deliberately keeps everyone in, providing them means to cope with their inescapable situation but only to suck more money from them, leading to them falling further into debt with Potter or working for him at one of his establishments, further fitting the Devil analogy you gave and how he uses temptation as his greatest weapon, offering you something you want but taking all you have in turn. One way or another, in Pottersville, eventually, he will own you.

[@Groomsman]

I first saw this movie when I was like 10 or 11, and all the business stuff just went over my head at the time. Yet after watching this video, which was primarily focused on the antagonist, I now see the genius of this movie.

[@remylucai]

Anybody from "The Wire" deserves to their own video.

[@CSM100MK2]

Great work as always. Thanks so much for your commitment to quality editing and writing.

[@g.davidturnblom5751]

What most impresses me here is that this entire video is underscored by the final movement of Ode to Joy, which does wonderful justice to George Bailey. Thanks.

[@thelatearthurmorgan6158]

Both Potter and Bailey were businessmen but Potter was a corporatist driven only by immediate profits and matket share. The business model of Bailey actually lifted people up by giving them a chance when their credit score was less than stellar. Their benefit ultimately saved Bailey when there was a run on the bank and the people actually returned the favor to Bailey and helped him stay afloat. By seeing people as only dollars and cents Potter forced people to their worst and caused them to do desperate things. That's why Pottersville was full of cabarets and saloons while Bedford Falls was a place to raise a family.

[@santos8468]

I'm glad you did this one.

[@andrewemerson7861]

Can next be Littlefinger from Game of Thrones?

[@slenderfan-101j.g.4]

Before anybody asks, he is not related to Harry Potter 🤣🤣🤣

[@ericwhite1942]

.......I mean....are we sure about that? Would explain where Harry's parents got all that money 💰

[@Nai-qk4vp]

@@ericwhite1942 Well, Harry's great-grandfather was named Henry Potter according to the familu trees.

[@ThreeCatsOneBraincell]

Can you do some of the Marvel villians? Thanos, Loki, Killmonger, Ultron, Kingpin are some that stand out to me. Also, maybe the characters in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, I think that could be a light, almost funny one. Thanks! Love your channel!

[@docbones213]

"It's a wonderFULL life in fact!.. For some..."

[@TheGrimmCommoner]

Another film starring both Lionel Barrymore and James Stewart is a comedy called You Can't Take It With You. Barrymore plays the polar opposite of Mr Potter in the film.

[@MrBryan247]

Please comment on his lack of legs and how Darth Vader also had artificial legs to strut as he did. Is this a clay feet of power parallel?

[@michealoceallaigh4716]

"Mr. Potter, I will no longer be doing my banking with you"

[@thejoker0123]

in the words of Hades 👍👍 way way up for our 60th Villain what a dish what an all 😉

[@captainhowlerwilson508]

George is definitely not a completely selfish person, although he is not completely selfless, and he always has a heart for others whilst having these dreams for travel.

[@EclecticDD]

Bedford Falls was a family town, where George Bailey was raised and where Mary wanted to raise their children. The Bailey Savings and Loan helped keep the town that way as we see with the family that the home warming gifts were given to. Look at what Hill Valley became under Biff (who also did not have his own children) in Back to the Future 2.

[@darklight6921]

a lonely old dragon. what a nice thing to say.

[@dietdrpepper15]

I think the canon ending to Potter is the SNL one, where he gets the crap kicked out of him by the townspeople : )

[@isaacmontoya9636]

Brady Hearts field from Mr. Mercedes must be done. I insist my guy

[@VividManify]

I've gotta rewatch this now. Thanks!

[@vampman87]

My mom has a book on "It's a Wonderful Life" and there was a proposed sequel set in the 1980s with an adult Zuzu helping out a now elderly George Bailey try to protect Bedford Falls from being knocked down by tycoons. Potter's fate was mentioned- he, surprisingly, had a change of heart toward the end of his life and became a philanthropist, but when he died in the mid 1950s he was buried clutching two $100 bills in each hand to show that you CAN take it with you.

[@msbae]

This guy made Scrooge look like a saint.

[@jigsawlover1984]

Do a video on Gordon Gekko from Wall Street (1987). In my opinion Gekko is more greedy than Potter. Keep up the good work.

[@peetjevermeulen6596]

I know you probably hate people that suggest villians by now, and I'm sorry but: J.J Hunsecker from "Sweet Smell Of Succes" is such a perfect villian...

[@DixieYankee]

You should do Errol Childress from True Detective season 1.

[@DINOLOVER6717]

He’s vintage Logan Roy (Succession). That’s it.

[@matforget6174]

What a fun choice of subject for the holidays, thank you for the excellent content as always 😊

[@kenyonjohnson6937]

Based on your description, I can tell you've read all of two pages of that series.

[@MultiDryder]

Since you mentioned the devil you should do one on john milton played by al Pacino in the devils advocate

[@BBRRTT98]

Excellent timing

[@ericwhite1942]

Watch this every Christmas. For some reason I always remembered Mr. Potter returning the money in the very last scene. After watching this video I looked up the ending on KZbin and saw it was actually the cop who came to arrest him ripping up the warrant that I was thinking of. Don't know if that's a Mandela Effect or just bad memory but there you go. Great video and Merry Christmas

[@philosophyoftrucking]

The personification of successful, lawful evil.

[@adhamelgammal9079]

I love your videos and the way you use your voice, everything in your videos feel master crafted and preplanned. I really appreciate your efforts in making your videos so much fun to watch and/or listen to. ❤️ Forever a fan

[@keithmurguia4310]

I always thought it was creepy how well Mr. Potter had George Bailey pegged when he offered him a job. While it was an enticing offer for George Bailey, I can't help but wonder what the long-term effects would have been. Wasn't the offer for only 3 years? What would have happened afterwards?

[@justinhunt4767]

Best Christmas movie ever

[@pierce8878]

Can you analyze Billy and Stu from Scream since they are super iconic new one is coming out soon?

[@organicprozac2490]

I’d love to see an analysis of Koba from the new Planet of the Apes series. Definitely one of my favourite villains of all time!

[@jacobp249]

Got a huge smile on my face when I saw this vid. An unexpected but wholly welcome Analysis of Evil

[@Patrix299]

You should do an analysis of O-Dog from Menace 2 Society