How The FBI (Almost) Stole IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

[@inframeout]

So - where does this rank in on your favourite holiday movies list?

[@anabidingdude8079]

It is hard to judge when compared to holiday classics like (don't call it a Christmas movie) "Die Hard," (I'll never look at Lorelei Gilmore the same way) "Bad Santa," and (my dad died coming down the chimney) "Gremlins."

[@kevinarmstrong478]

It’s on the list. I loved Grant Naylor’s take on it in Better Than Life the second Red Dwarf book.

[@kevinarmstrong478]

It’s on there. Should Die Hard be on the list?

[@kevinarmstrong478]

@@anabidingdude8079I feel bad and apologise to Mr Wills but Die Hard is defiantly on my xmas list!

[@chrismoule7328]

@@anabidingdude8079 Die Hard is the complete Christmas metaphor. Santa (McClane) flies in with presents (that huge teddy bear) for the "good children". Rudolph (Argyle) takes him in a sleigh (limo) to them. He climbs down the chimney (lift shaft) but has to punish all the "bad children" - er, guess who?! On the other hand Bad Santa is not a Christmas movie. Wait, wait, wait - let me explain! It's a satirical attack on blind consumerism which, by default, reaches it's annual frenzy at Christmas. However, that is a condition that afflicts too many people all year round which is why we follow it during Christmas in Phoenix, Arizona where all the familiar clichés are mostly absent like snow, etc. It's in a shopping mall, which is a location that exists solely for the purchase of unnecessary tat. The give-away moment is when Marcus pulls a gun on Willie in order to steal the money for himself. Willie looks at the shopping cart full of stuff that Marcus and his girlfriend have been collecting and he says "You people are monsters. Look at all that shit. Do you really need all that shit?" That's the movie in a nutshell. It is not about Christmas but how we in the affluent West have sold our humanity in order own "shit" we don't need.

[@WritingOnGames]

Wonderful Life? More like Wonderful VIDEO. Can't believe this oversight

[@eyebrowowl9292]

There's something wonderfully poetic about how in spite of all the scrutiny tilted towards this film from seemingly unstoppable entities, the film remained indomitable - just like George and his own struggle against Potter. Thanks as always for your sharp writing and editing in your videos, it's inspiring stuff.

[@brittlizzzzzz]

This is one of the very few movies that never fails to make me cry like a baby

[@inframeout]

It is - without hyperbole - one of the most perfect films ever made (and it's status as a Christmas movie is kind of funny considering that barely 20% of it happens at Xmas)

[@trinaq]

This movie seems tame and heartwarming, it's hard to believe that the FBI would want to destroy a Christmas classic! 🎄🎁

[@inframeout]

They wanted it scrubbed from history and opened Federal investigations into everyone involved!

[@julius-stark]

The FBI doesn't exactly have a track record of intelligence.

[@Pretermit_Sound]

The FBI was an especially awful organization during Hoover’s reign. Which lasted far, far too long. Not that they didn’t do anything good, but it was subject to the whims of a very petty, insecure, and vindictive man when J. Edgar was in charge.

[@nicklariviere9019]

holidays, history lesson, and multiple simpsons references? Count me in!

[@inframeout]

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH MY MONEY IN YOUR HOUSE, FRED!?

[@scarlettblack87]

This was absolutely fantastic and beautifully written. I’m glad to hear your thoughts and opinions on any film but I am so thrilled to see you cover a classic. Thank you.

[@inframeout]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@iamflipachip]

I've loved this movie forever and in no small part because of how much George reminds me of my dad. Someone who would do the right thing no matter the cost.

[@laurareeves9754]

I was in tears by the end of this essay. I/F/O is the best channel on KZbin. Happy Holidays. Thank you.

[@inframeout]

May your December be warm and full of kind, brilliant things

[@sergiorivera1656]

I'm so glad you inserted that Simpsons clip.

[@BrickBardo9782]

Mr. Potter ALMOST faced repercussions -- a scene of Clarence appearing before the old man and giving him a heart attack by flat-out telling Potter that he was going straight to hell the instant he died was in the shooting script. Details are fuzzy as to whether or not it was actually filmed.

[@rd-um4sp]

I/F/O hitting my brain like a freight train is expected. almost a given. Hitting my heart? that is a first. great video, as usual

[@larskaaber9869]

what a beautiful, little documentary! I actually shed a tear - as I always do when watching "It's a Wonderful Life", but this time just at the retelling of the plot, and an analysis :)

[@jasoncromwell4206]

The Bartender with the accent : This is his most famous acting role, but he became one of the most powerful Producers in TV History with his credits including "I Love Lucy", "The Danny Thomas Show (Make Room For Daddy" and "The Andy Griffith Show." Fans of TV's most famous Dorks know him well as he lent his name to the two lead characters Sheldon and Leonard.

[@inframeout]

Absolutely glorious trivia! Thank you!

[@lewisnapper]

Oh man, I adore this film. Wonderful analysis as always I/F/O and especially emotive this time around. Also, amazing choice getting @hotcyder to work on the thumbnail, his work never misses!

[@cassiopiea8438]

Such a great video!

[@ashleyleckwold5091]

I was in a stage adaptation of It’s A Wonderful Life when I was in high school playing Mary’s mother (considering I was 15 at the time, it definitely gave me a complex). It really gave me an appreciation for the movie at that age and is still the reason I actually know the words to ‘Auld Lang Syne’. Which is to say I appreciated your analysis on this. Definitely makes me want to rewatch soon.

[@mattgilbert7347]

Just imagine being Ayn Rand or J. Edgar. I mean, imagine it. The poverty of them. Damn, i feel *pity* for Ayn Rand. Genuinely. Meeeerrry Xmas all!

[@Smumbo]

I've never even seen this movie before, but your video made me tear up a little. Definitely need to give this a look now.

[@TheJonathanFerreira]

You nailed why I love this film so much. More than any other Christmas film, It's a Wonderful Life captures the real spirit of the holiday, imo, giving of yourself and sacrificing so that the people around you can succeed. It's also deeply frightening with how low George's life really becomes and that makes it a fantastic drama to me. Other Christmas films wish they could reach the depths of this one.

[@swamianandtesla2347]

"All you can take with you is that which you've given away" Happy Solstice!

[@flaiman]

When I saw you made a video about this movie it gave me the perfect excuse to finally watch this classic and I'm glad I did. Your video is the perfect compliment to it.

[@mrmikejsteele]

This was the first holiday season I didn’t watch Its a Wonderful Life. Pretty sure watching this just now filled that gap up. Great stuff I didn’t know about it’s history and, yeah, I teared up when you zoomed in on the wall thing. Happy New Year!

[@TheShawnDubs]

How this video doesn't have more views and likes is beyond me.

[@inframeout]

Thank you for the kind words 🙏

[@anabidingdude8079]

A fun, informative and well-produced essay as always. I seem to remember hearing about how this movie got tagged as communist propaganda/subversion back in the day. There was a Republican resurgence immediately after the war and the social Darwinian wing of the party were determined to role back the New Deal among other things, including going after Capra and Stewart for daring to portray the rich as greedy jerks. I am curious about an aspect of your video though. When did "suicide" become a bleeped word? Have we become so fragile that nuetral word describing something unpleasant is vetoed from a conversation altogether?

[@inframeout]

The reason that word is bleeped is entirely because of KZbin - who have demonetized every video I have ever used that word in

[@anabidingdude8079]

@@inframeout Ah, well, I see. They must've gotten sued at some point and now consider it a "trigger" word? We live in times of strange priorities...

[@kifacorea]

Excellent analysis!

[@GrannyGamer1]

Wow! Brilliant video! I never really appreciated this film before. And I had no idea the big guns that came after it for such petty reasons. Guess I need to watch it again!

[@inframeout]

Imagine thinking "Being critical of predatory corporate banking" and "Community is nice" are ideas so scary that you throw the weight of the entire US government behind discrediting it

[@karlboyack1921]

You've gotta love the optics of going to war against a film titled "It's a Wonderful Life." It's almost respectable if it weren't so sad in how it reflects the reactionary mindset.

[@inframeout]

Imagine watching this movie and thinking "This Is Evil"

[@profoundunderdog]

Fantastic video about a fantastic film.

[@neiljohns245]

Fascinating, and very entertaining.

[@williamlouie569]

It is a fun family value movie. How did it got condemned as communism, socialism influenced movie? It's new to me.

[@xanthippas]

What a great video about a great film. Thank you.

[@inframeout]

Our pleasure!

[@Cortinaman63]

To the average Cinema goer it is a beautiful feel good film,(one of my all time personal favorites) to the USA Government a subversive film that will make the public stand up against them, just goes to show what they are truly afraid off.is people thinking for themselves.and not doing what they are told.

[@shelbymckinney8888]

This movie is probably in my top 10 favorite films to watch during this time of year. Also something to note, wasn't Mr. Potter getting away with his crime considered abnormal for the time considering that the Hayes Code was still a thing? Or am I just reaching?

[@inframeout]

The reason it wasn't considered abnormal was because - and this is still absolutely baffling - in the mind of the US Government, Mr Potter was the hero

[@shelbymckinney8888]

@@inframeout Of course. Don't misunderstand me, I watched the entirety of the video, I was just thinking about other films made during that time.

[@Andyanddiana467]

My wife is Jewish…and watches this religiously every holiday season.

[@JustJunuh]

Wow, what a phenomenal essay. I can't believe that the film got so much critique by the US gov.

[@inframeout]

It's absolutely horrifying

[@SihirbazTsar55]

Frank Capra, Jimmy Stewart, and most of the RKO brass (not Dory Schary) were conservatives

[@unfortunatesole]

Great video! Freddy Got Fingered is the perfect example of a timeless classic, definitely on the same level as It’s A Wonderful Life

[@patrickmccartney6783]

I love this movie, but if you're going political couldn't a christian nationalist make basically the same argument?

[@emilywolfe7319]

I'm no fan of communism... But community isn't communism. This movie encapsulates Christian ideals.

[@emilywolfe7319]

PS. Diversifying financial institutions and opening small businesses is as American as apple pie ... It's not communist at all. It's running business like a gentleman, not a greedy snake.

[@EricGranata]

The fact that Ayn Rand colluded with the FBI makes this quasi-libertarian’s heart skip a beat.

[@jasonfxrcool]

Great analysis!