*IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE* is timeless!! | First Time Watching REACTION

[@deedee67888]

Every time I hear a reactor talk about not watching black and white movies, it breaks my heart. There is such a rich film history of movies filmed in black and white, either because they were made before color was prevalent, or because the director made that choice. I'm so glad you're changing your mind! This was a great reaction!

[@Crazy_Diamond_75]

Roman Holiday, Casablanca, Pyscho, hell even some silent films like City Lights... Those are some of my favorite movies, and I don't even consider myself a buff when it comes to that era.

[@anneb889]

It Happened One Night, The Thin Man, His Girl Friday, Some Like it Hot, so many good black and white old movies.

[@Crazy_Diamond_75]

@@anneb889 Yes! One that I thought of after I made my previous comment was The Apartment. One of the best movies ever, honestly.

[@anneb889]

@@Crazy_Diamond_75 The Apartment is good, always made me a little sad too. Would be interesting to hear a younger persons thoughts…before divorce was so prevalent, a husband stepping out discreetly was considered respectful, fear of out of wedlock birth was much more scary. Great performances too. There are plenty of great black and white dramas….I was kinda going for the more fun and light hearted ones….lol….but Casablanca is just about as perfect of a movie you will get….she should at least give that one a chance.

[@jethro1963]

At least fifty percent of the greatest or most relevant films would still have to be in black and white. This crazy stigma against them by an intellectually inferior generation is a fairly recent phenomena. I grew up in the 70s and 80s, well into the colour era and nobody I knew spoke like this. Once I saw my first 30s Warner Brothers gangster movie I was hooked. No sex, profanity and SFX was there to save lazy and unintelligent script writers and producers.

[@TheMKCrab]

FYI Garlic Eaters is a an old-timey slur for Italians, so Potter was specifically referring to Giuseppe Martini and his family

[@Otokichi786]

Out here in the Pacific basin, that ethnic slur was used by empire-building Japanese to refer to Koreans, as seen in James Clavell's book, "Shogun" (1975).

[@isoldejaneholland8370]

​@@Otokichi786 I didn't know that! I love Korean film, Kdramas, etc.

[@albertjimeno5315]

Yup. He’s a bigot, on top of everything else. Just a horrible, horrible person.

[@eaglevision993]

In Germany it is still used, mostly by older folks as a derogatory term for south eastern Europeans, especially Turks. The German term is "Knoblauchfresser".

[@rikk319]

It wasn't used ironically. Frank Capra was a child when his family emigrated from Sicily. Capra means "goat" in Italian, so the goat owned by the Martini family may have been a nod to his heritage.

[@orlandoawilliams799]

George may not have gotten what he thought he wanted, but he got things he didn't know he needed.

[@georgemckeon6710]

FUN FACT: Unlike his character, George Bailey, Jimmy Stewart served in WWII as a bomber pilot, completing many dangerous missions. In fact, he suffered from PTSD for the rest of his life. It manifests itself (for real) in the bar scene where he breaks down and cries. All this to say that Jimmy Stewart was the REAL deal.

[@stephenriggs8177]

Interesting tidbit from IMDB: "James Stewart was nervous about the phone kiss scene because it was his first onscreen kiss since his return to Hollywood after the war. Under director Frank Capra's watchful eye, Stewart filmed the scene in only one unrehearsed take, and it worked so well that part of the embrace was cut because it was too passionate to pass the censors."

[@cclapew]

Another few tidbits.... Jimmy stewart went on to become a Brig General in the airforce reserves.... Jimmy Stewart had to be talked into this role By Frank Capra because he did not want to return to acting after the war.... Acording to rumours that I have heard that the slap to young George Bailey's ear was real and that blood coming out of his ear was also real...

[@SueProv]

That's a fun fact? That he had PTSD.

[@jamesalexander5623]

Don't I know it! My Father served in the 445th Bomb Group with Jimmy Stewart! Flying in B-24's from RAF Tibbenham, England in WW II!

[@zedwpd]

He swerved in Vietnam too and retired as a General.

[@CJ87317]

"A toast...to my big brother George: the richest man in town." --- Harry Bailey All-American football player, Naval Aviator, MOH Recipient. Harry had the life George wanted, but Harry still looks up his big brother. Nothing better encapsulates the message of the movie than that.

[@cthulhuwu_]

I cry like a baby every time I hear that line. Even seeing it written makes me tear up. No man is a failure who has friends.

[@donovanmedieval]

Sam Wainright too.

[@catherinelw9365]

The use of black and white in cinema isn't just a lack of technology. In Italy they called it "chiaroscuro", meaning "light and dark", and it was considered an art, using shadows and light. In the Hitchcock film, "Rebecca", which won Best Cinematography and Best Picture, the chiaroscuro is fantastic, creating an atmosphere of gloom and mystery. You can't get that effect in color.

[@Otokichi786]

Then there's "Psycho" (1960), which Alfred Hitchcock filmed in monochrome, for all the above reasons.

[@willcool713]

Lighting, contrast, and shadow were the only colors they had to work with.

[@lordessducky8494]

@@willcool713,it’s a technique, and definitely an art lost today. 😢

[@Dylan_Platt]

You're absolutely correct, this movie only seems "old-fashioned" if you look at the surface details like the way people dress and the black & white. Underneath is a story with as much life, humor, relevance, and humanity as anything made in the last few decades (and WAY more than most). Timeless is a great word for it. Fantastic reaction.

[@laurab68707]

You need to go back and watch, 12 Angry Men and To Kill a Mockingbird, which you saw in school as a teen and didn't pay attention to. They are both excellent movies. Great reaction. Black and white movies from the past are very great. Please give them all a chance. Casablanca is a excellent black and white movie also.

[@ammaleslie509]

I want to echo Casablanca ! Amazing use of chiaroscuro, great writing, a timeless love story. You might like it a lot. And definitely rewatch Twelve Angry Men! I assume others have mentioned Psycho.

[@beatleschick1000]

I agree! Those are two of my very favorite movies that I’ve watched it over and over and over. To kill a Mockingbird a little bit over than the other one because I love Gregory Peck. Both of them are totally worth seeing, you won’t regret it. Merry Christmas!

[@shilohauraable]

We never realize the people we touch. Even a smile to a stranger might change their day! Enjoy life! And enjoy others around you! 😊

[@orlandoawilliams799]

One of my favorite movies. That $17.50 got me even as a child. We need more people like Miss Davis and fewer people like Mr. Potter.

[@farmerbill6855]

Grandma Walton asked for the $17.50.

[@isoldejaneholland8370]

​@@farmerbill6855 "Good Night, farmerbill6855."

[@jamesalexander5623]

Supposedly the script said $20 but she said $17.50 and Jimmy Stewart's supprised response was real!

[@Dej24601]

The goat was a bit of an in joke; the director Frank Capra was born of Italian immigrants and Capra means goat in Italian. He knew firsthand the insults being thrown at Italians so made sure they were included like when Potter calls them “a bunch of garlic eaters.”

[@rg3388]

Yes. Director's signature.

[@snootybaronet]

As another commenter mentioned, there were many color and excellent Technicolor films made at this time (1946). The greatest directors and cinematographers of that era, and still considered the greatest today, preferred black and white. They felt black and white allowed for use of shadow and light to create atmosphere and mood that were much more artistically expressive. Black and white cinematography attained a very high standard that is way beyond mere charm.

[@wadehines9971]

And to hell with Ted Turner for taking their brilliant films and "colorizing" them.

[@brettharlow7010]

The issues in the film are actually more relevant today, because it shows how little we've learned about solving them...great reaction.

[@gogousa6661]

This film and Charlie Brown are now all sold to the top bidding streaming service. You have to subscribe for good morals contrary to the message smh

[@wadehines9971]

Somewhat more like what we've forgotten. We had Building and Loan corporations created by communities as cooperatives. Then we let Potters tell us that was socialism and bad. Traded it in for Home Owner Associations run by Karens who want to dictate what sort of flowers you can plant in your own yard, or what color you can paint your own home.

[@robbyascher9090]

The black-and-white version of this is way better looking than the colorized in my opinion

[@stevedotwood]

"Twelve Angry Men" could be one of the greatest B&W you'll ever see IMO. The whole movie is located in just one room, but the characters & conversations are really great. Even with that restriction, it's never boring.

[@andyjohnson4907]

Psycho is a really good black and white movie. It'll creep you out so much. I think the black and white aspect might even make the viewing experience better. It's so unnerving. And it's absolutely on the list of movies to watch before you die.

[@boki1693]

My first Hitchcock movie was actually the Birds. That still messes with my head.

[@smadaf]

Scheduled commercial passenger air-travel started in 1914; but, yes, in the early 1930s, most transcontinental and transoceanic travel was by train and ship, not air. In the first scene of his adult life, when George gets the secondhand suitcase at the baggage shop, in 1928, he says that the way he's getting to Europe is to work his way across the Atlantic on a cattle-boat; it was only one year earlier, in May of 1927, that the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight was made; the first transatlantic airliner service didn't come until 1939. In 1932, just before the scene in which George tosses away his brochures for South American travel, while he's waiting with Uncle Billy for Harry to arrive by train, he says that the three most exciting sounds in the world are anchor-chains, plane-motors, and train-whistles.

[@cog4life]

Your attitude of gratitude is wonderful! Was good to watch this with you. Very insightful reaction. And you’re right. It is all still very relevant to this day…it is indeed timeless. Wise beyond your years. 😊❤

[@Jeff_Lichtman]

This was Frank Capra's first movie after World War II. It was his tribute to all the people who set their plans aside for the collective good during the war. Not just soldiers, but many people on the home front postponed their marriages, families, educations, and careers for the war effort. The 4:3 aspect ratio used to be very common in movies. Televisions originally used this ratio to match the movies. When the movie studios started to see TV as competition, they went to wider aspect ratios to give audiences something they couldn't see on TV. Now, of course, both movies and TV use a wide ratio. Mr. Potter's comment about "garlic eaters" was about immigrants like Mr. Martini. Along with all his other faults, Potter was a bigot. Anti-immigrant sentiment is not a new thing in this country. I'm glad that you're ready to appreciate older films. Most movies were in black and white until the 1960s. There were many great films up until that point, with meaningful stories, and skilled acting and direction. And the cinematography of black and white was often beautiful. They really knew how to do lighting in those days. Black and white films you might consider reacting to: - Casablanca (1942) - The Third Man (1949) - Some Like It Hot (1959) - The Apartment (1960) - The Maltese Falcon (1941) - Roman Holiday (1953)

[@rabbitandcrow]

Director Frank Capra believed in the idea of an American melting pot - he came to the US as a kid from Italy. He even makes a self-referential joke about it with the goat in the car when the Martinis get their new house - “capra” means goat!

[@TekgraFX101]

There is a definite charm to the black and white films.

[@DavidB-2268]

George Bailey's story perfectly epitomizes the John Lennon lyric, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans".

[@jerrywalters8885]

THE QUIET MAN with John Wayne from I believe 52 is a very well done love story in Ireland. Very pretty as actually filled there. AND ITS IN COLOR lol

[@raymeedc]

James (Jimmy) Stewart is one of the most iconic actors in film history. One of his RomComs you will likely like is the classic “Shop Around The Corner”, much better than the “You’ve Got Mail” remake decades later. Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” is another, one of the 4 Hitchcock pics he made in the 50s. “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence” with Stewart & John Wayne for an off beat nifty Western. “The Philadelphia Story” with Stewart, Cary Grant, & Katherine Hepburn 👌

[@orlandoawilliams799]

This movie had a large influence on me as kid to try to be a good person.

[@TomCat777]

Over Christmas you should watch the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol. It's debatably the best version of it. It's also in B/W, but the performance of Alister Sim is fantastic

[@MrFaulkner42]

IMHO, it's not even debatable that it is the best version.

[@dabe1971]

The absolute best Christmas film ever. Hands down. I've watched it countless times. The final message gets me through each year. Did you notice it NEVER snows in Pottersville ? Yes you can see it on the ground but look when George is begging to Clarence that he wants to live again - the moment it starts to snow is when you know he's back in good old Bedford Falls. The snow was a new development for the film too. Capra wanted to use live sound for the close up scenes so the usual Hollywood method - cornflakes bleached or painted in white was out as clearly any walking nearby would create unwanted sound so the special effects team came up with a brand new method. There was actually a record heatwave going on whilst the film was being made ! The Raven that Uncle Billy owns is called 'Jimmy'. He starred in 1000+ films and was quite the star - insured for the equivalent of thousands of dollars today. He's actually the 'crow' that lands on the Scarecrow in 'The Wizard of Oz'. Capra found a part for him in every film he made after 1938. Speaking of Uncle Billy, in the scene where he leaves the frame and there's a crash, a set hand dropped some equipment accidentally and the look of concern from Jimmy Stewart was genuine. Some say 'Uncle Billy' improvised the cry that he was alright, others say it was dubbed on in post. But the crash is genuine and unscripted. Jimmy Stewart was still suffering with PTSD from his WW2 service and credits this movie experience as being therapeutic. In particular, in the prayer scene it wasn't scripted for him to cry and they weren't really setup for a close up to really capture the emotion. Capra knew he couldn't replicate the emotion in a reshoot so he decided to go with the original footage and zoomed in on the negative for the final cut of the film. If you look, it looks grainier because of that but Capra thought it worked in bringing more emotion and it was certainly better than asking Jimmy to go again. Stewart is one of my favourite actors and even more so when you see this performance. So glad new generations are still enjoying this classic - and in black and white as it should be !

[@boki1693]

I give the nod to Scrooge (A Christmas Carol), the old version from the 50's over this but I can't fault you for picking this at.

[@mescko]

I have read it took many hours and around a dozen re-prints of footage before he got the close-up he wanted.

[@rhill49849]

Donna Reed is so incredibly beautiful and talented. George was the luckiest man in Bedford Falls!

[@MsWillowbayOrelse]

You really should rewatch To Kill a Mockingbird and 12 Angry Men. They are absolutely fantastic movies. I would also suggest Casablanca, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Now, Voyager, The Philadelphia Story, Notorious, Dark Victory, 'It Happened One Night', Rope, His Girl Friday, My Man Godfrey are some of my favs. Citizen Kane is very good but can be a bit dry for people who aren't really into movies. Tho I do think that everyone should watch it once. It is a master class of film imo.

[@cflournoy1529]

Dark Victory and Now Voyager are my favorite Bette Davis movies!!

[@cclapew]

I totally agree!!!!... the movies you chose and so many more like Cant take it with you, The thin man, Stagecoach and The quiet man, too name a few more....

[@kelly9876]

@@cflournoy1529 the best one is "All about Eve"

[@RobfromPortland]

Citizen Lane is an interesting movie. It's a fictionalized biography of Hearst, the guy who built Hearst castle and ran one of the biggest newspaper syndicates in the 20th century.

[@mjkjelland13]

In 1982, I was on the verge of doing something very stupid. Before I had the chance though, this movie came on the TV. It was the first time I had seen it and it changed my life. This movie is the main reason I am here today to even write this. I watch it ever year and cry and thank God that he placed this movie before me to show me how wrong I was. I hope you get as much from this movie as I did and do each and every time I watch it. I am going to grab some Kleenex now and watch your reaction.

[@cpete2976]

George had two ambitions: 1. to travel. Since he was a kid and became a member of the Nat'l Geog Society, then planned a precollege summer trip, then his honeymoon. He never realized this ambition. 2. "to build things" He told his dad he wanted to build skyscrapers and bridges. Not sure if he was going to study architecture or civil engineering, but he wanted to build. He thinks he failed this ambition too. But he didn't. He wasn't the architect for Bailey Park but without his home loans, all those houses cculdn't have been built.

[@RenfrewPrume]

Great, insightful outro. I was so happy to hear someone speak on the importance of gratitude. I want to echo the comments below and urge you to rewatch “12 Angry Men,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and, in addition, “Casablanca.” Fun facts: the director, Frank Capra, began as a gag writer for the Hal Roach studio and became famous for his unusual combination of comedy and drama. Lionel Barrymore (Mr. Potter) was a friend of Jimmie Stewart and urged him to take the role when Stewart thought he couldn’t act anymore because of his PTSD. Barrymore was the great uncle of Drew Barrymore.

[@victorsixtythree]

4:49 - I just noticed the date at the top of the telegram telling Mr. Gower that his son died of flu is 1919 - the year of the world wide influenza pandemic. I'm sure many in the audience in 1946 when this movie came out could still remember the pandemic.

[@seaneendelong8065]

What you see as looking stylistic and deliberately black and white is the absolute skill of Frank Capra, the director. An actual Hollywood legend.

[@joecarr5412]

The rest of the writing in Tom Sawyer book you didnt get to read was ' Thanks For The Wings !" Love Clarence 😊🎄

[@smadaf]

25:17 "playin' nursemaid to a lot of garlic-eaters". "What's wrong with bein' a garlic-eater? Are we not all garlic-eaters?" It's a derogatory name for Italian immigrants to the United States, used by those who looked down on Italians.

[@gerstelb]

15:47 Fun fact: This is a complete ad-lib by Thomas Mitchell. Some equipment fell down off-camera, causing the crashing sound, and to save the shot, Mitchell piped up with that “I’m all right, I’m all right!” Although he’s not as well known today, beyond a few roles like this one, he was one of the first actors (if not the first) to win both a Tony and an Oscar, and he was definitely the first to win a Tony, an Oscar, and an Emmy. 25:26 By 1940s family-friendly movie standards, that was an ethnic slur. Who doesn’t eat garlic? WASPs like Potter. 35:45 if you’ve ever heard the expression “giving someone the bum’s rush,” that’s it.

[@cog4life]

Awww…it’s not Christmas until I watch this every year. Just so profound! Every one should see this movie. 😊❤Can’t wait to watch with you today!

[@robertjewell9727]

Actually there plenty of color films back in the day in the gorgeous Technicolor process, but it was more an economic matter than a technical limitation. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and The Wizard of Oz (1939) are gorgeous color films beautifully written and directed you should check out asap and It's A Wonderful Life was shot in b&w deliberately because the world without George becomes a dark film noir a subgenre quite prevalent in the the 1940s. You should watch 12cAngry Men again too. It's a b&w masterpiece. Best wishes and Merry Christmas! Wonderful reaction!!

[@PurplePete763]

Those other aspirations were over expectations, staying home, which he thought was a losing deal, turned out to be wonderful.

[@emilywolfe7319]

In so glad that so many people are experiencing this movie for the first time... It IS timeless. Not only the best Christmas movie, but one of the best movies of all time. God Bless 💖

[@Crazy_Diamond_75]

If you start watching more black and white movies on this channel, two I would highly recommend are... To Kill a Mockingbird and 12 Angry Men! Haha. But seriously, they are legitimately great movies, and deserve their own watch. Oh no! We missed the "lassoing the moon" section. It's one of the most iconic scenes in film history.

[@katheryns1219]

Another classic with Jimmy Stewart: Mr Smith Goes to Washington which came out in 1939. He's just 20 and extremely thin. In fact, when he tried to join the Army when the war broke out two years later, they wouldn't take him because he was too thin for his 6'3" height. He gained weight and was later accepted.

[@BlueShadow777]

Know what? I’ll subscribe to you. It’s great to see someone like you who takes a movie seriously and looks at it with intelligence, understanding and insight. There are so many ‘reactors’ out there who treat these movies with derision and disrespect. You understood pretty much the subtext of everything that went on throughout the movie.

[@seanculver8876]

Speaking as an artist who’s made both films and done photography, I can tell you that working in B&W means visual unity. B&W tells you the truth about light, color doesn’t tell you the truth about light, or naturally perceived color. Color in film (which has factually been around since the beginning of cinema (c.1900) and practically since the 1930’s) , can only be used expressionistically. This means adding another level of expression, which requires much more work to use it effectively. To many mid-century cinematographers and directors, color was seen as a distraction from pure cinematic expression. Some still do. Over time and in most cases, the use of color was merely a commercial novelty and marketing tool.

[@johnniekight1879]

Glad the b/w didn't put you to sleep. Gotta watch "Miracle On 34th Street" & "The Bishop's Wife". B/W but they'll surely put you in the Holiday spirit. You have such a beautiful voice. Will subscribe.

[@andrewpetik2034]

I have just discovered your channel and I find your reaction to this movie to be insightful. You obsevations are very wise. I am hopeful that you will discover the rich tapestry contained within these wonderful old black and white films. ✌️

[@JohnCiaschini]

The man who played Nick the Bartender was Sheldon Leonard who later went on to produce the Dick Van Dyke Show in the 1960's Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

[@mescko]

Sheldon Leonard was also a talented radio actor. If you listen to the Jack Benny programs from that period, you will hear him as a 'tout' pipe up, "Hey, Bud..." If you're old enough to have watched Sesame Street in it's earlier days you will remember Ernie being accosted by the green guy in a fedora and trench coat saying "Hey, Bud..." that's where it came from.

[@shinyagumon7015]

This movie actually has a very interesting history. Basically, when it was first released, it was a massive flop that bankrupted the studio that made it (Liberty Films) because, for some weird reason, they released it in the middle of summer. However, in the long run, this actually helped the movie because it fell into the public domain and was then broadcast by TV stations for years and years around Christmas, making it a cult classic. George's problem was always his perspective. As you said, he was always more occupied with what he didn't have than what he did. He always dreamed about doing something important without realizing that he was already doing something very important for his community. Also, my recommendations for some nice black-and-white movies are "Psycho", "The Best Years of Our Lives" (actually the same studio as this film), and, as an extra, "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Secret Garden", which use both color and black-and-white. Also, Merry (early) Christmas! Shy, I hope you and your family are having some happy holidays and a happy New Year.

[@TedLittle-yp7uj]

There is a big difference between popularity and profitability. Actually It's a Wonderful Life (which was given limited release on 26, Dec. 1946 and general release on 7, January 1947) made $3.3 million, which was not bad for the time. In comparison, Miracle on 34th Street made only $2.7 million. The difference is that Miracle only cost $630,000 and was underwritten by a major studio, while Wonderful Life cost $3.18 million and bore all the start up costs of a new company: Liberty Pictures. The reality is that it had to be a massive hit in order to keep Liberty Pictures afloat and was only a modest one. Had it won an Oscar, it might have had a box office boost but, though nominated in most of the major categories, it did not win. Frank Capra and his partners in Liberty Pictures, William Wyler, George Stevens, and Sam Briskin tried to keep it going but ended up having to sell the company's assets in order to avoid personal bankruptcy all around. Being a great filmmaker does not automatically make you a great businessman.

[@lauraw2526]

@@TedLittle-yp7uj While that's true, the effort he put into still produced a timeless work of art. Even if he personally didn't benefit financially, it's a benefit to the world that this movie exists.

[@TedLittle-yp7uj]

Laura, I completely agree with you. I was merely pointing out that the film was not unpopular at the time of its release. @@lauraw2526

[@unclebuck1453]

She’s got a beautiful smile, a contagious laugh, and good taste in what she reacts to. Subscribed.

[@philmullineaux5405]

The scene where George comes out of the bar, Clarence telling him he's gone, the extreme closeup on his face, is a very dark, almost scary scene DiCapra did!

[@JC-rb3hj]

Congratulations on leveling up to Black & White films, you picked a beautiful one to start with. Some of the most beautiful films ever made are in Black & White, two of which were shrugged off when you were younger. I suggest you revisit those as well as the film Casablanca. Merry Christmas.

[@josephpaul4548]

You'll recall that George had told Potter angrily that his recently deceased dad died a richer man than Potter would ever be. Then, at the happy ending, Harry - unaware of the irony - toasted George as "the richest man in town." For B&W classics: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn(1945); The Best Years of Our Lives(1946); and The Shop Around the Corner(1940) - this last one also starred Jimmy Stewart from IAWL.

[@davidstraight3622]

Very insightful review, Shadowcat. I would to love to see your reaction to “Casablanca”, which was filmed in black and white, and is widely considered one of the best movies of all time.

[@Faye_L]

If you enjoyed the main actor in this (Jimmy Stewart), please also check out Harvey! He plays a man whose best friend is a 6-foot invisible rabbit. It's the best!

[@1237barca]

“Idyllic” is about the beauty of a scene, “ideal” is the word you were looking for. Great review.

[@MsCatmando]

Definitely, black and white movies are the best. It shows the shadows and just Makes everything so much better. This was done I think in 1946. They had air travel. 2 things about this movie. When the lady asked him for 1750, he kissed her. That was not written in the script. Also, when he was sitting at the bar and praying to god and crying In real life, he just came back from world war 2. He was still very emotionable, and those were real tears

[@Gort-Marvin0Martian]

When the film was made Jimmie Stewart was just home from World War 2. I was suffering PTSD very badly. The moments in the film where he converses with God and some of the others, as when his mother doesn't even know who is. Those moments helped him overcome some of that. It is my favorite Christmas film with Home Alone a close second. Y'all be safe. Everyone have a wonderful Christmas, or celebration of your interest.

[@francoisevassy6614]

Thank you for commenting this movie I love so much ! When you say that black and white results from a lack of technology, it’s right on one hand, but in fact filming in black and white required a true science of light : just watch Casablanca (1942) or The Portrait Of Dorian Gray (1945), you will realise how sharp they were (very good movies too). If you manage to tame black and white, you’ll not regret it : there are so many masterpieces in Hollywood GOLDEN Age ! Greetings from France 🇫🇷

[@isoldejaneholland8370]

Isn't Casablanca amazing to look at? Bergman is literally luminous, skin, eyes and even her clothes glowing like a pearl in the moonlight.

[@JohnCiaschini]

Lionel Barrymore who played Old man Potter is the great uncle to actress Drew Barrymore.

[@stevemiller6923]

I thoroughly enjoyed your reaction and analysis. You have great insights. And even though it is hard to see one's own life in perspective, I am sure that you have had as much of an effect as George Bailey, in very different ways. After 70 years, I know I will never do or be the things I once imagined, but I have had a wonderful life so far, and I think life is what we make it. and I think you are likely making the most of it. I am sure that others have suggested it, but I will put in a plug for Casablanca. It is a well-written and acted story and it really shows the artistry of black and white film, with amazing use of light and shadow. Also, take another look at Twelve Angry Men and To Kill a Mockingbird. You will see what your teacher was trying to show you and be amazed that you missed it before.

[@3Kings_Industries]

This is a Christmas classic !

[@artboymoy]

Have a wonderful Christmas Shadocat! OOO... To Kill a Mockingbird would be great to rewatch a reaction. It's so great.

[@rayvanhorn1534]

Just ran across your channel due to this beloved film. One of my absolute favorite Christmas time movies. You mentioned that the black & white was somewhat of a wall that you thought might detract. As I've come to appreciate the classic films more, I find the B&W actually enhances much that color cannot. For instance, this film...the scene where George is at the bottom, he's in Martinis praying with all the soul that a man so desperate can summon. The shadowing & contrast is so powerful here, & same with his plea to God on the bridge a short time later. The simplicity of this is what modern films just lack...no soul in most today. Hope you do more classics, I think I'll stick around as I enjoyed your commentary.

[@Otokichi786]

A youngster is watching a Black-And-White movie!? Congratulations, you have "reached the age of reason" and can appreciate the tones that make monochrome movies "colorful." "It's A Wonderful Life" has been called "the reverse 'A Christmas Carol," seeing a thwarted life unfold, resulting in a fateful wish. Back then, this was classified as "Capra Corn," due to it's sentimentality and straight arrow stance of the hero. To which I say: Long Live Capra Corn! Be sure to visit Frostbite Falls sometime, just down the road from Bedford Falls.;)

[@gardenplots283]

It's fascinating to me that younger people are so resistant to b/w or older movies. You would be amazed at what is out there to see.

[@katepulliam8691]

Fun fact! The actor who plays the nasty Mr. Potter is Drew Barrymore's Great-Uncle

[@lsteber9774]

Money can never buy a loving family, good friends and the love and respect of your community and friends. Thank you for sharing. This has always been my favorite Christmas movie and it has been upsetting seeing people never mention it as a favorite Christmas movie these days. Instead many choose Die Hard...? Says a lot of about the current thinking of people which is very sad and a little frightening. Our humanity is the most important thing about us and if we lose that, WE are truly lost.

[@christopherhamm4712]

React to Casablanca from 1942......another great black and white film.

[@michaelpytel3280]

Casablanca (1942 ) is another Black & White movie you can check out. And for Halloween : Arsenic and Old Lace ( 1944) .

[@movieswithsammykitty]

I would highly recommend Casablanca! I think you would also like Bringing Up Baby and The Lady Eve. They’re both very funny. Anything that would be considered a screwball comedy, is gonna be a fun watch.

[@arandomnamegoeshere]

Young George Bailey takes place in 1919 (noted on the header of the telegram). The death due to influenza is noting another casualty to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic (sometimes unfairly named the Spanish Flu). The worse modern pandemic until COVID-19 gripped the world.

[@randybass8842]

Another movie by the same director/producer, Frank Capra, and the same stars, James Stewart and Lionel Barrymore, is "You Can't Take it With You."

[@susanstein6604]

When Potter says “garlic eaters” he means Italians. There was a lot of anti-Catholic sentiment in the 1920s and 1930s.

[@billforrester2512]

This is one my all time favorite movies, one that I have watched many many times. My oldest daughter and I would watch this every Christmas Eve together, so it’s very special to me. My second favorite movie is also very old, and I prefer colorized version. And that is The Quiet Man. I think you would really enjoy it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about this afterwards.

[@victoriaserreno2398]

“Garlic eaters” was a reference to Italian immigrants, like the Martini family.

[@kcirtapelyk6060]

This is the only movie that can make me cry tears of joy.

[@mrcapra]

Great reaction and I'm glad you could overcome your prejudice against b&w movies. Being older and with parents who showed me old movies they loved I didn't have that problem but I know so many young people who are deprived of the joy of watching great movies. Well done! Others have made great recommendations I would encourage you to watch others movies by the director of this film, Frank Capra. It Happened One Night, Mr. Deeds Goes To Town, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and You Can't Take It With You. You'll appreciate his witty dialogue and outlook on life.

[@Wellch]

25:30 not a garlic eater.

[@llanitedave]

You may notice that George's two friends are named Bert and Ernie. A couple of muppets, years later, were named in tribute to those characters.

[@jenniferfoster1692]

Rear Window, an Alfred Hitchcock movie starring James Steward, our beloved George Bailey from this movie! It's a huge classic, one of the best mystery/thrillers ever. Not bloody or anything, just suspense and great acting, with a bit of humor from a great character. Many moves have been made based on Rear Window over the years. You'll love it, everyone who've I've seen react to it (or know irl) loves it.

[@ammaleslie509]

Rear Window is in color.

[@jenniferfoster1692]

@@ammaleslie509 Haha, you're right! I've seen it a million times but in my head it's an 'old' movie & I've seen Jimmy Stewart in so many B&W movies, as well as B&W Hitchcock movies in general, I just lumped it in with B&W, subconsciously. Either way, I just really want her to watch Rear Window 😆

[@ammaleslie509]

@@jenniferfoster1692 Rear Window is one of my favorite movies and I hope she watches it too!

[@mikefoster6018]

I just got back from the cinema in London, watching Jimmy Stewart's awesome film The Shop Around The Corner. It also has a (albeit minimal) Christmas theme and is lovely. Another film where he has the legs kicked from under him. The audience loved it. It was remade as You've Got Mail decades later.

[@lmsossi6501]

A great black and white movie is Miracle on 34th Street with Maureen O'Hara and Natalie Wood. Even if you don't review it, watch it for yourself. It's funny, touching, and magical and will lift your spirits. It's a Christmas movie but watchable any time.

[@islandgreenstrong]

Just live your best life every day. There will always be a rollercoaster even in the best of lives so just keep going and do the best you can. Anyway, I think you should give "12 Angry Men" a second chance. There are lots of black and white movies I or anyone here could recommend, but I just think since it's been quite a while since you first saw that one...give it another go. Have a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!! ~Dawne

[@nickconkling4107]

Casablanca (1942) is another great black-n-white movie.

[@Davelakful]

Beautiful review! I get emotional every year watching this for decades .

[@cpete2976]

Great reaction. You are well spoken and provided excellent commentary. I'm subscribing right now! What matters for a GREAT MOVIE is the story, dialogue, acting, direction, music, costumes, set design, editing and cinematography. And all done so well that the audience suspends disbelief so that we connect with the movie. What doesn't matter is if the film is B&W or color.

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

frank capra made a slew of "feel good" movies before this one. it was kind of his trademark. watch "american madness" (1932), "mr deeds goes to town" (1936), "you can't take it with you" (1938), "mr smith goes to washington" (1939, the last 2 also star jimmy stewart), and "meet john doe" (1941, also christmas themed). he also brought us "it happened one night" (1934, the first movie to win all 5 of the major oscars), "lost horrizons" (1937), "arsenic and old lace" (1944) and "state of the union (1948). sadly capra is greatly underrated these days but his films possess a special emotional touch no director has come close to emulating. "ruggles of red gap" (1935) directed by Leo McCarey and "sullivan's travels" (1941) directed by preston sturges come the closest though.

[@kpmac1]

Great reaction and analysis. George was overall a cheerful guy with a big heart but you could see times when his bitterness came through. Every time it looked like he was going to get out of town, something would happen to keep him there. When you feel like you've got your whole life planned and literally none of it happens due to factors beyond your control, bitterness really can settle in. I think one of the things I've thought about as it relates to this movie is to periodically take a personal inventory of how you've impacted other peoples' lives. If you had never existed, would peoples' lives been better or worse? That can inspire us to work toward being the person that makes other peoples' lives better.

[@terrylandess6072]

Welcome back from TV land. I hadn't seen this in a while so seeing you watch this unfold reminds why it IS a real classic. One could say Jimmy Stewart was a previous generation's 'Tom Hanks' as the every-man that people could identify with. I graduated 1976. Cinema has changed over the years, and some directors respect the old ways enough to keep some semblance to that magical time between Theater and TV. My parents had a subdivision 3 bedroom home built in '66 for about $30K on one acre. "You could use an Angel right now" and the rest is history.

[@BlueShadow777]

After listening to your valuable insight and interpretation of the movie, I’d highly recommend Billy Wilder’s Academy Award winning movie “THE APARTMENT” (1960). Quite possibly my own all-time favourite, I know this movie (a ‘comedy-drama’) will give you A LOT of worthwhile analytical mileage in your post-viewing discussion. Enjoy!

[@eddietorres1000]

I live in El Paso Texas and we have this old Movie Theater that was built in 1930 and it was restored it's a beautiful Theater and at Christmas Time they show free Christmas Movies and This Movie is one of the Movies they show so I've seen this movie on the big screen a couple of times and Yes I always cry at the End but I'm not the only one.

[@Dej24601]

So glad you enjoyed this! You asked about some b&w recommendations: all these have their themes, underlying stories, locations, time periods or circumstances which are enhanced by the artistic use of b&w: more recent ones include Schindler’s List (1993), The Miracle Worker (1962), The Manchurian Candidate (1962.) Foreign films include M (1931 Germany), The Bicycle Thief (1948 Italy), Stray Dog (1949 Japan), The 400 Blows (1959 France.) American classics: Casablanca (1942), Cat People (1942), His Girl Friday (1940), The Great Dictator (1940), Notorious (1946), The Third Man (1949.) Some are comedies, some are suspense, some are dramatic, some are based on real-life. Guaranteed excellence.

[@melanie62954]

I wish more people in the world knew about M! It's phenomenal, and so shocking for its time. All of your suggestions are stellar, though. I love Japanese Golden Age cinema.

[@catherinelw9365]

@@melanie62954 I watched M and it was still disturbing - not just in the past!

[@melanie62954]

@@catherinelw9365 Very true. It's just that the subject was so tabu in America until what, the 1980s? Incredible that a German film tackled it in 1931!

[@davidstraight3622]

I think Mary Bailey is the real hero of this movie. When she realized what was going on, she knew what to do to solve the problem. If George had only confided in his wife, instead of reacting with overblown machismo, the movie would have been a lot shorter.

[@EndymionDeVere]

It’s great watching your reactions to films I love. Hope your holidays are happy and that 2024 treat you right.

[@TheBTG88]

His car - a 1919 Dodge Brothers - still exists and runs and lives in suburban Denver.

[@yaimavol]

Yes, very instructive. Practicing gratitude and setting your mission to be a blessing in the world. That is something that all of us can do.

[@artboymoy]

Yes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. It's great to have dream and aspirations and go for them for sure, but it's just as important to not push everything aside to get there. George is still a very good and responsible person and although he let his regrets get the better of him in this movie it does show that one can live a rich and wonderful life with what he has. I have a friend who's so hung up on not having relationships and things he sees other people having and he just can't get beyond it. Therapy and urging of other friends can't dissuade him, so he wallows in self pity. Can't help those that don't want that help. He could use a Clarence.

[@farmerbill6855]

Breaks me up every time I see it. Thank you. Merry Christmas young lady.

[@nathans3241]

James Stewart had serious PTSD at the time this movie was made. He was a B-24 bomber pilot in World War II. Starring in the movie, 'It's A Wonderful Life' helped him with his adjustment back to civilian life.

[@BeeWhistler]

You’re old enough to give 12 Angry Men another chance. You’d never expect it to be so good but it pulls you in and is over before you know it.

[@kittykatjagirl]

If I can recommend another black and white movie: Psycho directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Or should I say “Master of Suspense”, being his other alias. Hitchcock actually worked with Jimmy Stewart as his lead in a couple of his movies like Vertigo and Rear Window. Hitchcock had done the prior mentioned movies in color and intentionally chose to do Psycho in black and white to set the mood. Highly recommend if you are looking for another B&W blockbuster classic. :))