I never understood how great this scene was when I was younger, cause I didn't get quite what was going on. George really did kinda single-handedly keep the town afloat
@almcmemeshack8443 An army of George Baileys kept the nation afloat through Great Depression I, and beat two of the greatest war machines in the history of the world. And first private, lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel and colonel James Stewart, of Indiana, Pennsylvania and the U.S. Army Air Forces was a real, life George Bailey, except that Jimmy had the hearing in one ear ruined, flying bombers over Nazi Germany.
I always get choked up when Ms. Thompson is reluctant to take anything because it’s George’s personal money but George doesn’t so much as bat an eye and simply says don’t worry about it. Really shows how much he deserves the treatment he gets at the end of the movie.
@@_AGONY I think you're right. It's not the jolly Christmas classic that people think it is. Over and over again George gets screwed for doing the right thing. Think the ending is pat?
@@nicholasschroeder3678 Was thinking about this just the other day, almost don't even see how it's considered a christmas movie being how heavy it is. Not very many movies from that time touch on topics as deep.
@@_AGONY Well, it's got lots of sugary, sentiment, and of course it's set at Christmas with good triumphing over evil. What I like is that George's decency doesn't come cheap: he's basically the whole town's codependent. He kind of knows that he's being screwed, but he just can't help himself--he's always internally compelled to think of others. So I think at least it's a lesson in love. Love is costly, but it's worth it.
@@_AGONY The writer's made a riff on A Christmas Carol. Potter doesn't get redeemed, but George regains his faith in love. It's a great moment when Potter tries to seduce him, and George loses himself for a moment before he snaps out of it. It's all a fairy tale about the American Dream: George gives it up--wealth, power, status--and the movie is about showing he made the right decisions. Still, it's often a bitter pill to swallow that you might have to make really hard choices.
Potter=Trump that's right I said it. LOL Tom= any asshole that tries to buy all the toilet paper in the store. when he can get by with a twenty roll case.
I still think that Jimmy Stewart should have won the Oscar for this movie his performance in this movie is one of the greatest and one of the most powerful acting performances I've seen.
@ericburns9132 "I still think that Jimmy Stewart should have won the Oscar for this movie..." I think he gave the greatest performance ever by a lead actor, in what was then the third greatest picture ever made. The problem was, Life bombed at the box office, and the critics weren't all that crazy about it, either. But he got nominated real good. Freddie March won the Best Actor Oscar that year for The Best Years of Our Lives. March was brilliant, and Best Years was the box office king that year, was beloved by the critics, remains the greatest picture ever made, and had long coattails.
One man can make a difference. One decent, honorable man CAN make a difference. I believe that because I don't want to live if I can't believe it's true. I've seen this film I can't remember how many times, and the decency and courage of George Bailey always shines through.
3:35 The actress playing Miss Davis was supposed to ask for $20 like everyone else. Frank Capra secretly told her to ask for $17.50 instead, prompting Jimmy Stewart's surprised unscripted response.
Although it may not seem significant on it's face, the blairing siren going by was brilliantly placed. It illustrated perfectly the natural herd mentality of human beings. Capra was a genius.
George and Mary are definitely my favorite onscreen couple, and I think a lot of it has to do with the way the character of Mary Bailey is written. In an era where women characters often failed the Bechdel Test, Mary stands out as one of the most reliable heroes in film, consistently making the best of bad circumstances and providing an emotionally stable foundation for her relationship with George (who, for all his good intentions, was often erratic). Here she literally saves Bedford Fallls, using her wedding and honeymoon money to keep the Building and Loan afloat during the Depression.
Forever one of my favourite Christmas movies. It's completely different from most movies in the same genre, since it has a lot of realism, but yet it has the same spirit. Props to all the amazing actors in this movie.
Yes, except she originally didn't want George to go back! She wanted him to get back in the cab and drive on! I'll never understand the writer upon hearing that. I wonder why he had her say that line in the movie. (It was totally at odds with her behavior in the Bldg & Loan when she flashed the money and yelled out, "How much do you need!?")
Which is a movie that we have seen because there was no copyright on it. So TV stations looking to save some pennies would play this copyright free movie over and over year after year. So now it's part of the cultural zeitgeist.
Bro I worked as a bank teller during the 2020 covid pandemic and damn this is how it felt when everything closed in March. At one point all we had was 5000 in the vault and people were pissed as hell haha.
Reminds me of the recent GM closures. Devastating and so heartbreaking for the hard workers and their beautiful families. Thinking about what they must be going through. My prayers go out to everyone at GM affected. #Lordstown #LoyalChevroletOwner #Cruze #FaithInEachOther #BaileyFaith
@@thewewguy8t88they're not just trying it, they are doing it. Why do you think everything is becoming more expensive and rent is astronomical? The world has been taken over by Potters and the regular guy is getting screwed.
Tom and "my $242" should have been sent to Potter for $121. That grubby idiot gobbled up over 10% of the cash available for a room filled with 50+ people. It's a wonderful movie, can't expect every scene to make sense...
I believe Potter bought the bank not just because he's rich but also as part his evil scheme to get rid of the Bailey Building & Loan. I think Potter's plan was that if he bought the bank, close it on purpose and took back the whole loan, the people would panic and come crawling to him. Luckily George Bailey and his wife Mary intervened and saved the Building and Loan from bankruptcy.
How so? By trusting someone who promises to have your back, no matter what, and then leaves you hanging?? You do know, that this was fiction and that real banks back in the great depression did nothing like this. In fact, what they told anyone who came in, was "if you don't have it - you don't own it". Sounds fair right? It was your money that was ENTRUSTED to them right? Or did you give it to them as a gift?
@@aphthorian4604 Pretty positive they weren’t really referring to such a specific situation let alone the integrity of depression era banks, but rather individuals being out for themselves when they know it’ll cost the group if they break away just to cover their asses.
And that's the problem. We all just assume things are supposed to cost more over time, but they're not. Free markets are deflationary. But the way the federal reserve and fiat systems are setup, they can only continue to exist by inflating prices and debasing currency. They have to bleed people of their wealth on every level. Your income, the things you buy with it, your home (if you can even afford to buy one anymore), when you sell your home, when you sell a stock, constantly taking and giving to those on government who did nothing to deserve it. The only time this doesn't apply is when you become wealthy somehow.
The actress that asks for $17.50 is Ellen Corby. She goes on to play the grandmother in The Waltons. Also, the town should have gotten together and wheeled Potter off a cliff. "Nobody saw nuthin." Lol.
I believe in the principles in the olde b&W films we were a better people then people worked together to survive n helped one another without asking and without asking reward we were happier please God bring us back to normalcy n decency
Did ya know? Jimmy Stewart was dealing with post. Tramatic stress disorder.. Channeled it into the movie.. I thought VERY original!! This was favorite movie he made. Said so.
Mary offers up their $2,000 wedding fund and George doesn't bat an eye, he just goes right along with her. Perfect team. Husband-and-wife dynamite squad. Absolute perfect match.
I decided to watch this scene today as I was reminded of it because of the Silicon Valley Bank bank run and stock halt that is happening. I don't think there is a George Bailey for SVB... 😕
1:47-2:37 This pretty much sums up Disney buying Marvel, Star Wars, and 20th Century Fox properties. And it may not be long before they get DC Comics as well since they've still been a competitor to them in many ways.
Another reason I will not deal with any sort of bank, I support my neighborhood credit union, better rates, and I actually make money on saving and checking.
Underrated scene-Mrs Thompson, who had been positively paniced by the economic situation in story ("my husband hasn't worked in lver a year and I need money!") Is positively scared at the idea id her baker (and his wife, lets give Mary her due) straight up putting their own livelihood forward (for her) "but that's your own money george!". Nothing puts thing into perspective more than someone putting as much (or more) than you into somethig...
AT&T did not Buy Cingular, Cingular Bought AT&T wireless, and changed their name shortly to AT&T Wireless, then AT&T inc acquired ATT, also the DirectTV ATT merger required substantiation benefits to the american consumer
Anti-Trust laws were neutered in the ‘60s. That’s why no one is stepping in to stop a brazen monopolization play. That and tons of lobbying money greasing both squeaky and already oily wheels.
Bart. what do you mean the banks out of money. insolvent. what you only have enough money for the next 3 customers Everyone rushes up to bank . Bank maneger hey hey hey just a second i dont have your money here its in bills house and freds house. Moe. what the hell you doing with my money in your house fred riot starts bart leaves laughing lol hahahahaha.
Not much at all assuming it’s not a random event. Although you could assume lending would grind to a halt well before then which would almost certainly crash an economy as well. This is by no means a defense of fractional reserve banking, however, it should be clear that an economy generally grows faster depending on the amount of money that can be lent(commensurate with its safety).
@@christianortiz324 Real enough, but greatly exaggerated in terms of how dangerous or even how contagious it is. I know exactly two people who have diagnosed positive. One is in a high risk group. Both recovered and are doing fine.
@@alexr6292 I'll bet if you ask people how many they know who have had it and recovered versus those who died you'd find a higher rate of survival than death. I'd also be willing to bet that many of those deaths were thanks to people like Cuomo and the new Secretary of Health Biden appointed who intentionally put sick people in nursing homes. Wouldn't it be interesting to know those numbers, but I wouldn't hold my breath that we will ever really get an accurate estimate.
If you think banks are shady now, you have no idea the kind of stuff that went on back in the day. They could close down and run anyone out of town they wanted to, whenever they wanted.
remember this happen in 1946 .fast forward to 2016 the same thing I'd going on now rent payment .potty sale not buying always be thankful. I will be watching this on Christmas Eve merry Christmas every body .
