I love his physical scting an the framing of the scene. Up until he shakes his hand he gets more and more comfortable in the lower chair, showing the he's forgetting just how low he's stooping morally. Then when he shakes his hand it's like the deal is sealed and everything becomes more real and he wakes up and realizes the weight of this decision and how it will hurt the people in his life. He's disgusted at both himself and Potter and literally wipes his hand. As he does so he gets up from the chair and both morally and physically rises above Potter. I know it's a little obvious but it's like all the little things together make the scene more genuine as opposed to cheesy. Love this movie.
I can appreciate how complex Jimmy Stewart made George Bailey in this film. On one hand he's this nice guys who tries to never to let his friends and family down, but on the other hand he has this stronger desire to break free from all that. And this scene illustrates just how tempting it would be to want to live like Mr. Potter-but he eventually comes around to realizing that he's not going to stoop to Mr. Potter's level
I love his physical scting an the framing of the scene. Up until he shakes his hand he gets more and more comfortable in the lower chair, showing the he's forgetting just how low he's stooping morally. Then when he shakes his hand it's like the deal is sealed and everything becomes more real and he wakes up and realizes the weight of this decision and how it will hurt the people in his life. He's disgusted at both himself and Potter and literally wipes his hand. As he does so he gets up from the chair and both morally and physically rises above Potter. I know it's a little obvious but it's like all the little things together make the scene more genuine as opposed to cheesy. Love this movie.
Well said. The whole movie is a study in the every man struggle with good and evil. I enjoy imagining a story showing what they do with the pile of money and how the kids turn out, but like all great films, it defies a sequel that could never be equal : )
This scene is a good lesson in integrity. If George Bailey had accepted Potter's offer he would have been financially well off but he would have betrayed his long time clients. Potter's goal was to put Bailey's Building and Loan out of business so he would have a monopoly on the housing industry in town. Many of George's clients would have been thrown out of their home because of Potter's ruthless ways.
Potter's silent bodyguard in this scene is Frank Hagney, an Australian actor who appeared in over 300 Hollywood films. Frank was a champion boxer and rower and got a start as a stunt man in the silent era alongside Buster Keaton and Chaplin, including appearing in "The General" however when the "Talkies" came along Frank couln't shake his overwhelming Australian Accent and so became a constant in Bar Room brawl scenes and Silent Brooding Standover men roles. He was working as stuntman right into his sixties.
One of the most brilliant peaces of cinema i ever saw..The subtle whipping his had on his jacket after shaking Potters hand is Brilliant... you cant wipe off the slime....
Lionel Barrymore had this voice to him in this movie. Dark, sinister, ruthless. But damn!!!!!!! I've seen pictures of him, and he was cuuuuuuuute!!!!!!!
George bailey realized he was making a deal with the proverbial devil and instead of selling out the town and his friends for a affluent life he rejects Potter's demonic deal!!
It's not just that George is naturally full of love, but that he's also full of pride--the good kind of pride that believes in honor and self-respect, including honoring and respecting others. Potter and his kind have none of that: leveraging the downtrodden, even when it's legal, is nothing a real man can do. George isn't soft or sneaky or scheming. Everything he does is out in the open. It's his pride that saves him and asserts itself here. He's just too strong to lick Potter's boots. While he won't betray others, he won't betray himself. He really would rather die, as the movie shows. That's why I love the film so. To be a man costs a lot. But it's worth it.
From 1:56 to 2:05 the moment seen in Home Alone (1990) movie when some kids watched the movie in French on TV the scene when the McAlister family were in France.
It always triggers me when potter finds the $8000 in the newspaper, and he just keeps it instead of doing the responsible thing, all cuz hes spiteful and wants to see the baileys run around like chickens with their heads cut off so he can get George to come crawling to him. Like before he was just a harsh businessman, but THAT is just EVIL.
You bet that was evil! Not only he kept the $8000 and not said anything but he called the police on George to have him arrested and in a way drove poor George to the brink of suicide when he said that George was worth more dead than alive!
@@melissacooper4282 And it takes digestion but even more spitefully so as if Potter could know it: George is responsible for the name of the town NOT being Pottersville.
I always felt like Potter is Scrooge if he was never visited by the three spirits and got worse and worse, more greedy and miserable to the point of going past being a mean old miser to a truly vile and evil human being. That's Potter.
Assuming that this scene takes place in 1939 (it's not exactly clear from the context), a salary of $20,000 a year back then would be equivalent to $401,153.96 in 2021 (according to US inflation calculator on Google). Potter is offering George a massive amount of money here.
I always wondered what the conversion was. Watching this there should be a small clip at the bottom of screen saying what the 20,000 dollars is today. Thar way everyone will know what George turned down.
This scene here is playing out across the world right now in regards to the bankers, the corporate elites, and the 1% who are hellbent on owning you and your rights to a happy life.
Always felt like Potter was just trying to pry George out of his business, then Potter would fire him as soon as George opposed him on anything. It would be a risky move for George but a win-win for Potter.
The only thing I hate about this film is that Potter didnt get his in the end. Unlike other adaptations or gags the villain got theirs. Instead Potter continued to live in his office assuming George was going to jail and that's it. Capra apparently wrote something where Potter had a heart attack in this version after being spooked by Clarance but chose not to add it too bad could have shown he got his just due!
I think what happened is more true to real life and mostly these evil doers don't get their due but they lead lives that are meaningless. Now we call them narcissists and sociopaths. Trump is a good example of Potter.
@@brianwalsh1401 I know but in other randitions, versions or homages to this classic the "Mr. Potter" character gets some form of karma happen to them. If that was made years later, something would have happened to him, just my opinion.
@@Bull1908 I would say that Potter, getting his comeuppance, would be the usual Hollywood ending but the movie ended on such a positive note maybe they didn't want to go there and you know what, i actually never notice but Potter actually did get his because George was able to show Potter something he would never have, which was loving family and friends and people he actually helped which made the world a better place and were now there for him when he needed them. It is such a great movie. The Potter's of the world may have a lot of wealth but not stuff of true value.
By what standards lmao. I wouldn't say no to making a quarter million annually. I'd consider the average person crazy if they didn't take that kind of crazy job offer. Any sane man would give an arm, a leg and their right testicle for such a contract.
No, I do not believe this to be the case. If George took the deal then so long as he remained loyal and valuable to Potter he would be treated as befits a first rate business manager, with all the money and perks that Potter lays out. Rather, it would be the tenants, poor and working folk of the town that would get progressively more screwed over. Something of how their lot has been worsened is displayed in the version of Bedford Falls that Clarence shows to George. What I find particularly powerful about this scene is the idea that Potter, in my opinion, can hardly conceive beforehand that George would ever refuse such an offer.
@@Amethyst_Friend While I don't disagree with you, I did notice that he said a three year contract. He may have had him work just long enough to be comfortable and disliked by the community to then pull the rug out from under his feet leaving him with no friends and few prospects. I don't doubt Potter would make a genuinely good deal for George, for the time being, but we also know how spiteful and cunning he can be.
George says his wage is $40-$45 a week, 52 weeks a year is 2340, it'd take George around 25 years to make 60k. Even if potter did screw him over it's a ton of money.
LOL, I went to an inflation calculator before I even saw you comment to see how much he turned down. I'm not sure if you or the calculator were correct, but the number are very close. Certainly a LOT of money!!
Psalm 1:1 George is in a place in his life where he could use more money and stability. He becomes tempted to “go for it,” career-wise, just he has at other times been tempted to “go for it” with his pretty childhood “little sister” friend, Violet Bick. Sitting in a rich banker’s office, he literally can start to feel and smell “success” in the world’s eyes. In one of my favorite hinge scenes of movie story telling, George slams the door in true Jimmy Stewart awkward angry fashion. Priceless.
I really liked the scene after this when George goes home and hears Mr Potter’s voice then his own echoing in his head and he thinks again about all the things he wanted to do and the better life he wanted to give his family. Even though he felt obligated to turn Potter’s proposition down so the Building and Loan wouldn’t say “You threw us over! You’re siding with the enemy!” part of him is still wondering if he should have said “Yes” instead.
After 1:44...when George realizes what's going on...the look on his face, when he wipes his hand on his coat after shaking Potter's hand...."Ya sit around here and spin your little webs and ya think the whole world resolves around you and your money well it doesn't Mr. Potter. In the whole vast configuration of things I'd say you were nothing but a scurvy little spider, you -- AND THAT GOES FOR YOU TOO!!!" sticks cigar in his mouth and walks out the door like a boss...priceless
Funny, just a little while ago I used the same word telling my son about this scene: priceless. That really is what this movie is and what it is about: the things that matter have no price; they cost everything, but the return is immeasurable satisfaction.
The handshake... man that was he whole key, right there. George was a good man, potter was bad, twisted and evil. More machine now, than man... oh wait wrong movie
Mr. Potter is the real hero of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” A responsible, prudent businessman. Meanwhile, George Bailey is running around in the middle of the night with flowers in his pockets, jumping off bridges because he thought he saw angels in the water.
If he accepted the offer then 1: Potter would break the offer after buying the Business and would take all his property and might make him to beg. However George should not make him angry as he was behaving politiely with him . He should linger his offer and make him confuse so that Potter would not take any evil step towards him as he was remain in a hope that he might sale his company oneday to him .
What year was this scene suppose to be? 20,000 dollars a year in the late 30's/early 40's post depression had to be six figures. I found a site to figure it out but what year/decade was this scene suppose to be lol. That's a hell of a lot of money back then.
i feel the same way George Bailey feels when he shakes Mr. Potter's hand every time i have to work in corporate North America , like having to shake hands with the Devil
Notice how Potter only offered George a 3 year contract? Potter would have kicked George out on his ass once he took over the Building & Loan. George should have countered with a 10-year contract @ 30k per year just to see what Potter would do.
Home Alone sure brought me here! As a matter of fact, the Home Alone deleted scene "Do You Speak French?" includes even more of the It's A Wonderful Life scene.
some companies are ethical some are downright ruthless. some companies follow the laws other companies follow the senators. insert Glass Segall Act and savings bank and investment bank separation laws. many historians blame the repeal of this law led to casino capitalism and the collapse in 2007.
Ha-ha. Straw man argument. Capitalism enables free people to choose what is right. George Bailey is a capitalist who rules over his money instead of letting it rule over him.
A modern day George Bailey is supposed to speak anytime soon about an impending deal with a modern day Mr. Potter. Was supposed to speak at 2pm. I’m wondering if he is having some reservations about this and I don’t mean Indians.
As you can see from my original comment, I posted it on the morning of Election Day. It seemed that the election was going to be very close. Many of my friends had told me that they were voting for Trump with a heavy heart. They disliked the man intensely. But they are Republicans and agree with the Republican platform and felt that they had no choice but to vote for him. I rarely post anything on RU-vid. But that morning this iconic cinematic moment came to mind. The similarity was so clear and I know that many Americans are familiar with it. When I searched youtube for that moment, I was surprised to find the exact clip I was looking for. It seemed providential. If you read my original post, you'll see that I was asking Americans to take that moment of privacy, when they're about to cast that vote, to recall this moment from this film and pause just like George Bailey did and think about the man they are voting for. To make sure they are comfortable with that. Some classic films contain very powerful images. This film has many. Sorry if this ruins this classic film for you. That's not what was on my mind when I posted the comment. I was and am still very concerned about the future of our country.
It's interesting. Nobody in the movie smokes CIGARETTES. There several scenes including this one where the characters smoke CIGARS and in another scene George Bailey smokes a PIPE. I guess since this movie is geared towards kids, they may have felt that having characters smoke cigarettes was bad. However, we all know that Santa and Frosty the Snowman smoke a pipe and big wigs smoke cigars. I guess they felt that the movie would favored better is the smoking was with cigars and pipes instead of cigarettes which nobody today seem to like.
Adjusted for inflation since 1946... Probably earlier in movie plot... $20k/year is like $320,000/year... On a 3 year contract... Almost a million. Potter would have found a way to null and void contract anyway...
One of the ironies was that Potter had denounced George for underwriting a $5,000 loan to Ernie, who had no credit nor savings and had to support himself as a taxi driver. The basis was that George had confidence in Ernie's work and their friendship. Potter says if George keeps doing this it will give us a "lazy, discontented rabble instead of a thrifty working class". Yet when George is in the alternate universe of Pottersville, it has pawn shops, honky tonks, and strip joints all patronized by the likes of the "discontented rabble" Potter warned us against.
I'm hoping that when Americans who have been taken in by Trump are about to cast their vote today, they pause just like George Bailey did and are reminded of this classic moment and realize that they don't want to be associated with this man.
Seeing a political message in a film ruins it for you? That's interesting. There are so many messages in the film. According to Karolyn Grimes who played Zuzu in the film, “There are so many messages. Capra was trying to make people realize that life is worth living, and that you can make a difference. We lose sight of that every once in awhile. That’s why I think people love to watch it.” So I agree with her about the main message of the film. But I can't not see the similarity between George Bailey and the American people and Potter and Trump. I guess time will tell.
You might want to do some research on that. Authors and filmmakers express messages through their work. In 1947 the FBI conducted an investigation of the film and deemed it communist propaganda because it portrayed the character of Potter as mean and heartless. They felt he represented the banking industry. I understand that there are two main themes in the film. One is that one person's life touches so many others. The second theme which I believe is the most important is that each person should appreciate his own life, to see the value in it. Some people see those themes as political messages. Of course Capra wasn't depicting Trump when he made the film, but the similarity is so obvious that it came to my mind on election day. If you don't think there are political messages in the classics, take another look at the novels of Charles Dickens.
