[ThisWeek] It's a Wonderful Life at the Kenworthy

[thisweek at kenworthy.org]

This week at the Kenworthy-

Prichard Art Gallery presents
a FREE lecture with
Pok Chi Lau
Thursday, December 9
7:30 PM

It¹s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Friday, December 10
7:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday, December 11 & 12
4:15 & 7:00 PM
$5/adults $2/child 12 or younger
KFS passes accepted for Sunday movies
(See Review below)
* * *
Next week at the Kenworthy-

I Heart Huckabees (R)
Dec 17 at 7:00 PM
Dec 18 ­ 19 at 4:30 & 7:00 PM

Regular Movie prices:  $5 adults, $2 children 12 and younger.
KFS passes accepted for Sunday movies

508 S. Main Street, Moscow, Idaho
For more information, call 208-882-4127.
* * *
This week¹s review-

IT¹S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)

Director and Producer: Frank Capra
Writers: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra
Stars: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Beulah Bondi, Gloria
Grahame, Henry Travers, Thomas Mitchell, Ward Bond, HB Warner, and Sheldon
Leonard
Length: 2 hours, 12 minutes
This film is not rated, but is suitable for all ages.

It's A Wonderful Life was Frank Capra¹s first film made for his new
production company, Liberty Films, after returning from service in World War
II. 

The film's screenplay was based on "The Greatest Gift," an original short
story first written on a Christmas card by Philip Van Doren Stern.
Uncredited for their work on the script were Dorothy Parker, Dalton Trumbo,
and Clifford Odets.

It's A Wonderful Life is the tale of a savings-and-loan manager who
struggles against the worlds greediest banker (Lionel Barrymore) and his own
self-doubting nature. George Bailey (James Stewart) realizes his life is
wonderful and truly rich, even in its humdrum and bleak nature, only after
suffering many hardships, including compromised dreams of youth to leave the
town and seek fame and fortune and the threat of financial ruin which leads
to attempted suicide. He is given a lesson on the importance of any one
person¹s life by an endearing angel-in-training (no wings yet) named
Clarence (Henry Travers). George is shown what Bedford Falls (now renamed
Pottersville after the town's evil banker) would be like without him. It's
this nightmare view of the world that brings George Bailey back from
self-destruction. He returns to the world that he left with renewed faith
and confidence in life. George discovers that he really is the ³richest man
in town,² not because of money, but because of the love of family and
friends. Oh yes, and Clarence earns his wings.

The picture earned five Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor
(James Stewart in his first film in almost six years), Best Director
(Capra), Best Sound Recording and Best Film Editing, but won no Oscars. It
was eclipsed by William Wyler's The Best Years of Our Lives. (another
³classic² film)

As reviewed by Almar Haflidason writing for BBC Films

"It's a Wonderful Life" needs another five star review like it needs more
charismatic actors. So this is aimed at anyone who suspects that it's a
movie that will drench them in saccharine sentimentality.

True, that great optimist of film-making, Mr. Frank Capra, directed it. But
there's never anything easy about making a film where the central character
is seriously considering suicide, and then having to offer hope to boot.

The suicidal character in question is George Bailey (James Stewart), a good
man who considers himself cheated out of the life he could have had. As one
might hope in such a situation, an angel (Henry Travers) is hurriedly
dispatched from heaven to intervene. Sporting the name of Clarence, this
elderly chap offers George the opportunity to see what life would have been
like had he not lived.

As it turns out, the world would have been a poorer place without him. But
this is not just a succession of examples proving what a fine man George is.
There's never any hiding the fact that he grows increasingly frustrated by
being stuck in the little town of Bedford Falls. As his opportunities fade,
his bitterness and resentment grows.

There's little room for sugary sweet answers to a near plausible life of
decency that appears to end in failure. "It's a Wonderful Life" achieves a
fine balancing act between pathos and feel-good that is delivered by an
outstanding cast. Even the minor parts are populated by some of the finest
character actors and it produces a movie of timeless quality and relevance.

³It¹s A Wonderful Life² Trivia

The set for Bedford Falls was constructed in two months and was one of the
longest sets that had ever been made for an American movie. It covered four
acres of RKO's Encino Ranch. It included 75 stores and buildings, main
street, factory district and a large residential and slum area. The Main
Street was 300 yards long, three whole city blocks!

Ironically, after the initial flop of the film at the box office, its
popularity grew after its copyright expired due to a clerical error and it
was shown repeatedly on American television (especially at Christmas)
without any royalties going to Capra!

Film reviews researched and edited by Peter A. Haggart, who showed this film
each winter for over 30 years to his film classes at the U of Idaho. He
considers it a true classic American film.
* * *

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PAMELA PALMER, Volunteer
Mailto:ppalmer at moscow.com
Film and Events Committee
Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre

http://www.kenworthy.org
To speak with a KPAC staff member,
call (208) 882-4127
Mailto:kpac at moscow.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  

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