With all having recently been written about "It's A Wonderful Life," naming Mr. Henry F. Potter as this week's Bitch Of The Week is most appropriate. He is the most hateful character in the picture, and Lionel Barrymore spares him no mercy.
If this does not prove his greatness as an actor, once you have seen him as Potter, take a look at him as Dan Pegotty in Selznick's brilliant 1935 film of "David Copperfield." As Dan Pegotty, he is as gentle and loving there, as he is hateful by Potter here.
Not even Gloria Grahame as Violet Bick can get his attention.
He is referred to throughout as a "sad, frustrated old man," who "wants what he can't have." Yet he never expresses self-pity about his crippled condition. And there is no back story, suggesting how Potter came to be this way.
Potter is this picture's Scrooge, but with a difference. Scrooge is redeemed, and becomes better for his spiritual visitations. Potter remains unrelenting. The temptation must have been great to have Potter throw money into the till the town was giving George, but to do so would make the picture, already sentimental, unbearably so. So, I am glad some restraint was exercised. But, neither does Potter get his comeuppance, and that is sad to me. I guess, by the end, the viewer is meant to feel Potter's power is worthless.
No doubt, Henry Potter is one of Christmas' best bitches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I bet even Krampus would be afraid of him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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