This indisputably classic film, which should be seen once, is inescapable, this time of year. First, it is all over the cable networks, and now, for the Christmas season, it is being shown daily, in an auditorium of the IFC in Manhattan. It's probably been twenty years since I have seen it, so I ought to take another look.
Except I am afraid to. This film pushes my buttons, and raises issues with me. A guy is desperate to get out of his Podunk town, and, in the end stays there. And for what? To be enslaved by a bitch (the brilliant Lionel Barrymore as Mr. Henry F. Potter) and forced to the point of suicide, because he remained in that Podunk town.
Part of his plight is exacerbated by Uncle Billy. (Thomas Mitchell, in another brilliant character performance.) He inadvertently loses the $8K (remember this is 1946) and, unaware, wraps it into a newspaper, which Potter takes. George discovers what Uncle Billy has done, and takes it out on him--played by James Stewart in probably his first dramatic performance.
One of the best scenes in the film is when Stewart goes at Mitchell, upon making the discovery of the money lost. Here are two prime actors at the top of their form, in a scene both powerful and heartbreaking.
Some critic wannabe online called Peter Rosenthal, denounces Uncle Billy (the character, now, not Mitchell's performance) as a "moron." But, is he? Or is he what in 2108 would be called special needs?
Uncle Billy is slow witted. He lives in town, because he cannot function anywhere else, but lives just down the street from the Baileys. Mrs. Bailey, played by Beaulah Bondi, is his sister, so he is Peter's brother-in-law He works at the Building And Loan because of his brother-inlaw, and, later, George, so he is a familial dependent. But just what is Uncle Billy's problem? If you listen to the dialogue carefully, you discover that, at one time, Uncle Billy, now 55, was married to a lovely woman named Laura. He depended on her for everything, and was able to function through her love. But Laura died prematurely, and Uncle Billy was never the same. He is one of the film's most heartbreaking characters.
I think Uncle Billy suffers from some form of MBD. Or maybe ADHD, which Laura was able to keep him in check from. I do not know what form; I am not a neurologist, but in the scene where George goes at him, and I understand his desperation, believe me, I also feel sorry toward Uncle Billy. He did not intentionally lose the money; Potter intentionally kept it. Another question is why, since everyone knew Uncle Billy was, to put it kindly, addled, trust him with such a large sum, in the first place?
As wonderfully made and acted as it is, this is one of several problems I have with the film. Another is women's choices--in Bedford Falls, which I am sure is emblematic of American towns at the time, a woman had three choices--marriage, a spinster librarian, or a prostitute!!!!!!!!!!! It' s seen in the performances of Donna Reed and Gloria Grahame. You have got to be kidding me! Again, this was 1946! But, was life then so wonderful???????????????
The greatest mistake the film does NOT make is, in the final scene, when George's friends are pouring in with money to help him out, there is no humbling of Mr. Potter, no smiling, now benevolent Barrymore, who tosses a share into the till.
Here is the "lost ending," a la 'SNL.' back in 1986. Which was the film's then 40th Anniversary. Have a look at what Potter deserved.
And next time you watch the film, think about all this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*This was the first post that had to be edited and rewritten. After writing
it, I sort of fast forwarded through the film online, discovering all
these hidden details about Uncle Billy I had never been attuned to.
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