"Its A Wonderful Life" (1946)
Starring: James Stewart and Donna Reed

George: What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary.
Mary: I'll take it. Then what?
George: Well, then you could swallow it, and it'd all dissolve, see? And the moonbeams'd shoot out of your fingers and your toes, and the ends of your hair... Am I talking too much?

"Clarence! Clarence! Help me, Clarence. Get me back. Get me back. I don't care what happens to me. Only get me back to my wife and kids. Help me, Clarence, please. Please! I want to live again. I want to live again. I want to live again.....Please, God, let me live again."

Trivia for it's a Wonderful Life;

• Films made prior to this one used cornflakes painted white for the falling snow effect. Because the cornflakes were so loud, dialogue had to be dubbed in later. Frank Capra wanted to record the sound live, so a new snow effect was developed using foamite (a fire-fighting chemical) and soap and water. This mixture was then pumped at high pressure through a wind machine to create the silent, falling snow. 6000 gallons of the new snow were used in the film. The RKO Effects Department received a special award from the Motion Picture Academy for the development of the new film snow.


• As Uncle Billy is leaving George's house drunk, it sounds as if he stumbles over some trash cans on the sidewalk. In fact, a crew member dropped some equipment right after Uncle Billy left the screen. Both actors continued with the scene ("I'm all right, I'm all right!") and director Frank Capra decided to use it in the final cut. He gave the clumsy stagehand a $10 bonus for "improving the sound."


• James Stewart was nervous about the phone scene kiss because it was his first screen kiss since his return to Hollywood after the war. Under Frank Capra's watchful eye, Stewart filmed the scene in only one unrehearsed take, and it worked so well that part of the embrace was cut because it was too passionate to pass the censors.


• The movie drew fierce criticism for its political statements about post-WWII society when it was released in 1946. Even the FBI labeled it a "subversive" movie and charged that its use of a nasty, Scrooge-like businessman "was a common trick used by communists".


• James Stewart was nervous about the phone scene kiss because it was his first screen kiss since his return to Hollywood after the war. Under Frank Capra's watchful eye, Stewart filmed the scene in only one unrehearsed take, and it worked so well that part of the embrace was cut because it was too passionate to pass the censors.


• The movie drew fierce criticism for its political statements about post-WWII society when it was released in 1946. Even the FBI labeled it a "subversive" movie and charged that its use of a nasty, Scrooge-like businessman "was a common trick used by communists".


• The Motion Picture Association of America's strict production code in 1946 censored such phrases and words as "nuts to you", "impotent", "dang", "lousy", and "jerk". But Capra managed to bypass the production code stipulating that criminals be punished for their crime: Potter never met justice for stealing the $8,000. Capra noted several times that he had received more mail about this point than anything else in the film.


• 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 the 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!


• While filming the scene where George prays in the bar, James Stewart has said that he was so overcome that he began to sob right then and there. Later, Frank Capra reframed the shot so it looked like a much closer shot than was actually filmed because he wanted to catch that expression on Stewart's face.


• The scene on the bridge where Clarence saves George was filmed on a back lot on a day where the temperature was 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This is why James Stewart is visibly sweating in a few scenes.
  

Please go here to watch the entire movie for free!

********

FYI...

If you live in San Diego, take a look around and you will see this all over the county!

Toyon or Christmas Berry

Toyon, or "Christmas-berry," one of the more distinctive shrubs of Southern California's native chaparral plant community, has begun to flaunt clusters of red berries. Here in coastal San Diego, toyon can be found wherever large patches of native vegetation survive, but especially in the thick chaparral covering some north-facing slopes. Toyon branches may look inviting to cut as a Christmas wreath -- but don't cut them, they're protected by California state law.

*******

I had a great weekend! On Friday C. and I, along with Candy and Manny went to Balboa Park December Nights. Despite the rain we had a wonderful time!

The park with all its sparkling lights was absolutely beautiful! (I forgot my camera, darn it!) There was theatrical and music entertainment and exotic food and spirits throughout the park. All the museums were open free to the public and a display called "My Ancestor's Village" that shared the culture of San Diego's Native American community was not only educational but beautiful to look at.

Best of all...I got my first kiss under the mistletoe for the Christmas season! It was really romantic and the kiss made my knees melt ;o)

*****

The San Diego Chargers won against the Titans 23-17 Wahoo!

****

Oklahoma utilities said some 400,000 customers were blacked out as power lines snapped under the weight of ice and falling tree branches, and utilities in Missouri said more than 100,000 homes and business had no power there. Roughly 11,000 were blacked out in southern Illinois.

I can not imagine what it is like to deal with a ice storm or a snow storm because I have never experienced either of them. Yes I know I have led a sheltered life! I am keeping all of my readers in Oklahoma and Missouri (there are a lot of you) in my thoughts and prayers. I hope all of you are alive, safe and warm {{{hugs}}}

How was your weekend?

Labels: Hoildays, misc, Monday's Glamour

N Posted by Rain at 12/10/2007 12:24:00 AM

3 Comments

 Handsome B. Wonderful posted at 3:55 PM  
I adore, "It's a Wonderful Life." It's my favorite Holiday movie. We watch it every year as a tradition. I really dig Jimmy Stewart.

And even though the Chargers are rivals in our division (I'm a Broncos fan) I like them the most out of the others. I can't stand the Chiefs and Raiders.

I like to watch LT run the ball. I've always had a liking for SD as my favorite Uncle lived in SD for a long time and we use to go out and visit them now and then.

 Politically Homeless posted at 7:56 PM  
Your taste is great. "Its A Wonderful Life" is one of my all time favorites.

We are making it through here. I think we'll survive!

Take care hon.

 SBB posted at 7:03 AM  
Another vote for "It's a Wonderful Life," one of the all-time great movies.

Post a Comment

« Home