"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!

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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.

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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!

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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 from:  Handsome B. Wonderful,  Politically Homeless,  SBB,

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Christmas Suggestions

The following was sent to me in an email from my friend Samantha. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

For all of you that don't know what to get someone for Christmas, here are some interesting ideas!

For that special someone that can't have their porridge, hm I mean

their noodles to hot.

Have a long commute? Try this nifty hat so that your special someone does not get neck strain.

I am not really sure what to say about this one except,
I don't want it for Christmas!

Know someone that feels lonely?
This can help them feel safe and secure!

Have your floors cleaned instantly!

An accessory that is both a fashion statement and protects their shoes!

This one is will keep you on your toes!
It also doubles as a weapon.

I know at least ten women that would want
one of these! Just in case you are wondering,
I do not want one of these because I love to
play in the "Rain".

*****
Someone has stated that the three phrases that best sum up the
Christmas season are:

"Peace on Earth"
"Goodwill to Men" and
"Batteries not included."

Isn't that the truth!

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Now that my boys are no longer children, I am noticing so many cool toys in the Sunday paper that are inexpensive and would be fun to play with. Sadly I don't know any one with young children to buy for anymore. Sigh.

****

Did you know?

San Diego is the nations largest producer of avocados. San Diego produces over 40% of California's avocados which account for 95 percent of the avocados produced in the entire United States. Guacamole anyone?

To quote one of my favorite bloggers...

"That is all, have a day"~ aka_Monty

Labels: Hoildays, misc.

N Posted by Rain at 12/04/2007 05:40:00 AM

10 comments from:  choochoo,  Marie,  Media-storage Wholesale,  Anonymous,  Shannon akaMonty,  Rain,  RR Johnson Jr.,  Shemah,  mikster,  Hale McKay,

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving

When the Frost is on the Punkin
by James Whitcomb Riley

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin’ turkey-cock,
And the clackin’ of the guineys, and the cluckin’ of the hens,
And the rooster’s hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it’s then’s the times a feller is a-feelin’ at his best,
With the risin’ sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock.
They’s something kindo’ harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer’s over and the coolin’ fall is here—
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin’-birds and buzzin’ of the bees;
But the air’s so appetizin’; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur’ that no painter has the colorin’ to mock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock.
The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin’ of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries—kindo’ lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin’ sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below—the clover over-head!—
O, it sets my hart a-clickin’ like the tickin’ of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock!
Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;
And your cider-makin’ ’s over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too! ...
I don’t know how to tell it—but ef sich a thing could be
As the Angels wantin’ boardin’, and they’d call around on me—
I’d want to ’commodate ’em—all the whole-indurin’ flock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock!

Source:

"The old swimmin'-hole" and 'leven more poems.: Neghborly [!] poems on friendship, grief and farm-life,/ by Benj. F. Johnson, of Boone (James Whitcomb Riley)Riley, James Whitcomb, 1849-1916.Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bowen-Merrill co., 1891.

In 1877 an unrecognized poet James Whitcomb Riley received another letter of rejection from an editor. He decided to avenge. Riley took one of his poems and passed it as if it was a newly discovered work of Edgar Allan Poe. This poem was, of course, published and soon recognized as a masterpiece. The editors could not tell the poet, whom they had rejected, from Poe. And what about you? Can you tell Poe from Riley? Take this quiz to find out.

After each verse chose the poet. Hit the Submit button when done. The quiz will be graded and you will see the correct answers

I missed two on this test...he had me fooled!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Labels: Hoildays, misc, Poetry

N Posted by Rain at 11/20/2007 10:16:00 AM

5 comments from:  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Politically Homeless,  Zelmarq,  Kilroy_60,