I fuckin cried after this video man literally enough to make a grown man cry i relate to this film so much

We are living in Pottersville. You may also enjoy 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn', made a year before this one.

One of my favorite Christmas movies.

NOPE. This movie is stupid. Why didn't the angel just go and tell Potter to give the money back?

I started crying just watching this review lololol this movie gets me every time. Seriously one of the most beautiful movies ever made.

but, but how can this movie resonate with everyone when it doesnt have and lesbian pocs in it????

My husband made me watch this for the first time this past Christmas and god damn do I regret not seeing it sooner. Although seeing it for the first time with my husband and our first daughter sitting together, really made it an extra special experience.

Well done drinker, well done sir!

It's a Wonderful Review.

One of the weakest movies Frank Capra ever did. It does seem like an absolute masterpiece compared to most of the movies made today, but if you watch "You can't take it with you", "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", " Mr. Deeds Goes to Town ", "Meet John Doe", etc. and right afterwards - "It's a wonderful life", you'd inevitably notice how Capra's talent deteriorated over the years. Most of the people who praise "It's a wonderful life" haven't seen Capra's earlier films, a sad but true fact... To anyone interested in checking out what the movies were like in the good old days, I'd highly recommend "You can't take it with you" - my personal favourite.

One nit to pick. It was a bank examiner, not the tax man, that showed up to do the books just as the money was lost. The shot where George runs out of the broken-down house, and the camera zooms into close-up on his face as he realizes the horror of what's going on, is bone-chilling. I read that Stewart suffered PTSD from his 25 bomber missions over Germany in WW2 (go look it up; he ended up a brigadier general), and in that moment when he looks directly into the camera, he let all that emotion come out. If you freeze that frame when he's looking right at you, it is truly terrifying. But it all ended up as Potterville anyway.

I do not grow attachment for things. Nor do I possess anything resembling a human soul. But the end of this movie brings a tear to my eye every single time. You’re doing gods work drinker thank you

Potterville looked pretty damn interesting to me

But Drinker, you overly pickled and underly pretentious film critic, Bedford Falls is in New York State (north eastern U.S.) , not the mid west. I almost didn't want to watch your review on this one. Glad I did, as you perfectly nailed why it's a great film.

God I love this movie. Thanks, Drinker.

I just heard the Mike Rowe Podcast (The Way I heard it) about this movie. If you get a chance and have Spotify, give it a listen. Episode 86: Francisco's Flakes.

It's a wonderful life, makes me remember when movies were good.

Agreed....I didn't really like it that much 20 years ago, but when we watched it this year I nearly burst into tears at the end.

Al bundy is king of all!

Congratulations. I've never watched it, but you've given a review that makes me wonder why not.

Great but still comes in at #2 behind the ultimate Christmas movie DIE HARD !!! George Bailey should have gone all John McLane on Potter with Tommy Guns and Dynamite....

Jimmy Stewart was the most charismatic actor ever.

What a great movie.

"If it doesn't bring a tear to your eye, then I suspect movies really aren't your thing" I've been sobbing for the last five minutes!

Timeless story with the same problems people face no matter when they live...

Nah.

Brilliant. Great review--there's something about hearing the phrase "a bunch of dicks" in the same context of a movie review for "It's a Wonderful Life" that had me rolling. But beyond that, I JUST watched this movie for the first time in 2020. My mom is dying, we're dealing with this effing pandemic, I haven't been able to see my friends or even relatives for a year. This movie came on and I watched it, and even with all this shit in the world, it made me appreciate what I do have. On Christmas, it came on again, and I watched it again, and enjoyed it even more. Favorite Jimmy Stuart movie, and everything you said in this review is true; the ending is earned and Stuart is fantastic. Thanks.

Love it! Love this movie

This always puts a smile on my face, just a good pure movie.

Spasibo tovarisch, just raise your shot of Vodka and bask in the glory and joy of being, it is really wonderful to be 🍺🍻🥂🍷

Gee I sure wish an angel would come down and give me my hearing back in my left ear too!

I'm not much of a fan of the if you didn't do it it wouldn't get done mentality. I once saved a boy's life from a very sudden river swell by going and picking him up and bringing him across the river because he was paralysed with fear I think but if I had not done that someone else would have done that and if I didn't exist it's possible he wouldn't have even been there. If George didn't exist his parents wouldn't have sent him off to ice skate by himself would they? There would have been someone with him and they would likely have saved him instead or maybe it just wouldn't happen at all because he wouldn't go at the exact same time he did last time or travel the exact same route on the ice that led him to fall into the water. I suppose the world would be worse off without someone who turns out to be an above average good person so it would have been better for sure but I guess that would be hard to show so I guess I understand the need to present it this way.

I'd love to hear your take on The Grapes of Wrath

This review made me bawl

That was nice

Another absolute video-essay home run. 🙌 Thank you!

Another great old movie with psychological undertones is 12 O'clock High.

Just showed this to my partner. She'd never seen it before. She burst into tears at the end when all his friends come in to save him from the law. Then asked if we can watch it every Christmas 😁 One of the best films ever made, hands done!

Why did I have to watch this at work :( Such a perfect movie.

The Greatest Film Of All-Time.

That ending still gets to me...

No matter how many times I’ve watched this, I still can’t help but cry at the end.

“No man is truly poor, if he has friends.” Clarence

Based on this recommendation, I bought a copy of this movie on DVD. It's the best money I've spent in many a year.

Terrible movie.....Where was the diversity? Oh wait. Back then diversity was different. Immigration back then came from similar but diverse cultures. We had Polish, French, Spanish, Germans, English, Swedish, Irish, Italians, etc..... That was until Kennedy changed it all. This was done behind close doors without the people voting on it. Those cultures today are just known as white people.

It did not expect the beginning to be so bleak

That ending though... The friends thing... 2020 saw me alienate all but two of my most trusted friends because of politics. They were willing to sacrifice freedom for perceived protection, and I was willing to sacrifice them because of their weakness. Now I've got two friends that I hardly ever get to see because of family commitments and I wonder what my unwillingness to bend has cost me.

This classic movie is in my top 5 best movies of all time, and I usually watch it every Xmas, with each viewing being as enjoyable as the first time I saw it. Interestingly, I had an ex-girlfriend who was named after Donna Reed. I've recently watched two other movies recommended by the Drinker, Dredd, which I'd avoided due to the one before being rubbish, it was great, and last night I watched Dog Soldiers; how did this one pass me by?? It's an awesome movie!

So to stop George jumping in to the perilous freezing waters, Clarence fakes an accident, forcing George to... jump in to the perilous freezing waters to save him. Huh.

Your synopsis made me year up a little, not as much as the movie does everytime I watch it, but enough to say thank you for reminding me of the feeling this movie gives me. Everyone watch have faith.

This movie saved my life.

But Drinker you stunning stallion you, Can we get a movie about a world without Kathleen Kennedy?

This is one of the best movies I've ever seen I've watched it since I was 12. I'm now 41 and I've been in situations like that where I wasn't sure if I'd make it literally

The irony is, It's A Wonderful life wasn't intended to be a Christmas movie. It was released in July of 1947. How is that for bad marketing?

From what I’ve learned this movie was a box office failure, they start showing it at Christmas time because television was really new at that time and they didn’t really have many things Christmas themed to put on the air.

This is my favorite movie! Goodness, beauty, and truth.

This movie was so meaningful to me it made me cry

Sentimental Scot...

A wonderful movie ....Dave Listers favourite :)

Dude your words move me to tears. I can’t wait to read your books.

how about "Mr Smith goes to Washington", "12 angry men", "The Lifeboot", "City Lights", "" and "Casablanca" as movies that aged well. The list of old movies that are better than new movies is long:

Aw Jeez, thanks Drinker. I needed that :-)

I cannot agree more me old pudding...

Even just talking about this movie tears me up.

I just created a group page for one of the iconic characters in the film and it's living actress. It is It's A Wonderful Life ~ The Karolyn Zuzu Grimes Fan Group. She's 80 and she's not very gray now. She's a member there and a real sweetheart. The page is full of the great scenes from the film and lots more. Check it out.

the only thing id like to see is possibly a remaster in color i mean keep everything the same just add some color like into the backgrounds.

Capper and Stewart, along with a fantastic cast made this movie iconic and timeless. Many people don't know that Stuart actually fought in the War, not as a celebrity but had flown missions that were dangerous. When Capra approached him about the film Jimmy Stewart said he didn't know if he wanted to be an actor anymore, especially leading man. Thank God Capper talked him into it. A lot of people speculate that scenes in the bar, the tears and the hopelessness that he displayed on screen came from his experience in World War II. Maybe it was cathartic for him? Frank Capra along with three other directors I tried to create their own Studio, Liberty films. I think they only made for movies before it went bankrupt. But the spirit of wanted to break away and not be controlled by the big studios of the time is to be admired. And it was under that attempt 2 do movies the way the artist wanted to rather than the studio, that it's wonderful life was born. I think a lot of the success of the movie that came later was due to it going into public domain for 10 to 20 years starting in the 1970s. It's a shame now that NBC owns it because it's full of commercials. When I was a little kid any local channel could show the movie at any time. On the other hand Universal NBC has restored the film so that's a good thing. I agree with the Drinker that if this movie doesn't move you then maybe you're not a movie person. I only watch it once a year because it's special. It makes me cry like a little girl and it makes me laugh and it makes me pull for the protagonist. One thing I think was overlooked in the review is the first half of the movie is actually really good. We see what a good person George Bailey is. Yes he has to put away and give up a lot. But he sticks up for what he thinks is right. He stands up to Potter. When his father dies he does it again. As a boy, working for a pharmacist his actions lead to saving a life. How can you not like George Bailey? And then the date with Donna Reed's character. Perfect. I never seen a quatre movie I didn't like. I wish that you talk more about Capra as well as Stewart in the movie but that's okay he gave the movie props and that's what's important!

One of the best films of all time.

This movie is wacist

I'm 33 and grew up off these old movies. Jimmy Stewart is an all time favorite actor. Shenandoah was a great film as well.

I fucking love this film. Try to watch it at least once every holiday season

I hate to think what they would do to this movie if it was remade today. Man trying to provide for his family White male lead Supportive wife and mother Christian theme. 4 massive No’s right there at least.

Amen drinker, amen

Another masterpiece by the Drinker. I finally got around to watching this per your recommendation, and it really did not disappoint. Thank you!

It's A Wonderful review, great job

James Stewart has A LOT of great movies. One of my favourite actors! He did put the best of him on every role.

DUDE, I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!! Seriously, this is a classic that we've watched almost every single Christmas I can remember. Excellent characters, excellent story, excellent writing, and delivers a lesson that we can ALL learn from. And to think some people believe a movie where the majority of the characters are "white" is automatically bad... They are just as awful as Mr Potter, if not more so.

Im going to rent it

Imagine 64 ish years from now someone looking back retrospectively and fondly with a sense of gentle wonder at the American movie classic... Birds of Prey

This movie should be called on stage and presented a medal. Stewart was at the top of his acting game and Reed was more beautiful than what was legally permissible of that time. It's a Wonderful Life takes you through it all and leaves you better than it found you.

Donna Reed is smoking hot. Also It's A Wonderful Life is a good movie.

As a film reviewer myself, there’s never a time when optimism and patriotism are out of style.

"Bunch of pretentious Ds..." Amen :D

im a blubbering mess now.

It wasn't made more than 3/4 of a century ago its only 74 y.o. Sorry I had to

the importance of community

Pity that today's movies cannot come close to the classics. The scriptwriters were great. The actors were legendary and the studios put out great movies. Movies of the 1930's through the 50's were an escape from what was going on at the time. Movie goers forgot the Great Depression or WWII. Speaking of WWII, if you went to those movies during the War and Post War, they showed great triumph of our fighting men. Always the positive with beloved characters.

Well said, happy new year drinker ! 🥂

I have no desire to see this movie and now that I've seen your review I really don't need to see it. I hate Christmas and everything to do with it

Great review of a great movie and a great American .

yep agree with every word.

Thanks for doing this. I love this movie. Hopefully it will encourage people to give it a try.

I shamefully have to admit in all my long years I've never watched this but will definitely now as well as making it a family movie staple every Christmas instead of "ELF" (not my pick)!! But I do like Will Ferral especially his early work in SNL!!

Ah this is one of my most favorite movies of all time... and I never grow tired of re-watching it!

Your review of this movie is almost as good as the movie itself. Merry Christmas! Oh... Happy New Year 👍🎶👍

this story is so god damned beautiful you just talking about it makes me cry

One of the best movies. Love it and yes, i tear up at the end.

It has a big Twilight Zone feel to it once George gets unborn.

I'd like to see the drinker review "The Midnight Sky" starring george clooney

I also was a stupid arsehole who played on the ice as a kid and fell in. I felt that comment Drinker :(