The pivotal moment in It's a Wonderful Life clearly defines its central character, George Bailey. Standing on a bridge, contemplating suicide, Bailey (played to small-town perfection by James Stewart) instead finds himself leaping into the water to save someone else, a 'man' who turns out to be his guardian angel, Clarence (Henry Travers in a sweet performance). Director Frank Capra shows us what makes Bailey such a great man: even in his moment of greatest despair, George risks his life to save someone he doesn't even know.
George Bailey is an admirable character. He always does what's right, often sacrificing his own dreams for the good of his family, friends and community. And, up until shortly before that moment on the bridge, he does so without complaining or falling into self-pity or loathing. This is what makes his ethical battle on the bridge so compelling. By the time George hits rock bottom, as a result of a crisis that was no fault of his own, we have accompanied him on such a fascinating ride that we can't help but pray that it turns out well for him.
It's a Wonderful Life is Capra's take on A Christmas Carol, with a few twists and modifications. Henry Potter (the great Lionel Barrymore) is the equivalent of Scrooge, George Bailey is Cratchit, Clarence is all of the ghostly visitors combined into one, while George’s child Zuzu is a slightly healthier Tiny Tim. In his Americanisation of the Dickens classic (which started off as a writer’s Christmas card short story and eventually wended its way into Capra’s hands), the famed director of feel-good movies gives Bailey the moral dilemma and chance at redemption, while leaving Potter to rot in his own stench.
This great American fable is buoyed by its unwavering faith in the wealth of the human spirit. Capra wanted to make a film to help shake America out of a post-Second World War funk, but ironically, the movie only gained true popularity once we reached the most cynical post-Vietnam times and beyond, periods during which we just might need its humanity even more.
