New Catholic Times

It was in a television interview with Johnny Carson in the 1990's that Jimmy Stewart mentioned his favorite scene in the film. This was the scene where the main character, George Bailey discussed with Clarence, his guardian angel, what I feel is the central theme and purpose of the film, "It's a Wonderful Life." The title of the film itself lends credence to this notion. George Bailey had just been saved from drowning and he was now in the bridge control room trying to warm up and waiting for his cloths to dry. It was the statement, " I wish I was never born" that reveals the true message of this film. I submit that the now famous Christmas film, " It's a Wonderful Life" addresses among other things, the issue of abortion, and the moral imperative that we are to value the sanctity of human life rather than just a "feel good celebration of the Joy of Christmas." In this article I will attempt to unravel the true insights of the film " It's a Wonderful Life" which are often overlooked by the mainstream public. It is one of the reasons why it is now a standard resource presented to my grade twelve Morality students at Brother Andre Catholic High School in Markham, Ontario. I also present these findings to my students in the Faculty of Education at Niagara University in the Religion Methods course when dealing with the issue of visual media in the classroom.

There are three areas of discussion which this article will focus its attention.

First, the reference to the war that permeates this film. Secondly, I want to discuss the tremendous impact of a seemingly insignificant gesture that has devastating consequences, and finally, as was mentioned, the central theme of this Christmas film.

This film was produced in 1946, just after the Second World War. Jimmy Stewart recruited into the air force when his name came up in the lottery system for choosing men to defend liberty in Europe. He became a decorated bomber pilot and in fact commanded an entire squadron that conducted countless missions over northern Germany, especially over the cities of Hamburg and Keel. My mother was born in Keel and grew up in Hamburg at that time. She has vivid memories of the horrors of war that these bombing raids inflicted on the ordinary citizens of these cities. Jimmy Stewart must have understood what nightly bombings over Germany did to the lives of both the individuals on the ground and in the aircraft. It is reflected in the film, especially when the main character, George Bailey, is involved in a moral debates with the ruthless Bank manager, Mr. Potter, who appears to reflect a combination of both Franklin Roosevelt sitting in a wheelchair and Winston Churchill with his heavy set build and desire to smoke a cigar. Potter's moral stance exemplified all who did not see what war can do to the world of these innocent families that are caught in the crossfire of conflict.

On a more concrete perspective the film directors themselves reveal the link to the war experience at a number of points in the film. The guardian angel, Clarence, was on a quest to earn his wings by saving the life of an innocent person. This reference to the wings a military pilot would earn upon successfully completing his training. You will also notice that as the story of George Bailey is revealed to Clarence at the start of the film the surroundings are from an aerial perspective. One might expect a bomber pilot to see the cities of Hamburg and Keel during World War Two from this same vantage point. You also hear the voices of the innocent children and wives asking for compassion to rain down on them.

In the story itself one hears of George Bailey's younger brother, Harry Bailey being saved by his older brother George after falling through the ice when the children were playing. As a result, George lost the use of his hearing in his right ear. Many World War Two tail gunners lost their hearing as a result of the constant noise of guns and explosions while conducting an air raid. My mother recalls coming out of an air raid shelter in Hamburg and seeing people lying on the streets with blood oozing out of their ears due to the fact that the noise caused their ear drum to burst. In the film, "It's a Wonderful Life" Mr Gowen, the owner of the drugstore, slaps the young George Bailey in the ear after discovering that George did not deliver the prescription he wrote since it was drawn up incorrectly. Mr. Gowen was suffering from severe depression after being informed that his son died in battle during the war. He was given this information via a telegram although it was revealed in the telegram that his son died of influenza. Ironically, my mother told me on several occasions that her Jewish friends and neighours would often receive information about the loss of a loved one who was taken away earlier by the Gestapo via a similar telegram and the death was often attributed to influenza.

The next time you watch the film, " It's a Wonderful Life" look for the gymnasium dance floor which opens up to reveal a swimming pool underneath in much the same way as a bomber bay door opens up. Also, take note of the three best sounds there are in life for George Bailey, "anchor chains, train whistles and airplane engines" which reveal all three branches of the military. In addition, listen to what George offered to his soon to be wife Mary outside of the old abandoned home which they would late renovate and live in. He tells her that he would lasso the full moon and bring it down to her. For a bomber pilot flying during the Second World War, one of the most dreaded conditions to fly was during a clear night when there was a full moon. The chances to get shot down by enemy fire was that much greater since the clear skies and the reflection of light from a full moon made bombers a much easier target.

The film then makes direct reference to the war effort culminating with George Bailey's younger brother receiving the Congressional Medal of Honour. However, it was the events surrounding the way George Bailey's Uncle approached Mr. Potter which deserves greater attention and scrutiny. It is amazing what ramifications a small act of revenge can precipitate.

Uncle Billy was asked to deposit $8000 from the Building and Loan Company into the local bank and when he met Mr.Potter at the bank he chose to approach him in order to gloat over the fact that his nephew was about to receive the Congressional Medal of Honour. At one point in their hostile exchange, Uncle Billy says to Mr. Potter, "not every heel was in Germany and Japan." The outcome of this exchange was the loss of the $8000 and George Bally's journey to contemplate the issue of aborting his life.

Jesus tells us to embrace our enemies with kindness and compassion in order to truly walk the path of righteousness. Instead, Uncle Billy chose to be hostile and as a result we see George Bailey shouting at his wife and children, leave his home, get involved in a car accident and contemplate suicide. The film " It's a Wonderful Life" may be relegated to a famous and favorite Christmas seasonal film, but its Christian message of compassion and understanding needs to be contemplated throughout the year and adhered to whenever one encounters conflicting points of view.