CHRISTMAS MOVIE: FROM TEARS TO CELEBRATION

It was the Christmas movie that made me cry with tears rolling down my cheeks.

It's a wonderful time of the year! Christmas movie time is here! Do you have a favorite Christmas movie? Perhaps, yours is the Christmas comedy-drama, The Miracle on 34th Street that was released in 1947 and won three academy awards. Honestly, there hasn't been a Christmas without The Miracle on 34th Street showing across our TV.

Since 1983, The Christmas Story is a staple of family holiday movie marathons year after year. Yes, another classic Home Alone! Who can forget the 31-year-old movie Home Alone that became a big Christmas hit with a sequel in 1992? Already the commercials for Christmas movies are on my TV. Moments ago, the commercial for It's a Wonderful Life popped up on my television screen.

Immediately, my mind flashes back to my youth, reflecting that it was the very first Christmas movie that made me cry with tears rolling down my cheeks. Silently, sobbing uncontrollably and crying until my eyes turned red the movie, It's a Wonderful Life, broke a young and empathetic heart

Furthermore, It's A Wonderful Life brought me to tears every year from age nine until the age of twenty-two. By twenty-three, married with a baby and a toddler, unknowingly, a metamorphosis happened. When viewing the former tear-jerker, my heart, while still empathetic, gained a maturity that saw the film in a new light.

While George, the protagonist, was a caring, warmhearted person, he is falsely accused and framed for an act of embezzlement. The angel, Clarence is saved by George. In turn, Clarence, the angel, saves George by revealing what would have happened without him in his friend's and family's life. At the end of the story, a bell rings on the Christmas tree. “Look daddy, the teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings,” ZuZu Bailey says. “That’s right. That’s right. That a boy Clarence…,” says George.

Evilly, the stockholder, Potter, who wants the Building and Loan to fail and go into bankruptcy, is the true villain who swears out a warrant for George's arrest, setting George up for the fall.

No longer tears of heartbreak. No longer caught up in the unpleasant and depressive beginning of the movie, my youthful heartbreak was gone. My adult self views the ending with a positive and optimistic attitude.

As a matter of fact, by focusing on George's kindhearted nature and realizing that his life is worthwhile, with the help of Clarence, George sees the positives in his life, choosing to live is something to celebrate. Friends and family coming together to help George, the togetherness is something to celebrate. When an angel earns its wings, it is something to celebrate.

While my own attitude changed towards the classic Christmas movie, there were significant changes throughout the movie. Notably, the protagonist changed. The angel changed. The town changed. Heraclitus once said, "The only constant in life is change."

Choosing to be positive, your attitude contributes to your own wonderful life. It's a Christmas gift that lasts all year.

Movie Facts

Unbelievably, the short story was written on 21 pages and sent out with Philip Van Doren Stern's Christmas card to his closest friends. Before Stern sent out the story with his cards, he attempted to sell his short story but was unsuccessful. Ultimately, the story's movie rights were acquired by an RKO Pictures producer for a measly sum of $10,000.

Surprisingly, Jimmy Stewart wasn't the originally planned lead. Initially, RKO's plan was to have Cary Grant play George Bailey. In traditional Hollywood fashion, after many rewrites, Frank Capra signed up Stewart. For me, Jimmy Stewart is the quintessential actor who convincingly plays George Bailey.

Barely a newcomer, Donna Reed played George's wife Mary Bailey which was her breakout and first starring role. Once Capra met Reed, he just knew that she was perfect for the part.

Shockingly, the American classic wasn't an immediate success or hit. The movie, It's a Wonderful Life, bombed at the movie theatres.

Interestingly, Capra, Stewart, and Reed have all admitted that the movie was their favorite.

Would you believe that the classic Christmas movie was filmed during a heatwave in the summer of 1946? It was! Filming was shut down for a day because of the extremely high temperatures, Stewart wasn't sweating from nervousness but the heat.

With the exception of the dance at the gym scene, It's a Wonderful Life was filmed on an extravagant movie set. The movie was made on a budget of 3.7 million dollars which was well over the standard budget during the 40s.

What about the snow? For the movie, Capra along with a special effects supervisor engineered a new type of snow. Sugar and water were mixed with foamite to create the snow. If you are wondering what foamite is, it is the preparation of two chemicals for fire extinguishers.

Have a Wonderful Holiday

There are so many holiday movies on TV and on streaming services. Perhaps, you'll find a new family favorite, or you can revisit a Christmas classic. If it has been a while, your family can check out the iconic movie, It's a Wonderful Life.

If you want to know more wonderful facts about It's a Wonderful Life, you can check out the reference link below.

Reference - https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/60792/25-wonderful-facts-about-its-wonderful-life

Writer's notes: Thank you for reading. Wishing you all the best!