My mother loved this movie so much. She would cry every time she would watch it. She passed away from cancer. I think of her every time I see the movie. She was the best.
@shadowcatreacts
8 ай бұрын
🩷🩷🩷
@gogousa6661
8 ай бұрын
I am so sorry for your loss. She shared happy tears with you. The message is important. She wants you to be a good person. Just find peace in that being enough for her.
@davematthewsfan
3 ай бұрын
My mother and grandmother also loved this movie. They aren't with me anymore, but everytime I watch this movie I think of them.
@deedee67888
8 ай бұрын
Every time I hear a reactor talk about not watching black and white movies, it breaks my heart. There is such a rich film history of movies filmed in black and white, either because they were made before color was prevalent, or because the director made that choice. I'm so glad you're changing your mind! This was a great reaction!
@Crazy_Diamond_75
7 ай бұрын
Roman Holiday, Casablanca, Pyscho, hell even some silent films like City Lights... Those are some of my favorite movies, and I don't even consider myself a buff when it comes to that era.
@anneb889
7 ай бұрын
It Happened One Night, The Thin Man, His Girl Friday, Some Like it Hot, so many good black and white old movies.
@Crazy_Diamond_75
7 ай бұрын
@@anneb889 Yes! One that I thought of after I made my previous comment was The Apartment. One of the best movies ever, honestly.
@anneb889
7 ай бұрын
@@Crazy_Diamond_75 The Apartment is good, always made me a little sad too. Would be interesting to hear a younger persons thoughts…before divorce was so prevalent, a husband stepping out discreetly was considered respectful, fear of out of wedlock birth was much more scary. Great performances too. There are plenty of great black and white dramas….I was kinda going for the more fun and light hearted ones….lol….but Casablanca is just about as perfect of a movie you will get….she should at least give that one a chance.
@jethro1963
7 ай бұрын
At least fifty percent of the greatest or most relevant films would still have to be in black and white. This crazy stigma against them by an intellectually inferior generation is a fairly recent phenomena. I grew up in the 70s and 80s, well into the colour era and nobody I knew spoke like this. Once I saw my first 30s Warner Brothers gangster movie I was hooked. No sex, profanity and SFX was there to save lazy and unintelligent script writers and producers.
@orlandoawilliams799
8 ай бұрын
George may not have gotten what he thought he wanted, but he got things he didn't know he needed.
@georgemckeon6710
8 ай бұрын
FUN FACT: Unlike his character, George Bailey, Jimmy Stewart served in WWII as a bomber pilot, completing many dangerous missions. In fact, he suffered from PTSD for the rest of his life. It manifests itself (for real) in the bar scene where he breaks down and cries. All this to say that Jimmy Stewart was the REAL deal.
@stephenriggs8177
8 ай бұрын
Interesting tidbit from IMDB: "James Stewart was nervous about the phone kiss scene because it was his first onscreen kiss since his return to Hollywood after the war. Under director 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."
@cclapew
8 ай бұрын
Another few tidbits.... Jimmy stewart went on to become a Brig General in the airforce reserves.... Jimmy Stewart had to be talked into this role By Frank Capra because he did not want to return to acting after the war.... Acording to rumours that I have heard that the slap to young George Bailey's ear was real and that blood coming out of his ear was also real...
@SueProv
8 ай бұрын
That's a fun fact? That he had PTSD.
@jamesalexander5623
8 ай бұрын
Don't I know it! My Father served in the 445th Bomb Group with Jimmy Stewart! Flying in B-24's from RAF Tibbenham, England in WW II!
@zedwpd
8 ай бұрын
He swerved in Vietnam too and retired as a General.
@catherinelw9365
8 ай бұрын
The use of black and white in cinema isn't just a lack of technology. In Italy they called it "chiaroscuro", meaning "light and dark", and it was considered an art, using shadows and light. In the Hitchcock film, "Rebecca", which won Best Cinematography and Best Picture, the chiaroscuro is fantastic, creating an atmosphere of gloom and mystery. You can't get that effect in color.
@Otokichi786
8 ай бұрын
Then there's "Psycho" (1960), which Alfred Hitchcock filmed in monochrome, for all the above reasons.
@willcool713
8 ай бұрын
Lighting, contrast, and shadow were the only colors they had to work with.
@lordessducky8494
7 ай бұрын
@@willcool713,it’s a technique, and definitely an art lost today. 😢
@CJ87317
8 ай бұрын
"A toast...to my big brother George: the richest man in town." --- Harry Bailey All-American football player, Naval Aviator, MOH Recipient. Harry had the life George wanted, but Harry still looks up his big brother. Nothing better encapsulates the message of the movie than that.
@cthulhuwu_
8 ай бұрын
I cry like a baby every time I hear that line. Even seeing it written makes me tear up. No man is a failure who has friends.
@donovanmedieval
7 ай бұрын
Sam Wainright too.
@laurab68707
8 ай бұрын
You need to go back and watch, 12 Angry Men and To Kill a Mockingbird, which you saw in school as a teen and didn't pay attention to. They are both excellent movies. Great reaction. Black and white movies from the past are very great. Please give them all a chance. Casablanca is a excellent black and white movie also.
@ammaleslie509
8 ай бұрын
I want to echo Casablanca ! Amazing use of chiaroscuro, great writing, a timeless love story. You might like it a lot. And definitely rewatch Twelve Angry Men! I assume others have mentioned Psycho.
@Dylan_Platt
8 ай бұрын
You're absolutely correct, this movie only seems "old-fashioned" if you look at the surface details like the way people dress and the black & white. Underneath is a story with as much life, humor, relevance, and humanity as anything made in the last few decades (and WAY more than most). Timeless is a great word for it. Fantastic reaction.
@brettharlow7010
8 ай бұрын
The issues in the film are actually more relevant today, because it shows how little we've learned about solving them...great reaction.
@gogousa6661
8 ай бұрын
This film and Charlie Brown are now all sold to the top bidding streaming service. You have to subscribe for good morals contrary to the message smh
@TheMKCrab
8 ай бұрын
FYI Garlic Eaters is a an old-timey slur for Italians, so Potter was specifically referring to Giuseppe Martini and his family
@Otokichi786
8 ай бұрын
Out here in the Pacific basin, that ethnic slur was used by empire-building Japanese to refer to Koreans, as seen in James Clavell's book, "Shogun" (1975).
@isoldejaneholland8370
8 ай бұрын
@@Otokichi786 I didn't know that! I love Korean film, Kdramas, etc.
@albertjimeno5315
8 ай бұрын
Yup. He’s a bigot, on top of everything else. Just a horrible, horrible person.
@eaglevision993
8 ай бұрын
In Germany it is still used, mostly by older folks as a derogatory term for south eastern Europeans, especially Turks. The German term is "Knoblauchfresser".
@rikk319
8 ай бұрын
It wasn't used ironically. Frank Capra was a child when his family emigrated from Sicily. Capra means "goat" in Italian, so the goat owned by the Martini family may have been a nod to his heritage.
@andyjohnson4907
8 ай бұрын
Psycho is a really good black and white movie. It'll creep you out so much. I think the black and white aspect might even make the viewing experience better. It's so unnerving. And it's absolutely on the list of movies to watch before you die.
@boki1693
8 ай бұрын
My first Hitchcock movie was actually the Birds. That still messes with my head.
@snootybaronet
8 ай бұрын
As another commenter mentioned, there were many color and excellent Technicolor films made at this time (1946). The greatest directors and cinematographers of that era, and still considered the greatest today, preferred black and white. They felt black and white allowed for use of shadow and light to create atmosphere and mood that were much more artistically expressive. Black and white cinematography attained a very high standard that is way beyond mere charm.
@orlandoawilliams799
8 ай бұрын
One of my favorite movies. That $17.50 got me even as a child. We need more people like Miss Davis and fewer people like Mr. Potter.
@farmerbill6855
8 ай бұрын
Grandma Walton asked for the $17.50.
@isoldejaneholland8370
8 ай бұрын
@@farmerbill6855 "Good Night, farmerbill6855."
@jamesalexander5623
8 ай бұрын
Supposedly the script said $20 but she said $17.50 and Jimmy Stewart's supprised response was real!
@Dej24601
8 ай бұрын
The goat was a bit of an in joke; the director Frank Capra was born of Italian immigrants and Capra means goat in Italian. He knew firsthand the insults being thrown at Italians so made sure they were included like when Potter calls them “a bunch of garlic eaters.”
@rg3388
8 ай бұрын
Yes. Director's signature.
@orlandoawilliams799
8 ай бұрын
This movie had a large influence on me as kid to try to be a good person.
@dabe1971
8 ай бұрын
The absolute best Christmas film ever. Hands down. I've watched it countless times. The final message gets me through each year. Did you notice it NEVER snows in Pottersville ? Yes you can see it on the ground but look when George is begging to Clarence that he wants to live again - the moment it starts to snow is when you know he's back in good old Bedford Falls. The snow was a new development for the film too. Capra wanted to use live sound for the close up scenes so the usual Hollywood method - cornflakes bleached or painted in white was out as clearly any walking nearby would create unwanted sound so the special effects team came up with a brand new method. There was actually a record heatwave going on whilst the film was being made ! The Raven that Uncle Billy owns is called 'Jimmy'. He starred in 1000+ films and was quite the star - insured for the equivalent of thousands of dollars today. He's actually the 'crow' that lands on the Scarecrow in 'The Wizard of Oz'. Capra found a part for him in every film he made after 1938. Speaking of Uncle Billy, in the scene where he leaves the frame and there's a crash, a set hand dropped some equipment accidentally and the look of concern from Jimmy Stewart was genuine. Some say 'Uncle Billy' improvised the cry that he was alright, others say it was dubbed on in post. But the crash is genuine and unscripted. Jimmy Stewart was still suffering with PTSD from his WW2 service and credits this movie experience as being therapeutic. In particular, in the prayer scene it wasn't scripted for him to cry and they weren't really setup for a close up to really capture the emotion. Capra knew he couldn't replicate the emotion in a reshoot so he decided to go with the original footage and zoomed in on the negative for the final cut of the film. If you look, it looks grainier because of that but Capra thought it worked in bringing more emotion and it was certainly better than asking Jimmy to go again. Stewart is one of my favourite actors and even more so when you see this performance. So glad new generations are still enjoying this classic - and in black and white as it should be !
@boki1693
8 ай бұрын
I give the nod to Scrooge (A Christmas Carol), the old version from the 50's over this but I can't fault you for picking this at.
@Jeff_Lichtman
8 ай бұрын
This was Frank Capra's first movie after World War II. It was his tribute to all the people who set their plans aside for the collective good during the war. Not just soldiers, but many people on the home front postponed their marriages, families, educations, and careers for the war effort. The 4:3 aspect ratio used to be very common in movies. Televisions originally used this ratio to match the movies. When the movie studios started to see TV as competition, they went to wider aspect ratios to give audiences something they couldn't see on TV. Now, of course, both movies and TV use a wide ratio. Mr. Potter's comment about "garlic eaters" was about immigrants like Mr. Martini. Along with all his other faults, Potter was a bigot. Anti-immigrant sentiment is not a new thing in this country. I'm glad that you're ready to appreciate older films. Most movies were in black and white until the 1960s. There were many great films up until that point, with meaningful stories, and skilled acting and direction. And the cinematography of black and white was often beautiful. They really knew how to do lighting in those days. Black and white films you might consider reacting to: - Casablanca (1942) - The Third Man (1949) - Some Like It Hot (1959) - The Apartment (1960) - The Maltese Falcon (1941) - Roman Holiday (1953)
@rabbitandcrow
8 ай бұрын
Director Frank Capra believed in the idea of an American melting pot - he came to the US as a kid from Italy. He even makes a self-referential joke about it with the goat in the car when the Martinis get their new house - “capra” means goat!
@MsWillowbayOrelse
8 ай бұрын
You really should rewatch To Kill a Mockingbird and 12 Angry Men. They are absolutely fantastic movies. I would also suggest Casablanca, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Now, Voyager, The Philadelphia Story, Notorious, Dark Victory, 'It Happened One Night', Rope, His Girl Friday, My Man Godfrey are some of my favs. Citizen Kane is very good but can be a bit dry for people who aren't really into movies. Tho I do think that everyone should watch it once. It is a master class of film imo.
@cflournoy1529
8 ай бұрын
Dark Victory and Now Voyager are my favorite Bette Davis movies!!
@cclapew
8 ай бұрын
I totally agree!!!!... the movies you chose and so many more like Cant take it with you, The thin man, Stagecoach and The quiet man, too name a few more....
@kelly9876
8 ай бұрын
@@cflournoy1529 the best one is "All about Eve"
@RobfromPortland
8 ай бұрын
Citizen Lane is an interesting movie. It's a fictionalized biography of Hearst, the guy who built Hearst castle and ran one of the biggest newspaper syndicates in the 20th century.
@raymeedc
8 ай бұрын
James (Jimmy) Stewart is one of the most iconic actors in film history. One of his RomComs you will likely like is the classic “Shop Around The Corner”, much better than the “You’ve Got Mail” remake decades later. Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” is another, one of the 4 Hitchcock pics he made in the 50s. “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence” with Stewart & John Wayne for an off beat nifty Western. “The Philadelphia Story” with Stewart, Cary Grant, & Katherine Hepburn 👌
@TekgraFX101
8 ай бұрын
There is a definite charm to the black and white films.
@mjkjelland13
8 ай бұрын
In 1982, I was on the verge of doing something very stupid. Before I had the chance though, this movie came on the TV. It was the first time I had seen it and it changed my life. This movie is the main reason I am here today to even write this. I watch it ever year and cry and thank God that he placed this movie before me to show me how wrong I was. I hope you get as much from this movie as I did and do each and every time I watch it. I am going to grab some Kleenex now and watch your reaction.
@DavidB-2268
8 ай бұрын
George Bailey's story perfectly epitomizes the John Lennon lyric, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans".
@TomCat777
8 ай бұрын
Over Christmas you should watch the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol. It's debatably the best version of it. It's also in B/W, but the performance of Alister Sim is fantastic
@MrFaulkner42
7 ай бұрын
IMHO, it's not even debatable that it is the best version.
@emilywolfe7319
8 ай бұрын
In so glad that so many people are experiencing this movie for the first time... It IS timeless. Not only the best Christmas movie, but one of the best movies of all time. God Bless 💖
@cpete2976
8 ай бұрын
George had two ambitions: 1. to travel. Since he was a kid and became a member of the Nat'l Geog Society, then planned a precollege summer trip, then his honeymoon. He never realized this ambition. 2. "to build things" He told his dad he wanted to build skyscrapers and bridges. Not sure if he was going to study architecture or civil engineering, but he wanted to build. He thinks he failed this ambition too. But he didn't. He wasn't the architect for Bailey Park but without his home loans, all those houses cculdn't have been built.
@rhill49849
8 ай бұрын
Donna Reed is so incredibly beautiful and talented. George was the luckiest man in Bedford Falls!
@Faye_L
8 ай бұрын
If you enjoyed the main actor in this (Jimmy Stewart), please also check out Harvey! He plays a man whose best friend is a 6-foot invisible rabbit. It's the best!
@seaneendelong8065
8 ай бұрын
What you see as looking stylistic and deliberately black and white is the absolute skill of Frank Capra, the director. An actual Hollywood legend.
@robertjewell9727
8 ай бұрын
Actually there plenty of color films back in the day in the gorgeous Technicolor process, but it was more an economic matter than a technical limitation. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and The Wizard of Oz (1939) are gorgeous color films beautifully written and directed you should check out asap and It's A Wonderful Life was shot in b&w deliberately because the world without George becomes a dark film noir a subgenre quite prevalent in the the 1940s. You should watch 12cAngry Men again too. It's a b&w masterpiece. Best wishes and Merry Christmas! Wonderful reaction!!
@BlueShadow777
8 ай бұрын
Know what? I’ll subscribe to you. It’s great to see someone like you who takes a movie seriously and looks at it with intelligence, understanding and insight. There are so many ‘reactors’ out there who treat these movies with derision and disrespect. You understood pretty much the subtext of everything that went on throughout the movie.
@shinyagumon7015
8 ай бұрын
This movie actually has a very interesting history. Basically, when it was first released, it was a massive flop that bankrupted the studio that made it (Liberty Films) because, for some weird reason, they released it in the middle of summer. However, in the long run, this actually helped the movie because it fell into the public domain and was then broadcast by TV stations for years and years around Christmas, making it a cult classic. George's problem was always his perspective. As you said, he was always more occupied with what he didn't have than what he did. He always dreamed about doing something important without realizing that he was already doing something very important for his community. Also, my recommendations for some nice black-and-white movies are "Psycho", "The Best Years of Our Lives" (actually the same studio as this film), and, as an extra, "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Secret Garden", which use both color and black-and-white. Also, Merry (early) Christmas! Shy, I hope you and your family are having some happy holidays and a happy New Year.
@TedLittle-yp7uj
8 ай бұрын
There is a big difference between popularity and profitability. Actually It's a Wonderful Life (which was given limited release on 26, Dec. 1946 and general release on 7, January 1947) made $3.3 million, which was not bad for the time. In comparison, Miracle on 34th Street made only $2.7 million. The difference is that Miracle only cost $630,000 and was underwritten by a major studio, while Wonderful Life cost $3.18 million and bore all the start up costs of a new company: Liberty Pictures. The reality is that it had to be a massive hit in order to keep Liberty Pictures afloat and was only a modest one. Had it won an Oscar, it might have had a box office boost but, though nominated in most of the major categories, it did not win. Frank Capra and his partners in Liberty Pictures, William Wyler, George Stevens, and Sam Briskin tried to keep it going but ended up having to sell the company's assets in order to avoid personal bankruptcy all around. Being a great filmmaker does not automatically make you a great businessman.
@lauraw2526
8 ай бұрын
@@TedLittle-yp7uj While that's true, the effort he put into still produced a timeless work of art. Even if he personally didn't benefit financially, it's a benefit to the world that this movie exists.
@TedLittle-yp7uj
8 ай бұрын
Laura, I completely agree with you. I was merely pointing out that the film was not unpopular at the time of its release. @@lauraw2526
@JC-rb3hj
8 ай бұрын
Congratulations on leveling up to Black & White films, you picked a beautiful one to start with. Some of the most beautiful films ever made are in Black & White, two of which were shrugged off when you were younger. I suggest you revisit those as well as the film Casablanca. Merry Christmas.
@katheryns1219
8 ай бұрын
Another classic with Jimmy Stewart: Mr Smith Goes to Washington which came out in 1939. He's just 20 and extremely thin. In fact, when he tried to join the Army when the war broke out two years later, they wouldn't take him because he was too thin for his 6'3" height. He gained weight and was later accepted.
@3Kings_Industries
8 ай бұрын
This is a Christmas classic !
@unclebuck1453
8 ай бұрын
She’s got a beautiful smile, a contagious laugh, and good taste in what she reacts to. Subscribed.
@francoisevassy6614
8 ай бұрын
Thank you for commenting this movie I love so much ! When you say that black and white results from a lack of technology, it’s right on one hand, but in fact filming in black and white required a true science of light : just watch Casablanca (1942) or The Portrait Of Dorian Gray (1945), you will realise how sharp they were (very good movies too). If you manage to tame black and white, you’ll not regret it : there are so many masterpieces in Hollywood GOLDEN Age ! Greetings from France 🇫🇷
@isoldejaneholland8370
8 ай бұрын
Isn't Casablanca amazing to look at? Bergman is literally luminous, skin, eyes and even her clothes glowing like a pearl in the moonlight.
@shilohauraable
7 ай бұрын
We never realize the people we touch. Even a smile to a stranger might change their day! Enjoy life! And enjoy others around you! 😊
@1237barca
8 ай бұрын
“Idyllic” is about the beauty of a scene, “ideal” is the word you were looking for. Great review.
@jerrywalters8885
8 ай бұрын
THE QUIET MAN with John Wayne from I believe 52 is a very well done love story in Ireland. Very pretty as actually filled there. AND ITS IN COLOR lol
@robbyascher9090
8 ай бұрын
The black-and-white version of this is way better looking than the colorized in my opinion
@josephpaul4548
8 ай бұрын
You'll recall that George had told Potter angrily that his recently deceased dad died a richer man than Potter would ever be. Then, at the happy ending, Harry - unaware of the irony - toasted George as "the richest man in town." For B&W classics: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn(1945); The Best Years of Our Lives(1946); and The Shop Around the Corner(1940) - this last one also starred Jimmy Stewart from IAWL.
@stevemiller6923
8 ай бұрын
I thoroughly enjoyed your reaction and analysis. You have great insights. And even though it is hard to see one's own life in perspective, I am sure that you have had as much of an effect as George Bailey, in very different ways. After 70 years, I know I will never do or be the things I once imagined, but I have had a wonderful life so far, and I think life is what we make it. and I think you are likely making the most of it. I am sure that others have suggested it, but I will put in a plug for Casablanca. It is a well-written and acted story and it really shows the artistry of black and white film, with amazing use of light and shadow. Also, take another look at Twelve Angry Men and To Kill a Mockingbird. You will see what your teacher was trying to show you and be amazed that you missed it before.
@artboymoy
8 ай бұрын
Have a wonderful Christmas Shadocat! OOO... To Kill a Mockingbird would be great to rewatch a reaction. It's so great.
@Gort-Marvin0Martian
8 ай бұрын
When the film was made Jimmie Stewart was just home from World War 2. I was suffering PTSD very badly. The moments in the film where he converses with God and some of the others, as when his mother doesn't even know who is. Those moments helped him overcome some of that. It is my favorite Christmas film with Home Alone a close second. Y'all be safe. Everyone have a wonderful Christmas, or celebration of your interest.
@philmullineaux5405
8 ай бұрын
The scene where George comes out of the bar, Clarence telling him he's gone, the extreme closeup on his face, is a very dark, almost scary scene DiCapra did!
@reneerocha1796
7 ай бұрын
Your attitude of gratitude is wonderful! Was good to watch this with you. Very insightful reaction. And you’re right. It is all still very relevant to this day…it is indeed timeless. Wise beyond your years. 😊❤
@mrcapra
8 ай бұрын
Great reaction and I'm glad you could overcome your prejudice against b&w movies. Being older and with parents who showed me old movies they loved I didn't have that problem but I know so many young people who are deprived of the joy of watching great movies. Well done! Others have made great recommendations I would encourage you to watch others movies by the director of this film, Frank Capra. It Happened One Night, Mr. Deeds Goes To Town, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and You Can't Take It With You. You'll appreciate his witty dialogue and outlook on life.
@Wellch
8 ай бұрын
25:30 not a garlic eater.
@gerstelb
8 ай бұрын
15:47 Fun fact: This is a complete ad-lib by Thomas Mitchell. Some equipment fell down off-camera, causing the crashing sound, and to save the shot, Mitchell piped up with that “I’m all right, I’m all right!” Although he’s not as well known today, beyond a few roles like this one, he was one of the first actors (if not the first) to win both a Tony and an Oscar, and he was definitely the first to win a Tony, an Oscar, and an Emmy. 25:26 By 1940s family-friendly movie standards, that was an ethnic slur. Who doesn’t eat garlic? WASPs like Potter. 35:45 if you’ve ever heard the expression “giving someone the bum’s rush,” that’s it.
@rayvanhorn1534
8 ай бұрын
Just ran across your channel due to this beloved film. One of my absolute favorite Christmas time movies. You mentioned that the black & white was somewhat of a wall that you thought might detract. As I've come to appreciate the classic films more, I find the B&W actually enhances much that color cannot. For instance, this film...the scene where George is at the bottom, he's in Martinis praying with all the soul that a man so desperate can summon. The shadowing & contrast is so powerful here, & same with his plea to God on the bridge a short time later. The simplicity of this is what modern films just lack...no soul in most today. Hope you do more classics, I think I'll stick around as I enjoyed your commentary.
@BlueShadow777
8 ай бұрын
After listening to your valuable insight and interpretation of the movie, I’d highly recommend Billy Wilder’s Academy Award winning movie “THE APARTMENT” (1960). Quite possibly my own all-time favourite, I know this movie (a ‘comedy-drama’) will give you A LOT of worthwhile analytical mileage in your post-viewing discussion. Enjoy!
@billforrester2512
8 ай бұрын
This is one my all time favorite movies, one that I have watched many many times. My oldest daughter and I would watch this every Christmas Eve together, so it’s very special to me. My second favorite movie is also very old, and I prefer colorized version. And that is The Quiet Man. I think you would really enjoy it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about this afterwards.
@kcirtapelyk6060
8 ай бұрын
This is the only movie that can make me cry tears of joy.
@smadaf
6 ай бұрын
Scheduled commercial passenger air-travel started in 1914; but, yes, in the early 1930s, most transcontinental and transoceanic travel was by train and ship, not air. In the first scene of his adult life, when George gets the secondhand suitcase at the baggage shop, in 1928, he says that the way he's getting to Europe is to work his way across the Atlantic on a cattle-boat; it was only one year earlier, in May of 1927, that the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight was made; the first transatlantic airliner service didn't come until 1939. In 1932, just before the scene in which George tosses away his brochures for South American travel, while he's waiting with Uncle Billy for Harry to arrive by train, he says that the three most exciting sounds in the world are anchor-chains, plane-motors, and train-whistles.
@artboymoy
8 ай бұрын
Yes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. It's great to have dream and aspirations and go for them for sure, but it's just as important to not push everything aside to get there. George is still a very good and responsible person and although he let his regrets get the better of him in this movie it does show that one can live a rich and wonderful life with what he has. I have a friend who's so hung up on not having relationships and things he sees other people having and he just can't get beyond it. Therapy and urging of other friends can't dissuade him, so he wallows in self pity. Can't help those that don't want that help. He could use a Clarence.
@stevedotwood
7 ай бұрын
"Twelve Angry Men" could be one of the greatest B&W you'll ever see IMO. The whole movie is located in just one room, but the characters & conversations are really great. Even with that restriction, it's never boring.
@user-js3xr9ly2v
8 ай бұрын
It’s great watching your reactions to films I love. Hope your holidays are happy and that 2024 treat you right.
@reneerocha1796
7 ай бұрын
Awww…it’s not Christmas until I watch this every year. Just so profound! Every one should see this movie. 😊❤Can’t wait to watch with you today!
@cpete2976
8 ай бұрын
Great reaction. You are well spoken and provided excellent commentary. I'm subscribing right now! What matters for a GREAT MOVIE is the story, dialogue, acting, direction, music, costumes, set design, editing and cinematography. And all done so well that the audience suspends disbelief so that we connect with the movie. What doesn't matter is if the film is B&W or color.
@Davelakful
8 ай бұрын
Beautiful review! I get emotional every year watching this for decades .
@victorsixtythree
8 ай бұрын
4:49 - I just noticed the date at the top of the telegram telling Mr. Gower that his son died of flu is 1919 - the year of the world wide influenza pandemic. I'm sure many in the audience in 1946 when this movie came out could still remember the pandemic.
@kpmac1
8 ай бұрын
Great reaction and analysis. George was overall a cheerful guy with a big heart but you could see times when his bitterness came through. Every time it looked like he was going to get out of town, something would happen to keep him there. When you feel like you've got your whole life planned and literally none of it happens due to factors beyond your control, bitterness really can settle in. I think one of the things I've thought about as it relates to this movie is to periodically take a personal inventory of how you've impacted other peoples' lives. If you had never existed, would peoples' lives been better or worse? That can inspire us to work toward being the person that makes other peoples' lives better.
@joecarr5412
8 ай бұрын
The rest of the writing in Tom Sawyer book you didnt get to read was ' Thanks For The Wings !" Love Clarence 😊🎄
@yaimavol
8 ай бұрын
Yes, very instructive. Practicing gratitude and setting your mission to be a blessing in the world. That is something that all of us can do.
@mikefoster6018
8 ай бұрын
I just got back from the cinema in London, watching Jimmy Stewart's awesome film The Shop Around The Corner. It also has a (albeit minimal) Christmas theme and is lovely. Another film where he has the legs kicked from under him. The audience loved it. It was remade as You've Got Mail decades later.
@farmerbill6855
8 ай бұрын
Breaks me up every time I see it. Thank you. Merry Christmas young lady.
@philisett1888
8 ай бұрын
I really appreciated your insightful commentary at the end. Thank you!
@terrylandess6072
8 ай бұрын
Welcome back from TV land. I hadn't seen this in a while so seeing you watch this unfold reminds why it IS a real classic. One could say Jimmy Stewart was a previous generation's 'Tom Hanks' as the every-man that people could identify with. I graduated 1976. Cinema has changed over the years, and some directors respect the old ways enough to keep some semblance to that magical time between Theater and TV. My parents had a subdivision 3 bedroom home built in '66 for about $30K on one acre. "You could use an Angel right now" and the rest is history.
@johnniekight1879
8 ай бұрын
Glad the b/w didn't put you to sleep. Gotta watch "Miracle On 34th Street" & "The Bishop's Wife". B/W but they'll surely put you in the Holiday spirit. You have such a beautiful voice. Will subscribe.
@Dej24601
8 ай бұрын
So glad you enjoyed this! You asked about some b&w recommendations: all these have their themes, underlying stories, locations, time periods or circumstances which are enhanced by the artistic use of b&w: more recent ones include Schindler’s List (1993), The Miracle Worker (1962), The Manchurian Candidate (1962.) Foreign films include M (1931 Germany), The Bicycle Thief (1948 Italy), Stray Dog (1949 Japan), The 400 Blows (1959 France.) American classics: Casablanca (1942), Cat People (1942), His Girl Friday (1940), The Great Dictator (1940), Notorious (1946), The Third Man (1949.) Some are comedies, some are suspense, some are dramatic, some are based on real-life. Guaranteed excellence.
@melanie62954
8 ай бұрын
I wish more people in the world knew about M! It's phenomenal, and so shocking for its time. All of your suggestions are stellar, though. I love Japanese Golden Age cinema.
@catherinelw9365
8 ай бұрын
@@melanie62954 I watched M and it was still disturbing - not just in the past!
@melanie62954
8 ай бұрын
@@catherinelw9365 Very true. It's just that the subject was so tabu in America until what, the 1980s? Incredible that a German film tackled it in 1931!
@seanculver8876
8 ай бұрын
Speaking as an artist who’s made both films and done photography, I can tell you that working in B&W means visual unity. B&W tells you the truth about light, color doesn’t tell you the truth about light, or naturally perceived color. Color in film (which has factually been around since the beginning of cinema (c.1900) and practically since the 1930’s) , can only be used expressionistically. This means adding another level of expression, which requires much more work to use it effectively. To many mid-century cinematographers and directors, color was seen as a distraction from pure cinematic expression. Some still do. Over time and in most cases, the use of color was merely a commercial novelty and marketing tool.
@mattx449
8 ай бұрын
There’s so many good black and white movies! Don’t look at black and white movies as being limited by the lack of color. It’s just a different medium like watercolors or oil paints or pastels. One is not better than the other, they’re just unique. Depending on the director and story they’re trying to tell, one may suit the story better than the other.
@cpete2976
8 ай бұрын
Well said!
@movieswithsammykitty
8 ай бұрын
I would highly recommend Casablanca! I think you would also like Bringing Up Baby and The Lady Eve. They’re both very funny. Anything that would be considered a screwball comedy, is gonna be a fun watch.
@mark37724
8 ай бұрын
Loved your analysis and modern day context. There are so many great black & white films but I'm going to recommend two as I think you'd really enjoy: To Kill a Mockingbird and A Matter of Life and Death (aka A Stairway to Heaven).
@MagnumGoose
8 ай бұрын
Love what you said about gratitude. You're 100% correct. Wish we would all remember that throughout the year, not just at Christmas😇
@llanitedave
8 ай бұрын
You may notice that George's two friends are named Bert and Ernie. A couple of muppets, years later, were named in tribute to those characters.
@mikebrown7799
8 ай бұрын
Hi Shai!😊 I had to wait until I was in the mood to watch this one. Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) is Drew Barrymore's Great-Uncle. Movie theater screens used to be a square shape so they would properly fit the TV's for the time. This is one of my favorite Christmas films. There is another black & white film on my favorite Christmas list. It is the original "Miracle on 34th Street" (1947).🏆 That is called "A run on the bank". The rest of the letter said "Thanks for the wings, Clarence". Great reactions to this classic, Shai!!!!🎬👏👏👏👏
@BalokLives
7 ай бұрын
Black and White movies were stylized. It was all they had to work with, and they went to great efforts to play with light and shadow to get the best effect from the movie.
@arandomnamegoeshere
8 ай бұрын
Young George Bailey takes place in 1919 (noted on the header of the telegram). The death due to influenza is noting another casualty to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic (sometimes unfairly named the Spanish Flu). The worse modern pandemic until COVID-19 gripped the world.
@auntvesuvi3872
8 ай бұрын
Thanks, Shy! 🔔 This is one of the all-time greatest tales... still very applicable. ෴ Cheers to director Frank Capra.
@user-sy5vv4ze3h
7 ай бұрын
Great, insightful outro. I was so happy to hear someone speak on the importance of gratitude. I want to echo the comments below and urge you to rewatch “12 Angry Men,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and, in addition, “Casablanca.” Fun facts: the director, Frank Capra, began as a gag writer for the Hal Roach studio and became famous for his unusual combination of comedy and drama. Lionel Barrymore (Mr. Potter) was a friend of Jimmie Stewart and urged him to take the role when Stewart thought he couldn’t act anymore because of his PTSD. Barrymore was the great uncle of Drew Barrymore.
@lmsossi6501
8 ай бұрын
A great black and white movie is Miracle on 34th Street with Maureen O'Hara and Natalie Wood. Even if you don't review it, watch it for yourself. It's funny, touching, and magical and will lift your spirits. It's a Christmas movie but watchable any time.
@badpuppy09
8 ай бұрын
Many Hollywood films later on in the 50'- 60's were filmed in blk/wht either on purpose for effect or else cost reasons. They took even more care in lighting for blk/wht filming, especially noir. The lighting focuses the viewers eye and can reveal or shadow characters or plot points or the mood. You would really enjoy Now Voyager, Laura, Born Yesterday, Strangers on a Train and or Some Like it Hot ! All great blk/wht classic and entertaining film making at its finest!
@Okaydo1
8 ай бұрын
There are many amazing black and white films that have aged very well (like It's a Wonderful Life has aged very well). There are also a lot of acclaimed and beloved old movies that are, well, kind of boring. If you want mind-blowing entertainment that is very adult and very relevant to today, check out Double Indemnity and/or Sunset Blvd and/or The Apartment. All are from the same director, Billy Wilder, whose films have managed to stay fresh and even ahead of their time. Re: The aspect ratio. Basically, films used to be square-shaped until the 1950s, when TV took off and also provided a square-shaped viewing experience, resulting in a decline at the box office. So the movies started using a rectangular shape (actually different rectangular shapes) to distinguish themselves from TV. And in the 2000s, TV adapted the rectangular shape that that we see today.
@cpete2976
8 ай бұрын
..and there are a lot of boring color movies.
@eddietorres1000
8 ай бұрын
I live in El Paso Texas and we have this old Movie Theater that was built in 1930 and it was restored it's a beautiful Theater and at Christmas Time they show free Christmas Movies and This Movie is one of the Movies they show so I've seen this movie on the big screen a couple of times and Yes I always cry at the End but I'm not the only one.
@PurplePete763
7 ай бұрын
Those other aspirations were over expectations, staying home, which he thought was a losing deal, turned out to be wonderful.
@andrewpetik2034
7 ай бұрын
I have just discovered your channel and I find your reaction to this movie to be insightful. You obsevations are very wise. I am hopeful that you will discover the rich tapestry contained within these wonderful old black and white films. ✌️
@gardenplots283
8 ай бұрын
It's fascinating to me that younger people are so resistant to b/w or older movies. You would be amazed at what is out there to see.
@katepulliam8691
8 ай бұрын
Fun fact! The actor who plays the nasty Mr. Potter is Drew Barrymore's Great-Uncle
@MrGadfly772
8 ай бұрын
Kindness as expressed in this film always brings a tear to my eye. I'm glad I'm not the only one. Merry Christmas.
@salyx
8 ай бұрын
I always appreciate a reactor who really picks up on the issues we still face today.
@Otokichi786
8 ай бұрын
A youngster is watching a Black-And-White movie!? Congratulations, you have "reached the age of reason" and can appreciate the tones that make monochrome movies "colorful." "It's A Wonderful Life" has been called "the reverse 'A Christmas Carol," seeing a thwarted life unfold, resulting in a fateful wish. Back then, this was classified as "Capra Corn," due to it's sentimentality and straight arrow stance of the hero. To which I say: Long Live Capra Corn! Be sure to visit Frostbite Falls sometime, just down the road from Bedford Falls.;)
@jenniferdarling6
8 ай бұрын
My favorite film❤ thank you SO much
@brandyroman8018
8 ай бұрын
The message really is live a life of service of any kind. Beautiful movie and message. Probably the best movie ever because also.... Affordable housing for hard workers.
@danafrancis3658
7 ай бұрын
Great, wise words at the end. Happy New Year!
@lsteber9774
7 ай бұрын
Money can never buy a loving family, good friends and the love and respect of your community and friends. Thank you for sharing. This has always been my favorite Christmas movie and it has been upsetting seeing people never mention it as a favorite Christmas movie these days. Instead many choose Die Hard...? Says a lot of about the current thinking of people which is very sad and a little frightening. Our humanity is the most important thing about us and if we lose that, WE are truly lost.
@Crazy_Diamond_75
7 ай бұрын
If you start watching more black and white movies on this channel, two I would highly recommend are... To Kill a Mockingbird and 12 Angry Men! Haha. But seriously, they are legitimately great movies, and deserve their own watch. Oh no! We missed the "lassoing the moon" section. It's one of the most iconic scenes in film history.
@phillymike3181
8 ай бұрын
"Garlic Eaters" was a slur against Italians, Like Martini. The goat shown was probably for Easter dinner (Lamb is the other common Easter meal in Southern Italy.) Recommendation "Mr Smith Goes to Washington", also by Frank Capra and also very relevant to today. (and it's even older than this one)
@Otokichi786
8 ай бұрын
If you read James Clavell's 1975 book, "Shogun," you will find that Japanese Samurai referred to Koreans as "Garlic Eaters" as well.
@phillymike3181
8 ай бұрын
I didn't, but thanks for that information.@@Otokichi786
@cimarronwm9329
8 ай бұрын
That was my thought also. Love Shogun.
@krazycatz
8 ай бұрын
I really enjoyed your perspective about this movie and thought they were spot on. I cannot count how many times I’ve seen this movie in my life. Out of all the different reactors who have reacted to this movie, you have been the only one who included the scene with the telephone call with Sam Wainwright the suggestion that they start the factory in Bedford Falls rather than some other place. By getting the factory built in their community George Bailey was helping to assure the people of Bedford Falls that they would have reasonable employment that would not take them several hours to reach. Although he personally saw to it that they were able to live in a decent affordable home, things would have been very difficult for them if they had to spend most of their income on transportation to their work. In fact during this time period most families would have simply moved to a different home that was closer to their place of employment rather than travel 10, 20, 30, or more miles a day one way to get to their workplace. In today’s society it’s not unusual for someone to travel even further each day to get to work and think nothing about it.
@jenniferfoster1692
8 ай бұрын
I feel so lucky I grew up watching B&W movies from the 30s/40s/50s when I grew up in the 70s and 80s. I'd stay up and watch them, lol. They're really just like watching any other movie, some you'll like, some you won't. They had great senses of humor back then, too.
@randybass8842
8 ай бұрын
Another movie by the same director/producer, Frank Capra, and the same stars, James Stewart and Lionel Barrymore, is "You Can't Take it With You."
Пікірлер: 443