Day 12 brings one of the most essential Christmas movies: “It’s A Wonderful Life.” I’m a little embarrassed to admit I only watched it for the first time a few years ago, though I already knew much of the plot. Its cultural impact is so great that most people are familiar with George Bailey’s story.
One thing about the holiday season is that it is a time of giving, and no one embodies that more than George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart). He makes all sorts of sacrifices for those around him, making the town of Bedford Falls better for it. He gives up his dreams and college tuition so that his father’s company can stay open after his death. He sacrifices the money for his honeymoon to ensure the town's residents have money and his company stays afloat during a bank run. This makes it all the more powerful when the town comes together to save him in the end.
Potter might be the archetype of what a villain in a Christmas movie looks like. He is greedy, ruthless, conniving, and grumpy. The delivery of the line, “Why George, you’re worth more dead than alive,” is so devilishly cold that it got him to No. 6 on AFI’s 50 Greatest Villains. He is so obsessed with destroying George that when he ends up with the money Uncle Billy was supposed to deposit, he keeps it because he would rather see George jailed than have to deal with him anymore.
“It’s A Wonderful Life” was a fitting way to end my 12 Days of Christmas Movies.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
