Stories Circle Stories: It’s A Wonderful Life

Stories circle around stories. Behind one are many others that worked to form them much like gravity. It’s a major reason I started this blog, to explore how often a story is the force found behind so many things.

As I delved into my favorite mediums throughout the years, I’d also discover the story behind a beloved film or a novel. At times, these behind-the-scenes accounts provided tales as fascinating, or even more fascinating, than the body of work itself.

One such example of this story behind the story discovery is the holiday classic, It’s A Wonderful Life.

• It’s a Wonderful Life is it started as a 1943 novella titled The Greatest Gift. Written by Philip Van Doren Stern, the plot centers around George Pratt, a suicidal man wishing to have never been born on Christmas Eve. A strange man grants his wish. Stern failed over and over to get his work published so he did a rather profound thing and self-published it, sending it in pamphlet form to friends as a gift for Christmas! A few years passed and it was traditionally published in magazines and made its way into the hands of RKO producers. Director Frank Capra took it up, although he wasn’t sure how to pitch it. Several writers took on the script too, which usually spells bad things for a finished movie.
• The general fact I’ve always heard about the movie, is that it wasn’t a big success, largely attributed to a post-WWII crowd didn’t want to deal with  such  dour subject matter. The reality was that it did fair, breaking even in the box office. But the expense did in part put RKO and Liberty pictures (the movie’s production company) , in a financial bind. Years lately they sold their company. More likely, the movie was simply overshadowed. The film The Best Years of Our Lives was released weeks apart from  It’s A Wonderful and was a critical and commercial success. It was produced by the larger, more established Samuel Goldwyn company, and it cleaned up at the Oscars, winning several awards, including Best Picture. The film was about three war veterans returning home and facing family dramas.
• The story takes an interesting twist. If It’s A Wonderful Life didn’t make a big impact back in 1946-1947, what made the little movie that could endure and transform into a classic? Simple: it was free to circulate on television stations. No one had to pay royalties. An old copyright act on the books meant the film was only protected for a few decades. Then by 1974, due to error or by lack of interest, the holders let the claim lapse. This allowed the  movie to be televised everywhere, with more and more eyes on this little movie and becoming more and more cherished each holiday season.

As for what is there to emphasize about the film beyond its existence as a holiday classic this Christmas season?  I’d offer that its theme of an individual bringing radical significance to those around him is still a relevant message. George Bailey is able to see the warped progression of a world without him. It is both equally a crucial message and a positive message that a singular person’s actions do and can incite multiple and sizable changes.

It is crucial in that the awareness that a person has so much influence is quite profound. It calls for deep introspection – one’s actions and attitudes can have chain reactions. It makes George take stock of his life. This serious notion is one aspect I find unusual about this “holiday classic “. For a movie that is often seen (at least in passing) as uplifting and even family-friendly, it is actually a very sobering film. The “feel good” emotion the movie is associated with only comes after journeying through thoughts of suicide and the hell of seeing your family and friends have their lives squandered.

 The positivity comes out of the same element in that it dares to portray the best of the human spirit. It dares to have a hopeful attitude of people. Actions of decency and kindness do matter in this story. George built a community and grew solid relationships throughout it, and he is eventually blessed for his kindness, his work, and his sacrifices.

Happy Holidays.