gil (12/16/82)
Speaking of Casablanca and why everyone likes it, what do people think of this one? Now that it's Christmas time and it's on TV all the time, there are lots of chances to see it. I've seen Casablanca over 20 times, but I just saw this one twice this past week, and one of my housemates saw it three times. He said he felt he could see it every day, along with Casablanca. It's not as popular or well-known as Casablaca (I think), so I was wondering what sort of following it had on the net.
jvs (12/17/82)
Is this the old Jimmy Stewert movie where he wished he'd never been born, and then gets a chance to see what the world would have been like without him? If so, then I have the following comments: This movie is definately considered a classic and is listed as one of Stewerts finest efforts. This movie is popular but not in the same sense as Casablanca. I think Casablanca appeals to the romantic in all of us, whereas It's a Wonderful Life is comforting when we feel sorry for ourselves. I don't think IAWL has attaind a cult status either. This movie is one of my favorites, even if I'm not sure of the title. Also, on one of the Sneak Preview shows a few months ago, the new guys had a special where they talked about all of their favorite movies in various categorys (favorite comedy, favorite love story, etc.). In the category of "all time favorite movie" one of them picked IAWL. There was also an updated version of this movie made for T.V. a few years ago with Marlo Thomas playing the Stewart role. It wasn't bad for a T.V. movie. I hope I'm talking about the right movie, otherwise I'm going to feel pretty foolish. If Iv'e got my wires crossed can someone out there tell me the correct title of the movie I'm talking about. Thanks in advance.
terryl (12/17/82)
If that's the one with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, then I agree whole-heartedly!!! It's one of the best Christmas stories around, and I think it rates up there with "The Miracle on 34th Street." The last half hour of the movie always makes me choke up(sob, sob). Definitely one worth seeing.
franka (12/18/82)
#R:ihuxh:-10300:tekcad:10800002:000:486
tekcad!franka Dec 18 11:57:00 1982
As long as we're talking about favorite Christmas movies, how about
"Holiday Inn" (1942, with Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Marjorie Reynolds)?
I think it's one of the nicest movies ever made (good singing and dancing)
even if the plot is a little sappy. And don't forget, without this movie,
none of us would have ever had a "White Christmas".
Frank Adrian
uucp: {ucbvax,decvax,chico,pur-ee,cbosg,ihnss}!teklabs!tekcad!franka
CSnet: franka@tek
ARPAnet: franka.tek@rand-relaysanders (12/20/82)
Incredibly, I had never heard of this movie before I saw all the rave reviews on the net yesterday. When I got home, I checked the TV Guide to see if it might be on this week and lo and behold it was starting in half an hour! Of course I watched it and I'm still glowing this morning. I just want to thank whoever thought to mention this movie on the net for bringing it to my attention and making my day a little brighter. Happy Holidays, Al Sanders HP Design Aids, Cupertino ...ucbvax!hpda!sanders
luigi (12/20/82)
I just saw this movie for the second time at a San Francisco event, "An Afternoon with Frank Capra." For those who don't know, Capra is the director of IAWL: he is still around and is trying to teach young directors how to make good movies. During the interview, he said that he believes that the artistic quality of today's movies is at a very low level (I tend to agree too) and that one of the most important dramatic elements in a movie is "a man confronted by decisions." (By the way, when I say "man" or "he" or "his", I am using these words with an extended meaning). That is particularly true in IAWL, if you think about it. He also said that IAWL is his favorite movie, and it still touches HIM every time he sees it. Luigi Semenzato - HPLabs
lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein) (10/05/83)
I believe that the title of the movie under discussion (starring Stewart and Reed) was "It's a Wonderful Life", not "It's a Beautiful Life"... --Lauren--