Blogging From A to Z - M is for Many things

Welcome to the It's A Wonderful Blog's Blogging From A to Z April (2015) Challenge. For this challenge, I will post every day in April (except for Sundays) about topics related to the Frank Capra/Jimmy Stewart film, It's a Wonderful Life.

Mother:

George, Ma Bailey and Uncle Billy.
Source: http://internationalpsychoanalysis.net/2007/12/19/
its-a-wonderful-life-a-cure-for-the-holiday-blues/

There's something about the connection an oldest son has to his mother.

Call it love. Call it dedication. call it whatever you want. You can even call it being a Mama's Boy. I'm a Mama's Boy, and I'm okay with that.

So was George Bailey. Sure, he gave her a hard time on occasion. But when it counted, he listened. Although he would never admit it, he visited Mary after Harry got married on the advice of his mother. He knows the wisdom she holds. She has gained that wisdom by being a caring individual, dedicated to Peter and the entire family.


Mary:
Mary is the total package. She is beautiful, dedicated, smart, willing to sacrifice for the greater good, not judgmental except for that one brief moment before she caught herself. She is a dedicated and loving mother, gracious host, artist, and hopeless romantic.

Mary Bailey
Source: http://bit.ly/1OcEWwv

She values the sentimental things in life, such as a meaningful song, or a turning point in a couple's relationship.

She is an American, helping soldiers and supporting her husband in his role fighting "The Battle of Bedford Falls."

Mary is in tune with her family, sensing when things aren't quite right. She is forgiving, not confronting Zuzu's teacher, and not dwelling on the frightening questions when she finds George has returned home.

She may be a Hatch by birth, but she is a Bailey at heart.


Martini:

Mr. Martini
Source: http://bit.ly/1GJ5rKP

Martini is the embodiment of the American Dream in this film. An Italian immigrant, he came to America to follow his dream to live in a decent home and support his family with a comfortable living. He managed to find that American Dream thanks to the building and loan and the end of prohibition.

Martini reminds us that with hard work, we too can accomplish our dreams. It is one of the many messages found in this film.



Money:
It's always about the money, isn't it? This is an unfortunate reality that we all must deal with.

The movie's characters such as 'Uncle Billy' walked the streets of downtown
Seneca Falls greeting the many visitors. The village of Seneca Falls turned into
the real Bedford Falls as it celebrated with the annual 'It's a Wonderful Life'
weekend Dec. 12-14, 2014. Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracuse.com
Photo and caption source: http://bit.ly/1Ewri7e

It can buy us what we want, but it can't give us what we need.

More often than not, money leads to any number of issues. Look at the top 3 reasons for divorce. Money is always one of them.

Like it or not, the Bible is correct when it says, "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:10)

Money, by itself, can do nothing. It is an inanimate object.  The LOVE of money is what causes the evil. The LOVE of money is the embodiment of Potter. And at the end of It's a Wonderful Life, Potter sat alone...with the exception of his goon.

George was tempted....many times. That temptation almost cost him his life. Instead, he rose above it and discovered that a wonderful life is about faith, family, friends and community, not how many dollar bills you have in your pocket.

And if you don't believe that, don't forget about the toast and parade they held for Mama Dollar and Papa Dollar. It was little, but it was enough to celebrate.

Blogging From A to Z - H is for Harry and Hydrangea

Welcome to the It's A Wonderful Blog's Blogging From A to Z April (2015) Challenge. For this challenge, I will post every day in April (except for Sundays) about topics related to the Frank Capra/Jimmy Stewart film, It's a Wonderful Life.

Harry Bailey:

Sure, he's a war hero, but what kind of brother is he?

Harry Bailey, portrayed by Todd Karns
Source: http://www.zuzu.net/essays/todd_karns.html

He caused George to lose his hearing in one ear. Okay...I can give him that. It was an accident.

When the future of the Bailey Building and Loan was threatened, George gave his college money to Harry. So Harry earned his degree on George's earned money. There was a catch. Harry was supposed to take over the Building and Loan so that George could go to college.

But he couldn't even manage that. Harry left George hanging by getting married and taking a job with his father-in-law instead of taking the job he was SUPPOSED to take in Bedford Falls. Had he done that, George could have taken the trip and gotten the education he was patiently waiting for. Instead, George got stiffed because Harry was selfish.

He has some redeeming qualities. He came home when George needed him the most. But let's face it, he was coming home that night anyway....for a celebration in his honor...and didn't bring his wife, even though it is Christmas. So really, he was only coming home for selfish reasons, anyway.

And he didn't help George out financially. The only thing he managed to do was give a two-sentence, 10-word toast.

Perhaps the most endearing quality Harry possesses is that he saved a transport ship full of soldiers during World War II. He's a war hero, and I won't dishonor the armed forces by saying that he wasn't a hero or didn't deserve the Medal of Honor. However, as noble as that is, the reality is that he wouldn't have been able to do that if George hadn't saved him from the ice.

Harry was kind of a turd, come to think of it.

Hydrangea:

The hydrangea bush is the source of some of the sexiest, most suggestive dialogue in the film...at least in a scene that doesn't involve Violet.

Mary has lost her robe because George accidentally stepped on it while Mary was running. Technically, it was the creepy, nosey bald guy's fault.

In an unfortunate display, George actually whistles for Mary. He whistles like a master beckoning his dog. It's ridiculous. It's unfortunate. The clip is below. The action starts around the 3 minute mark. What does this say about the sexual politics of the late 1920s (when the scene was set), or the 1940s (when It's a Wonderful Life was released)?

Despite that, we get the sense that they could become very close if this scene would be allowed to play out. Unfortunately, their moment is disrupted by the death of George's father. It will be another four years before George and Mary can explore their relationship further.

Blogging from A to Z April (2015) Challenge Theme Reveal

Source: http://goo.gl/oklQZ

For the first time ever, I am participating in the Blogging from A to Z April (2015) Challenge. The challenge will begin April 1 and continue though the end of April. I will post every day in April except on Sundays.

As with my entire blog, my theme for this challenge will be It's a Wonderful Life.

I am excited for his challenge because it has allowed me to look at this film from new angles. I have made new connections I had not seen before. I am also excited because most of my entires will have more than one word. M isn't just for money. It is also for Mother, Martini and Mary. And I will look at them all.

My daily entries will explore characters, life-impacting decisions, faith, and the American Dream. I will look at actors and actresses, concepts and feelings. This challenge is about more than nouns. I hope it inspires you in many ways.