The side of the box reads, "The Martini family has looked forward to this day for a long time. They are moving into their dream house in Bailey Park thanks to a loan from the Bailey Bros. Building and Loan."
Showing posts with label Martini. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martini. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Target Village - Martini Family Move
At one point in the film, the Martini family moves from Potter's Field to Bailey Park. This is their moving truck.
The side of the box reads, "The Martini family has looked forward to this day for a long time. They are moving into their dream house in Bailey Park thanks to a loan from the Bailey Bros. Building and Loan."
The side of the box reads, "The Martini family has looked forward to this day for a long time. They are moving into their dream house in Bailey Park thanks to a loan from the Bailey Bros. Building and Loan."
Friday, January 27, 2017
Target Village - George and Mary Help the Martinis Move
In this version of the Bailey family's Ford Model T, the car is loaded up with the Martini family's belongings, including three of their children and a goat, to help them move from Potter's Field to Bailey Park.
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Target Village - Nick the Bartender
Nick the Bartender - the one from Bedford Falls - is the kind of friend you want on your side. He has a tender heart but is ferociously protective of his friends. In Pottersville, he's just plain ferocious....a bully.
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Target Village - Mr. and Mrs. Martini's House in Bailey Park
This home appears only briefly but it represents the big idea of the American Dream.
The side of the box reads, "For years, the Martini's had struggled to afford a place of their own. With the development of Bailey Park, they realize their dream. George and Mary Bailey welcome the Martini's into their new home with gifts of bread, salt and wine."
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Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Target Village - Martini's Bar of Bedford Falls
Martini's is where a lot of things happen. George prays for help there, and looks for answers that can never be found in a bar.
The side of the box reads, "The neighborhood watering hole where the townsfolk of Bedford Falls would gather to relax after a hard day's work, toast special occasions or meet friends for a night of merriment."
The side of the box reads, "The neighborhood watering hole where the townsfolk of Bedford Falls would gather to relax after a hard day's work, toast special occasions or meet friends for a night of merriment."
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Monday, August 31, 2015
Tribute to Argentina Brunetti
Frank Capra loved to name his film's characters Marie, Maria and Mary. That's an entirely separate blog entry that I need to remember to do one of these days.
It's a Wonderful Life contains both a Mary and a Marie. There is Mary Bailey, of course. There is also Marie Martini, Mr. Martini's wife. She is the one who takes the bread and salt from Mary during the Martini home dedication.
Marie was portrayed by Argentina Brunetti, who has 165 acting credits to her name. She was also known for her roles as Filomena Soltini on the television series General Hospital in the 1960s; and Sarah Benedict in 7 Faces of Doctor Lao in 1964. She was also in an episode of The Lone Ranger in 1955.
Brunetti's first acting job was an uncredited role in the film Gilda, in 1946. Her final role was as Neighbor Woman in the film The 4th Nenor in 2002, just three years prior to her death. She was also in The Man From U.N.C.L.E., a television series that was turned into a movie and is in theaters now.
It's a Wonderful Life was only her third acting role, completed at the age of 38.
Today, we celebrate Brunetti's birthday. She was born Aug. 31, 1907, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She traveled America with the Bailey children to celebrate the 50th anniversary of It's a Wonderful Life.
She died Dec. 20, 2005, in Rome, Italy, at age 98. She was the last living adult actress from It's a Wonderful Life. If she were alive today, she would be 108. She was laid to rest in a mausoleum at Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum in Culver City, CA.
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| Argentina Brunetti Source: http://www.findagrave.com/ |
Marie was portrayed by Argentina Brunetti, who has 165 acting credits to her name. She was also known for her roles as Filomena Soltini on the television series General Hospital in the 1960s; and Sarah Benedict in 7 Faces of Doctor Lao in 1964. She was also in an episode of The Lone Ranger in 1955.
Brunetti's first acting job was an uncredited role in the film Gilda, in 1946. Her final role was as Neighbor Woman in the film The 4th Nenor in 2002, just three years prior to her death. She was also in The Man From U.N.C.L.E., a television series that was turned into a movie and is in theaters now.
It's a Wonderful Life was only her third acting role, completed at the age of 38.
Today, we celebrate Brunetti's birthday. She was born Aug. 31, 1907, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She traveled America with the Bailey children to celebrate the 50th anniversary of It's a Wonderful Life.
She died Dec. 20, 2005, in Rome, Italy, at age 98. She was the last living adult actress from It's a Wonderful Life. If she were alive today, she would be 108. She was laid to rest in a mausoleum at Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum in Culver City, CA.
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| Argentina Brunetti's mausoleum stone Source: http://www.findagrave.com/ |
Monday, June 8, 2015
Where's the Martini
During the A-Z Blogging Challenge, one of my readers asked me a question that stumped me.
She asked me what happened to Mr. Martini in the Pottersville sequence. I didn't know.
So I started doing some research. Here is what I found:
Someone named going by the name Hermione posted the following on Dec. 19, 2012. It was posted on the Web site The Straight Dope, under a thread titled "It's A Wonderful Life - what happened to Martini??": "...I've got a couple of books on the making of the movie, and there was a deleted line from Clarence in one of the early shooting scripts about Martini's fate. Apparently, the Martinis were still in one of those firetrap shacks in Potter's Field, where a fire did indeed break out. Martini saved his family but died of his burns."
In Frank Capra and It's a Wonderful Life: A Burkean Cluster Analysis of a Rhetorically Self-Expressive Film, James T. Coon states that "Martini's bar has become Nick's Bar because, as Capra's notes indicate, Martini died in a Potter's Field slum fire." (p. 48). Sadly, he doesn't cite his source.
These are the only places I can find any reference. Even my favorite go-to reference, The It's a Wonderful Life Book by Jeanine Basinger, does not have any information about it...at least that I can find.
What I do know is that in the bridge keeper's toll house, George says he wants and needs to find Martini. Since Martini is the last person George saw before he walked to the bridge, he believes that Martini can bring him back to his senses.
The fact of the matter is that Martini can't bring him back to his senses, because Clarence and the other angels are in control. And since Martini can't "fix it," there is no reason for us to find out what happened to him. George is on a chase to prove something that he can't prove. Instead of proving, he must learn. Martini can't teach him.
There is no real reason to find Martini. He cannot add anything to the lessons others teach George.
Is there a scene that got cut? Did Martini die in a fire? I don't know. Do you? If you know of an old script or some other reference that sheds light on this, please let me know!
Source:
Coon, James T. “Frank Capra and It’s a Wonderful Life: A Burkean Cluster Analysis of a Rhetorically Self-Expressive Film.” Thesis, Bowling Green State University, 1989.
She asked me what happened to Mr. Martini in the Pottersville sequence. I didn't know.
So I started doing some research. Here is what I found:
Someone named going by the name Hermione posted the following on Dec. 19, 2012. It was posted on the Web site The Straight Dope, under a thread titled "It's A Wonderful Life - what happened to Martini??": "...I've got a couple of books on the making of the movie, and there was a deleted line from Clarence in one of the early shooting scripts about Martini's fate. Apparently, the Martinis were still in one of those firetrap shacks in Potter's Field, where a fire did indeed break out. Martini saved his family but died of his burns."
In Frank Capra and It's a Wonderful Life: A Burkean Cluster Analysis of a Rhetorically Self-Expressive Film, James T. Coon states that "Martini's bar has become Nick's Bar because, as Capra's notes indicate, Martini died in a Potter's Field slum fire." (p. 48). Sadly, he doesn't cite his source.
These are the only places I can find any reference. Even my favorite go-to reference, The It's a Wonderful Life Book by Jeanine Basinger, does not have any information about it...at least that I can find.
What I do know is that in the bridge keeper's toll house, George says he wants and needs to find Martini. Since Martini is the last person George saw before he walked to the bridge, he believes that Martini can bring him back to his senses.
The fact of the matter is that Martini can't bring him back to his senses, because Clarence and the other angels are in control. And since Martini can't "fix it," there is no reason for us to find out what happened to him. George is on a chase to prove something that he can't prove. Instead of proving, he must learn. Martini can't teach him.
There is no real reason to find Martini. He cannot add anything to the lessons others teach George.
Is there a scene that got cut? Did Martini die in a fire? I don't know. Do you? If you know of an old script or some other reference that sheds light on this, please let me know!
Source:
Coon, James T. “Frank Capra and It’s a Wonderful Life: A Burkean Cluster Analysis of a Rhetorically Self-Expressive Film.” Thesis, Bowling Green State University, 1989.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
Mother:
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| George, Ma Bailey and Uncle Billy. Source: http://internationalpsychoanalysis.net/2007/12/19/ its-a-wonderful-life-a-cure-for-the-holiday-blues/ |
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.
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| Mary Bailey Source: http://bit.ly/1OcEWwv |
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:
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| Mr. Martini Source: http://bit.ly/1GJ5rKP |
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.
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| 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 |
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.
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