Target village - Ernie the Taxi Driver

Ernie the taxi driver is the jokester among the friendship of George, Ernie and Bert. And his friends know him well, cutting him off when he begins to make Trump-worthy inappropriate comments about Violet Bick.

Ernie is also a little more suspicious of people in the Pottersville sequence. During that time, we can see the negative effect a rough life has had on him, and we can't help but realize the positive influence of George Bailey on his life.

Target Village - Uncle Billy

Poor, forgetful Uncle Billy. Even the strings on his fingers can't help him remember not to forget.

Here, Uncle Billy is dressed for his trip to the bank, complete with a scarf, hat and newspaper. That newspaper will almost ruin the Bailey Brothers Building and Loan.

Target Village - Sam and Jane

Sam Wainwright is the hometown kid who went out and made a name - and a dollar - for himself. Some may say he is an opportunist....a war profiteer. That may or may not be true; it's a question of perspective.

Sam is a bit of a playboy, but he manages to settle down and marry Jane, and the two stop in to visit George and Mary as they dedicate the new Martini home before skipping off to a carefree vacation in Florida.

Target Village - Henry F. Potter

Henry F. Potter is everything I hate in conservatives - A money-hoarding, self-serving, others-destroying, hateful, conniving sore loser bully. Are my politics showing? Sorry/Not sorry.

His only friend is the poor nameless schmuck who pushes him around in his wheelchair. And even then, it doesn't appear they are friends in any meaningful way.

Potter is so isolated, he is only ever referred to by his last name. His first name is only used when it is used in conjunction with his middle initial and last name. He is always Potter, or Henry F. Potter.

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.

Target Village - Mr. Gower

Mr. Gower is a hard-working, caring resident of Bedford Falls who has a tendency toward alcoholism. If given bad enough news and the right opportunity, Mr. Gower can spiral into the depths of alcohol that can lead to deadly decisions and unfortunate consequences, if it weren't for his very own guardian angel, George Bailey.

Target Village - Harry Bailey

Harry Bailey - Your average all-American self-centered jerk...until he redeems himself in the final scene.

Target Village - George Bailey

George Bailey is that guy we all want to be: Loved by family and friends alike, and standing up for the little person with integrity and respect. And just like George Bailey, some days are better than others.

Target Village - The Bridgekeeper

The bridgekeeper is a funny guy with a REALLY powerful flashlight. He is suspicious of the stories he hears (I'm sure he hears a lot), and he is diligent about his job...but I've never figured out what he really does since the bridge doesn't raise or do anything special. Is he just there for suicide watch?

Target Village - The Bailey Family

The Bailey family is only seen in its entirety during the very last scene of the film. Up until then, Zuzu is either separate from the rest of the family, or we only see a few members at any given time.

The Bailey family, from left to right: Tommy, Pete, Janie, Mary, George, Zuzu.

Target Village - Bert the Cop

Bert the cop is one of George's good friends as an adult. But when George travels to Pottersville, we see a darker side of Bert the Cop. Of all of the characters we see in Pottersville, Bert still seems to be the most rational resident in the alternate reality.

Blogging From A to Z - O is for "O Come All Ye Faithful"

 

Source: http://www.sermoncentral.com/MediaVault/Detail.asp?
MediaVaultID=1219&rewrite=t&MultimediaTypeID=24

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.

While the opening credits of It’s a Wonderful Life begin to the soft strain of a string performance of "Buffalo Gals," the real action of the film begins with another song. 

We recognize it. The song is “O Come All Ye Faithful,” a traditional Christmas tune that is about the birth of Jesus. It is played gently on what sounds like a xylophone … an instrument commonly found in elementary school music rooms.

As the song plays, the audience is shown streetscapes. The scene serves to introduce us to the town of Bedford Falls. We also are being introduced to the residents of Bedford Falls. But instead of seeing them, we only hear their voices.

They are all praying for George Bailey. From them, we learn that George:

·      is well-liked.

·      cares for those around him.

·      cares for his community.

·      has a mother who is worried.

·      has a wife who is worried.

·      has children who is worried.

·      someone is indebted to him for “everything,” which indicates something more important than money.

·      is selfless.

Source: http://www.hymnary.org/
hymn/WAR2003/182

The scene is extremely short, but it teaches us so much. We know a lot about George before we really know anything about him.

The fact that these prayers are being said during a Christian song that includes the word “faithful” is significant. This film is about faith. It’s not about religion. It is about faith. There IS a difference. The song is inviting us to watch what eventually becomes George Bailey’s rebirth in faith. It is also a rebirth of his trust in God, his family, his community, his business, and himself.

A belief in God is not required, but it is helpful in the effort to fully understand the depths and meanings of this film.

If you don't believe in God, please join the conversation! Do you enjoy this film anyway? What messages do you take away from it?

If you do believe in God, does this film strengthen your faith? If so, how? If not, why not?

Blogging From A to Z - I is for Intercession

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.

Intercession:

Source: http://highlandsumc.com/news/prayer-study-to-begin-
wed-april-30-from-7-8-p-m/

If you have watched the film It's a Wonderful Life, then you already know that it opens with prayer. It seems that the entire town is praying for George Bailey. We don't know why, but we eventually find out the reason.

And boy, does he need those prayers. They are called prayers of intercession. Very simply, it means "praying for others."

More specifically, "Intercession is prayer that pleads with God for your needs and the needs of others. But it is also much more than that. Intercession involves taking hold of God's will and refusing to let go until His will comes to pass. Intercession is warfare -- the key to God's battle plan for our lives. But the battleground is not of this earth. The Bible says, 'We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and spiritual powers in the heavens above' (Eph. 6:12)." (http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/cbnteachingsheets/keys-intercession.aspx)

This is what the people of Bedford Falls are doing for George Bailey. They are pleading for God's help in order to save George from his struggle and despair.

In response to those prayers, we see a debate occur in Heaven. We see Joseph and Franklin (See previous entry about the letter F) discussing the wisdom of sending Clarence, the hapless, wingless, simple-minded second-class angel.

It takes some work, but Clarence succeeds and George returns home. The prayers of intercession, as well as George's own prayers, have been answered.