It’s a Wonderful Life

Tags

1940's, Christmas, Donna Reed, Drama, Fantasy, Frank Capra, Henry Travers, It's a Wonderful Life, James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell

Film Title

It’s a Wonderful Life

Director

Frank Capra

Starring

• James Stewart as George Bailey
• Donna Reed as Mary Hatch Bailey
• Lionel Barrymore as Henry Potter
• Thomas Mitchell as Uncle Billy
• Henry Travers as Clarence

A movie that practically defines the term life affirming, It’s a Wonderful Life is a beautiful hymn to the spirit of community and the difference of one person on so many others. A perennial Christmas movie, it earns all of that adulation through the story, moving direction of Frank Capra and the lead performance from the iconic James Stewart.

George Bailey is a dreaming young man who has always wanted to travel and explore. Unfortunately, fate has had different plans for him which leaves him forever in his hometown of Bedford Falls. As he is a kind-hearted man, over the years he has had to make multiple sacrifices to help others. The biggest one was foregoing an education after his father’s death,  so he could take over the building and loan business. This is largely due to him not wanting the sly and crafty banker Henry Potter to take advantage of the small town, as he is known for trampling all over anyone who gets in his way. George gets some respite from his troubles thanks to his lovely wife Mary and their young children, but even then George starts to feel like he hasn’t achieved anything and has constantly put his life on hold. Events come to a head on Christmas Eve when his Uncle Billy, who works with his nephew, loses a large sum of business money that secretly falls into the hands of the wicked Potter. Terrified of the potential scandal on his business and how it will affect all of those closest to him, George is beset by suicidal thoughts. While George is contemplating killing himself, prayers from many have reached the heavens and a bumbling angel by the name of Clarence appears to George. Clarence is there to persuade George that he should continue with life(in return he will receive his wings), even though George dismisses his ideas. Seeing no other option and throw his powers, Clarence shows George what life would have been like if he hadn’t existed, hoping it will bring him back from the brink and notice how valuable he is.

Frank Capra’s direction is one that touches the soul deeply and never rings false with any of the emotion displayed. With gentle humour and careful insight, he conjures up the importance of being there for others and while life can be unfair to us, we can be rewarded for our good deeds with the respect of others. While It’s a Wonderful Life is known for its sentiments and uplifting story, it also manages to temper this with the possibility of what if, as a despairing George comes to see how much he has influenced everyone and the deeply felt love they have for him. Even when there are melancholy moments, the glimpses of hope are never very far and this film balances both joy and bittersweetness in peerless fashion. It’s a Wonderful Life splendidly poses the notions that even when it is a dark time, there is always something out there to pull you back up again. I particularly love the framing device used in the film. We begin with two angels(represented by flickering lights in the sky) explaining about George and what he plans to do. Clarence joins and is given his task to help poor George see that life is worth living and then we get the vignettes from George’s life to explain just why he is contemplating ending it all. In the second half of the picture, the narrative catches up with the present and the mystical and divine intervention takes the film to soaring heights of finely felt emotion and morality. I don’t know why the structure of the film appealed to me, but I think it had something to do with how it fleshed out George as a character and made us all see the doubt that was creeping into him. A suitably twinkling score, laced with the festive cheers bubbling underneath it, evocatively brings forth the observation of how one person can have a big impact in the grand design of things, without actually realising just how cared for they are. Simply stated, you can’t help but be pulled into this lovely film in all its moving and specially magic glory.

James Stewart is what truly makes It’s a Wonderful Life such a favourite of many. His intrinsic ordinariness and relatability are ideally found in the part of George Bailey, along with the nagging self-doubt that plagues him. Stewart excels at making the part one of humility and altruism, yet never falls into soapy melodrama because of how grounded he makes the role. We can all relate to someone like George, who has worked hard and had to sacrifice to help others, and Stewart’s heartfelt delivery is the winning key to it. Donna Reed stunningly supports him as the caring and giving wife, who sticks with him through thick and thin. For this kind of story of the individual making the difference against something, you need a good villain and Lionel Barrymore more than fits that bill. His part of Potter is a nasty piece of work in the boo/hiss variety and the presence of Barrymore infuses him with the villainy needed. Thomas Mitchell and Henry Travers practically light up the supporting characters; Travers in particular is ideally cast as the guiding angel sent to help George in his time of need.

A film that will warm the heart and soul, as well as make you laugh, cry and be happy, It’s a Wonderful Life encompasses such a range of feelings and messages that it can’t be forgotten because of its care and deep soul. And who doesn’t love breaking this movie out for Christmas time?

Bell, Book and Candle

Tags

1950's, Bell Book and Candle, Elsa Lanchester, Ernie Kovacs, Fantasy, Hermione Gingold, Jack Lemmon, James Stewart, Kim Novak, Richard Quine, Romantic Comedy

Film Title

Bell, Book and Candle

Director

Richard Quine

Starring

• Kim Novak as Gillian ‘Gil’ Holroyd
• James Stewart as Shep Henderson
• Jack Lemmon as Nicky Holroyd
• Ernie Kovacs as Sidney Redlitch
• Elsa Lanchester as Aunt Queenie Holroyd
• Hermione Gingold as Bianca De Pass

A delightful and funny romantic comedy with supernatural fantasy added to it, Bell, Book and Candle may be a trifle dated in the context of today, yet with a game cast, lovely lighting and magic it makes the most of a fluffy yet enchanting premise.

It’s Christmas time in Greenwich Village and we pick up with Gillian( mainly known to many as Gil) Holroyd, who works in a gallery of African art. Secretly, she is a witch, but keeps the information to herself and goes about her days, usually conversing with her dotty Aunt Queenie, who is also a witch and her rebellious brother Nicky, who is a warlock. Yet while she doesn’t mind working and for the most part being an independent free spirit, she has grown restless and wants someone to love. The trouble is love for a witch is something that will make them forfeit her powers if she were ever to truly feel genuine love for another. She takes a shine to publisher Shep Henderson, one of her neighbours who she meets for the first time on Christmas Eve. Knowing that love seems out of the question due to her magical ties, she politely talks with the nice Shep. Yet, it’s when she hears that he is about to marry a former college enemy of hers, that an idea formulates in her mind to have some fun. With her magical cat Pyewacket and her mystical powers, she casts a spell on the unsuspecting Shep that causes him to jilt his fiancée and fall in love with her, despite not knowing what has caused him to do so. Pleased with this, Gil revels in the fact that her powers could let her do something like this. Meanwhile, Gil’s brother Nicky, who is always up to some trouble, begins to help the author Sidney, who has written a book on alleged witchcraft and is curious to write another. This in turn could lead to the exposure of Gil and her Aunt, so more magic becomes involved and at play. Gil, after a while and even though she only did it to spite her rival, begins to sincerely fall in love with Shep which leads her to a conflict of interests. But can the free-spirited Gil really give up all of her magic for the love of Shep? And just how long will it be before Shep twigs that something supernatural is at work?

On the directing front, Richard Quine injects Bell, Book and Candle with a light air that creates amusement and romance in equal fashion. He may from time to time indulge in some scenes that go on for longer that needed, but for a lot of the film, he gives it a bit more substance than what is often found in most romantic comedies out there, even today. He excels at displaying touching undertones to it, best embodied by the decision that Gil must make regarding the loss of her powers for actual love. And the inclusion of the supernatural, with spells and potions ever-present, is a neat one that emphasizes the charm and imagination the film can bring to viewers. Now it must be said that as Bell, Book and Candle is a film that was made in the 1950’s, some of the attitudes are going to be of that time and will seem strange today. Chief among these is the similarities between Gil losing her powers if she loves and the fact that during the 50’s once a woman was engaged or married, she would have to stop working and be a housewife. One can definitely see the parallels throughout, but thankfully this doesn’t do too much to demerit the film’s quality and story it tells. And then again, what film from decades ago hasn’t aged in its attitudes and execution? The script is witty and full of hijinks as there is something funny to be found in Shep making all these big decisions and not quite realising that there is a magical reason for them. On the side of visuals, some inventive angles coupled with eye-popping colours are stunning to behold and contribute to the playful vibe of the film and the eccentric situations that the characters find themselves in due to magic and spell casting. The costumes in the film, especially the ones worn by Kim Novak, are exquisite and delightfully highlight her character’s individualism. A lively and twinkling score gives a breezy and likable quality to the film, while also providing some spooky moments that are always welcome for someone like me.

The cast of Bell, Book and Candle all look like they are having a ball which adds to the audience’s enjoyment of this supernatural romance. Kim Novak excels at having an otherworldly quality that is ideal for the role of Gil, who is someone you wouldn’t miss in a crowd. Novak, while looking stunning and alluring in the role, convincingly showcases Gil’s meddling, playful nature akin to a cat and desire to be loved that she didn’t expect to have. With added moments of touching emotion, Novak’s work is a triumph that is funny and moving. James Stewart has the right touches of bewilderment and rationalism for his character, who amusingly becomes infatuated by the enchanting Gil without being aware that something out of the ordinary is going on. He shares a tentative and sparkling chemistry with Novak, that gives the film a big plus in the romance and humour department.A sparkly eyed Jack Lemmon is an utter hoot in the part of the mischievous Nicky, whose tricks and Hocus Pocus are never far behind him. Some of the facial expressions that he has and sense of fun he brings are hard to miss when he’s on screen. Playing well off him is Ernie Kovacs as the alcohol swigging author who is often disgraced due to his belief in witchcraft, even when its lying right in front of him and he’s aided by the troublesome warlock Nicky. Elsa Lanchester and Hermione Gingold are delightfully amusing and dotty as two older witches, though I would have liked to have seen more of them within the film. Still, both actresses light up the screen when they are present.

So while the odd slip here and there is present, and the dated attitudes can be a bit distracting, Bell, Book and Candle triumphs as a piece of imaginative and well acted romantic comedy, sprinkled with amusing and sometimes spooky sides of supernatural fantasy.

Which actors and actresses have the best voices?

Tags

Al Pacino, Bette Davis, James Stewart, Katharine Hepburn, Maggie Smith, Marlon Brando, Morgan Freeman, Susan Sarandon, Tom Hanks

There are many stars who have a distinctive and memorable voice, if I listed them all I would need a book. So the question today is, which actor or actress has the best voice? Which star has a voice that you could listen to without getting bored? It can be someone really famous in the acting business or someone not so well-known. Whatever the answer, please give it and feel free to comment.

Here is a list of actors and actresses I consider to have great voices off the top of my head;

Maggie Smith

Susan Sarandon

 

Tom Hanks

 

Morgan Freeman

James Stewart

 

Katharine Hepburn

Al Pacino

 

Marlon Brando

Bette Davis

My favourite actors and actresses

Tags

Al Pacino, Bette Davis, James Stewart, Maggie Smith, Natalie Portman, The Godfather Trilogy

There are many movie stars who come and go over the years. But the ones that are listed and described below are the ones that have made a significant impact on me and my movie watching in my life.

James Stewart- In his heyday, Jimmy Stewart was one of the top leading men. He wasn’t considered conventionally handsome but seen as gawky and ungainly. But boy could he act!!! My favourite films of Stewart are the many he made with Hitchcock who often used him as the archetypal wrong man. Rear Window is a must see for Stewart fans. And who can forget that famous voice he possessed and the countless imitators who have tried to copy it?

Bette Davis- Another performer not sen as conventionally attractive, Davis worked with what she had and left an indelible mark on the screen. She was best cast as the bitchy or scheming woman who delights in the misery of others but also as women who suffer in some way. Those famous eyes used to convey many emotions on-screen and her voice to blast out acidic put downs and withering insults. For me,when Davis was on the screen everything else stopped and I was immediately drawn to her. Her best performance in my opinion is as the aging actress Margo Channing in All about Eve.

Maggie Smith- A grand dame of acting, Maggie Smith is proof that age doesn’t diminish good opportunities in movies. She imbues her characters with many memorable traits and is highly skilled at portraying waspish grandmothers and stern duchesses. Whatever movie or TV show I watch her in I enjoy, especially when she gets the chance to deliver hysterically bitchy lines and punishing glares.

Al Pacino- What more can be said about Pacino? He is an influential and extremely talented individual who has been acting for over four decades. Whether playing hero or villain or sometimes the tragic hero, he is amazing in his acting delivery. If he is ever forgotten, people will always remember him in The Godfather. And it’s shocking that the studio didn’t even want to cast him. The Godfather without Pacino is just unimaginable.

Natalie Portman- For me, Natalie Portman is one of the leading actresses of her generation. Emerging as a precocious talent at the age of 12 as the Lolita-esque Mathilda in Leon, she made a seemingly easy rise to adult stardom. I like Portman because she is never afraid to take risks; she shaved her hair for V for Vendetta and trained intensley for months for her Oscar-winning role as an unstable ballerina in Black Swan.  A talented and intelligent actress who I hope will continue her amazing career.

Part 2 will follow very soon.