 Click on CAPCon Alert image for explanation |
Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones (which includes at-home teens) through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word MAR23077  (1946), NR |
 Give your visitors access to more than 700 CAP movie analyses while your page stays open. Put the link above on your web page. FREE! Test it! Click it! |
| E M E R G E N C Y H E L P N E E D E D!!! |
Make your tax-deductible donations to the CAP Ministry through the
CAP Ministry, PO Box 177, Granbury, TX 76048-0177 |
| SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE: To subscribe to or unsubscribe from our FREE text-only versions of our Entertainment Media Analysis Reports as they are calculated, visit our Mailman. If you experience difficulty with Mailman, send us your request. Your email address will NOT be given or sold to other parties. |
ALERT: To fully understand this report you should first visit the topics suggested by the CAP Site Map (Table of Contents). Further, if you do not want the plot, ending, or "secrets" of a movie spoiled for you, skip the Summary/Commentary. In any case, be sure to visit the Findings/Scoring section -- it is completely objective to His Word and is the heart of the CAP Entertainment Media Analysis Model applied to this movie. |  |
 (1946), NR -- ...fills every moment with action, plot building or character building...  Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): RKO Radio Pictures Inc. Distribution (US): Artisan Entertainment, Criterion Collection, Kartes Video, LS Video, Nostalgia Merchant, RKO Radio Pictures Inc., Republic Pictures Home Video Director(s): Frank Capra Producer(s): Frank Capra Written by/Screenplay: Philip Van Doren Stern (based on story The Greatest Gift), Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra, Jo Swerling, Michael Wilson Cinematography/Camera: Joseph F. Biroc, Joseph Walker, Victor Milner Music: Dimitri Tiomkin, Leigh Harline, Leith Stevens, Dave Torbett, Roy Webb, Alfred Newman Film Editing: William Hornbeck Art Direction: Jack Okey Viewed At: Video Tape of Republic Entertainment, Inc. A subsidiary of Spellling Entertainment Group, Inc. As a new adult man four years out of high school, George Bailey (James Stewart) has been pinching pennies and dimes to take an adventure trip to see the world then go to college to become a professional builder and engineer. Alas his father, Peter's (Samuel S. Hinds) business, the Building and Loan Association, a business "friend" to many in the community of Bedford Falls, is having severe trouble at the hands of the meanest and richest cantankerous man in the country, Mr. Henry F. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) whose only interest is to take over the Building and Loan Association since he already owns half the county [Hab. 2:9, 2 Pet. 1:5 - 9]. George reluctantly decides to stay home to take care of the family business while giving his college money to Harry, his younger brother. While young boys, George first demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice for others by pulling Harry from submersion after falling through broken ice on a skating pond [John 15:13]. For his efforts, George caught an ear infection and lost the hearing in his left ear. But that didn't seem to bother druggist, Mr. H.B. Warner for whom teenaged George worked as a soda jerk and errand boy. One day, George noticed Mr. Gower, most distraught after hearing of his son's death due to influenza, unintentionally mixed poison into medication capsules for one of the town boys. Being dutiful, George left to deliver the capsules but could not do it and confronted Mr. Gower after being late in returning. Then Mr. Gower, still deeply hurting from his son's death, boxed George's ears for being late, causing George's left ear to bleed again. But as George managed to get the explanation out amidst the swats, Mr. Gower pleaded for George's forgiveness. While George's ear was bleeding. Now grown up and tending to his father's business, George is manipulated into again meeting now grown up Mary Hatch (Donna reed), a childhood acquaintance who swore to herself when she was about eight years old that she was going to marry George one day. Back from college, Mary manages to lure George into her mother's house and in the middle of an argument with Mary while talking by phone to Sam Wainright (Frank Albertson), a high school chum who was after Mary, George demands this and that of a relationship with Mary. The next scene is of their wedding. That reminded me of my own history. I remember having an argument with my wife before we got married, telling her I didn't want anybody running around calling me "daddy." The next thing I knew I was kissing her before the preacher man. Shortly thereafter I pledged to serve Jesus for the rest of my life with the rest of my life. Then came 26 foster children, eight adoptions and one biological child. Don't even try to tell me the Jesus does not have plans for us. For the better. The story continues to present trouble after trouble for the Building and Loan Association and each trouble chopping away a little more of George. One day, after dad's death and after Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell) lost the entire $8000 of the Association's, with bankruptcy and legal entanglements and possible imprisonment looming, George decides that by his $15,000 life insurance policy he is worth more to his family and everyone else dead than alive. George visits the local bridge and contemplates suicide [Ex 20:13]. Now enters Angel Second Class (an angel who has not yet earned his wings), Clarence Oddbody (Henry Travers). Clarence, being an angel, jumped in the water before George could leap, knowing the sacrificing nature of George would make George want to save a drowning man [Col. 3:12]. Just like his brother some twenty years earlier. And that George does [John 15:13 again]. After rescuing Clarence and finding a warm shop in which to dry, George explains to Clarence that he wished he had never been born. So, after talking with Joseph in Heaven, Clarence gives George his wish --- he had never been born, just to show George what things would be like. Escorting Clarence back to Bedford Falls ... err ... What!? The town George grew up in is not quaint and clean Bedford Falls but is Potterville, filled with bars, dance halls and pool rooms. All because of the lack of George's influence on the town over his twenty eight years. Many other eye-opening changes from creative writers are presented to lead one to ponder the impact of his own life in his world. Though Potter was still kicking with the largest bank account and was never help to the iron for his crimes against George [Eccl. 8:11], in the end (though the path does not excuse the destination), Harry described his brother George as "the richest man in town." Find out how for yourself. The plot and story of this timeless gem of a movie maneuvered into being a Christmas classic is intricate and detailed enough that you cannot leave your brain in the kitchen. It is indeed fast-paced and fills every moment with action, plot building or character building, so unlike the plodding to which much of modern entertainment subjects us while filling us with eye candy. While the film has many good and even thought-provoking things to say, it is likely that Its's A Wonderful Life would have earned a G or PG rating by today's standards, possibly more severe since it openly and unashamedly spoke of God, Jesus and Heaven in a very positive light and had people praying and singing to God. The film earned a CAP final score of 86 which places it at the top of the PG scoring range (68 to 86 out of 100) in the comparative baseline database. Issues you may want to know about include a significant amount of drinking and smoking and one case of drunkenness [Eph. 5:18]. While we were not nearly as aware of these dangers when this film was made, we now know that smoking and alcoholism are serious matters of health risk. While there was not one single use of the three/four letter word vocabulary OR the use of God's name in vain with or without the four letter expletive [Prov. 22:11], meanness and an adult tantrum before children may make the left wingers like me squirm a little if watched with our kids. Sexual matters in the movie involved only suggestive eye movement, a man and woman in bed together (clothed) and a sexually suggestive episode of unseen indecent exposure. Violence/crime lightly freckled the plot but nothing of the magnitude of extremes of modern entertainment. The listing in the Findings/Scoring section will reveal all that was found. Can there ever be another Capra now that we have become so drugged by vulgar extremes that what once was morally unacceptable has become morally invisible? If you think the CAP use of His teachings and expectations as our investigation standards is suffocating, the Production Code for the time (the 1946 equivalent to the Motion Picture Association of America) required Capra to remove "nuts to you", "impotent", "lousy", and "jerk" from the movie. My, how times have changed!
SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry*** As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
 Wanton Violence/Crime (W) Impudence/Hate (I) Sexual Immorality (S) Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O) Murder/Suicide (M) |
 |  |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 Single Christian Network |
 |
 |  |
 |
 |
| There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our more than eight years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
