# I'm watching "It's a Wonderful Life" for the first time **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 25, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120 "2013-12-25T02:40:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/61 "2013-12-26T18:40:52Z")
To all: I am only too happy to list my other favorite movies. _Miracle on 34th Street. The General. The Caine Mutiny. Damn Yankees. 12 Angry Men. The Time Machine. Mighty Joe Young. The Music Box. Young Frankenstein. Silent Movie._ All of the Marx Brothers’ movies except \* The Big Store.\* ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/62 "2013-12-27T09:17:44Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Donna Reed is hot. Violet Bic is hotter. Fact. Listen, I could cover for Donna Reed, and say she’s hotter than Violet, but, I just ain’t gonna do it any more. I’m tired of doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Kasper1014](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c89c15/32.png) [@Kasper1014](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kasper1014)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/63 "2013-12-27T16:50:31Z")
Philadelphia Story is also a good film. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/64 "2013-12-27T17:32:10Z")
I usually watch IAWL at least once every year, but I was kind of busy this month. I have it on Blu-ray so maybe I’ll get a chance this weekend. Time to see if my 9-year old is ready for it (probably not). ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/65 "2013-12-27T17:57:55Z")
> [@Hermione](#): > > Apparently, there was and is a high school in California with this apparatus. It’s what inspired this scene. It was the old Los Angeles HS at Olympic and Rimpau. It’s still there although most or all of the buildings had to be replaced after the 1971 earthquake. They do still have a pool, but whether it’s still under a retractable gymnasium floor I don’ know. > [@](#): > > That scene was originally supposed to end with the principal getting _pushed_ into the pool, I’ve always found this character actor amusing. There’s a Three Stooges short where he tries to “transform them into gentlemen” ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/66 "2013-12-27T18:47:45Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I’m not much of a TV or movie watcher. Don’t hold it against me. > > I did enjoy this movie however. > > This is the first year in my life that I’ve spent Christmas Eve alone. So, I got to choose what to watch. Oh, I’m not holding it against you. I’m just not a fan of IAWL, or of Jimmy Stewart. At all. ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_Cello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Clark\_Cello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_Cello)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/67 "2013-12-27T18:48:56Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > I don’t need to justify my taste. On this issue, obviously I think it is better. If I didn’t think I was right I would have a different opinion. > > You’re apparently under the mistaken perception that taste is objective. Personally, I find It’s a Wonderful Life to be a terribly boring movie with little redeeming quality. I’m ok with others disagreeing. Though I find it an interesting historical oddity that most people agreed with me until a pure business decision (not an artistic demand) resulted in people seeing the movie presented every year slowly changing perception. Personally, I think this is not because people were wrong about the movie but because people tend to be stupid about things they come to associate with the holidays. Thus: most Christmas songs. And egg nog. > > So how about this, you trot out your list of favorite movies and we’ll all yawn with indifference regardless of what you name because none of our opinions on movies are based on anything that makes dick measuring worthwhile. > > However, if it turns out that It’s a Wonderful Life is actually your mother and you’re being so weirdly antagonistic because I just insulted your mother, I’ll retract it as something true but impolite to say in front of the children of an ugly mother. It’s one thing to criticize “It’s a Wonderful Life” but I’ll be damned if I am just going to sit here and let you slander eggnog unchallenged. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/68 "2013-12-27T22:57:34Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > It was the old Los Angeles HS at Olympic and Rimpau. It’s still there although most or all of the buildings had to be replaced after the 1971 earthquake. They do still have a pool, but whether it’s still under a retractable gymnasium floor I don’ know. I thought it was Beverly Hills High School. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/69 "2013-12-27T23:15:25Z")
I always wondered if people used to say “HEE Haw!” at each other all the time like Sam did. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/70 "2013-12-28T00:11:39Z")
> [@Clark\_Cello](#): > > It’s one thing to criticize “It’s a Wonderful Life” but I’ll be damned if I am just going to sit here and let you slander eggnog unchallenged. I was going to allude to the quotation at the beginning of Chapter 15 of _Pudd’nhead Wilson._ ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/71 "2013-12-28T00:33:01Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > It was the old Los Angeles HS at Olympic and Rimpau. It’s still there although most or all of the buildings had to be replaced after the 1971 earthquake. They do still have a pool, but whether it’s still under a retractable gymnasium floor I don’ know. > > I’ve always found this character actor amusing. There’s a Three Stooges short where he tries to “transform them into gentlemen” > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I thought it was Beverly Hills High School. According to Wikipedia, it is indeed Beverly Hills H.S. and it is still in existence as of 2013. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/72 "2013-12-28T04:03:01Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I don’t think I’ve ever seen it all the way through in one sitting, without commercials. > > Something I don’t understand – if the movie is in the public domain, why can’t we see it without commercials? Or without so many? > > The actress who plays Zuzu was also the little girl in **The Bishop’s Wife** , another good Christmas movie. She was on a PBS special today, on Christmas movies. And the actor who played young George Bailey also played the kid in the snow ball fight in The Bishop’s Wife ([Bobby Anderson](http://davebpatterson.yolasite.com/resources/BobbyA3.jpg?timestamp=1283199521181)). ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/73 "2013-12-28T09:06:52Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > I was going to allude to the quotation at the beginning of Chapter 15 of _Pudd’nhead Wilson._ I’m missing something… "CHAPTER 15 — The Robber Robbed ``` Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits. — Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar Behold, the fool saith, "Put not all thine eggs in the one basket" —which is but a manner of saying, "Scatter your money and your attention"; but the wise man saith, "Put all your eggs in the one basket and—WATCH THAT BASKET!" — Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar..." ``` What is it??😕 ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/74 "2013-12-28T17:57:46Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > I’m missing something… > > "CHAPTER 15 — The Robber Robbed > > ``` > Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits. — > Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar > > Behold, the fool saith, "Put not all thine eggs in the one > basket" —which is but a manner of saying, "Scatter your > money and your attention"; but the wise man saith, "Put all > your eggs in the one basket and—WATCH THAT BASKET!" — > Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar..." > > ``` > > What is it??😕 Forgive me; I should have been more specific: “Nothing so needs reforming…” ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/75 "2013-12-29T01:39:21Z")
His speech to Potter in the boardroom after his father died still gives me chills. The line about how his father treated people as human beings but to a warped, frustrated old man like Potter they were just cattle and how his father died a much richer man than Potter would ever be was amazing. I know its a movie character, but that takes a lot of balls to insult the man in town that can make or break your future. That kind of self-confidence and the courage to do and say what is right is a quality that is missed on far too many people today. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/76 "2013-12-29T01:45:03Z")
As far as the salary Potter offered, George Bailey tells Potter that he makes $45 per week. That comes out to $2,340 per year. This was pre-WWII, so I used 1940 as the year to plug into an inflation calculator. That amounts to $39,955.82 in today’s money. That would be squeaking by with a stay at home wife and several kids. Potter offers him $20,000 per year to start. That is the equivalent of $332,955.71 in today’s money. That would definitely explain Bailey’s excitement. And George turns him down cold. That again shows his motivations. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/77 "2013-12-29T01:51:30Z")
Sorry for the triple post, but more fun with numbers: During the bank run, George has $2000 to pay to his depositors. This is approximately $35,000 in today’s money. Most of his customers are asking for $20 to hold them over until the bank reopens or about $350. The sweetheart that George kisses for asking for $17.50 is about $315. The stingy old bastard demanding his $242 comes out to around $4,350, putting a dent in George’s reserves. ETA: That was one hell of a honeymoon he was planning! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/78 "2013-12-29T02:08:16Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > ETA: That was one hell of a honeymoon he was planning! Well, they had to buy all those ropes to, y’know, lasso the moon. But, yeah, $2000 in the early 1930s… that’s first-class round-the-world… and a long trip, too. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/79 "2013-12-29T04:27:11Z")
Lord knows I wouldn’t be spending anything on nightclothes for Donna Reed. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/80 "2013-12-29T06:22:17Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > His speech to Potter in the boardroom after his father died still gives me chills. The line about how his father treated people as human beings but to a warped, frustrated old man like Potter they were just cattle and how his father died a much richer man than Potter would ever be was amazing. > > I know its a movie character, but that takes a lot of balls to insult the man in town that can make or break your future. That kind of self-confidence and the courage to do and say what is right is a quality that is missed on far too many people today. when the character made that grand speech he was heading out the door. To quote his ambitions: I’m shakin’ the dust of this crummy little town off my feet and I’m gonna see the world. Italy, Greece, the Parthenon, the Colosseum. Then, I’m comin’ back here to go to college and see what they know. And then I’m gonna build things. I’m gonna build airfields, I’m gonna build skyscrapers a hundred stories high, I’m gonna build bridges a mile long… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120.md?page=5)