# 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:** 5
**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, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/81 "2013-12-29T06:30:27Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > 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. A whole week in New York. A whole week in Bermuda. The highest hotels. The oldest champagne. The richest caviar and the hottest music and the prettiest wife. ---
**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 29, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/82 "2013-12-29T15:14:51Z")
Donna Reed is obviously a witch. She doomed George Bailey to staying in that town with a wish-hex on that broken-down old house. She is forever trying to remind George about the night his father died with that continuous “lasso the moon” and “Buffalo Gals” schtick. It would probably have been best to burn her at the stake. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/83 "2013-12-29T17:13:39Z")
The Fox News trailer for IAWL, courtesy of Jimmy Kimmel: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swZYMIdWMa4) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/84 "2013-12-29T20:00:03Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > The Fox News trailer for IAWL, courtesy of Jimmy Kimmel: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swZYMIdWMa4](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swZYMIdWMa4) I love it! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/85 "2013-12-30T02:13:40Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Donna Reed is obviously a witch. She doomed George Bailey to staying in that town with a wish-hex on that broken-down old house. She is forever trying to remind George about the night his father died with that continuous “lasso the moon” and “Buffalo Gals” schtick. It would probably have been best to burn her at the stake. well her wish that George be forced to stay in town against his wishes was fulfilled by the death of his father. She did this while cavorting under a full moon. Not sure of her success with the wish she stitches up a voodoo likeness of George linked to the moon with a rope. Later in the movie she is seen driving around with a goat and then she uses salt in an incantation that sanctifies the purchase of another house purchased through their loan company. ---
**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 30, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/86 "2013-12-30T03:10:30Z")
I’d gladly let her turn me into a newt. > [@Leaffan](#): > > I love it! Me too! Good stuff - thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/87 "2013-12-30T06:49:30Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > If we’re making recommendations for old movies: _Kind Hearts and Coronets_ with the great Alec Guinness in multiple roles. Love that film, but man…watch that film, then read the Mutiny on the Bounty trial…Merry Ol England said ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ could kiss its ass back then for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/88 "2013-12-30T07:55:33Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > . . . then read the Mutiny on the Bounty trial . . . Where can I find it? Is there a specific version you’re thinking of? An author and title? Might it be on Project Gutenberg? (I just Googled and didn’t find anything specific.) ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/89 "2013-12-30T14:56:18Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Where can I find it? Is there a specific version you’re thinking of? An author and title? Might it be on Project Gutenberg? > > (I just Googled and didn’t find anything specific.) No, not a specific version. I’m just referring to the last part of the fictionalized book. While the book is fictionalized, a great deal of the trial part is true with Peter Heywood being Roger Byam. Here’s a link to some of the transcript of the real trial. [http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/Bounty/heywoodtranscript.html](http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/Bounty/heywoodtranscript.html) ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/90 "2013-12-30T19:03:24Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > well her wish that George be forced to stay in town against his wishes was fulfilled by the death of his father. She did this while cavorting under a full moon. I always found it amusing that her idea of romance was constantly reminding George of the night his father had a stroke and died. Methinks that night had a slightly different connotation to him than it did to her! I see this movie every year in the theater, hosted by Karolyn “ZuZu” Grimes. This year, I even brought my DVD to have it [autographed](http://i.imgur.com/pKa6ca6.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/91 "2013-12-30T19:12:29Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > I always found it amusing that her idea of romance was constantly reminding George of the night his father had a stroke and died. Methinks that night had a slightly different connotation to him than it did to her! I missed that angle completely. That’s one heartless lady. “George, remember when your dad died forcing you to stay in this crummy town. Good times. Good times”. Here’s a pillow to remind you. ---
**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 31, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/92 "2013-12-31T02:03:50Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > well her wish that George be forced to stay in town against his wishes was fulfilled by the death of his father. **She did this while cavorting under a full moon.** > > Not sure of her success with the wish she stitches up a voodoo likeness of George linked to the moon with a rope. > > Later in the movie she is seen driving around with a goat and then she uses salt in an incantation that sanctifies the purchase of another house purchased through their loan company. And she was cavorting _naked_. ---
**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 31, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/93 "2013-12-31T16:10:06Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > well her wish that George be forced to stay in town against his wishes was fulfilled by the death of his father. She did this while cavorting under a full moon. > > Not sure of her success with the wish she stitches up a voodoo likeness of George linked to the moon with a rope. > > Later in the movie she is seen driving around with a goat and then she uses salt in an incantation that sanctifies the purchase of another house purchased through their loan company. Incantation indeed! She (with George) also presented bread and wine. In front of the (devout Catholic) Martinis, on their front stoop. They even cross themselves. ---
**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:** [January 1, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/94 "2014-01-01T03:46:48Z")
What I want to know is, where’s that swimming pool with the floor that opens? ---
**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:** [January 1, 2014, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/95 "2014-01-01T03:52:36Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > What I want to know is, where’s that swimming pool with the floor that opens? Beverly Hills High School. My father, who attended Hollywood High at the time the movie was filmed, confirmed it was real. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2014, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/96 "2014-01-01T04:11:44Z")
IIRC, it was “Bread, that you may never go hungry; wine, that you may always have joy; and salt, that life may never lose its flavor”. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/97 "2014-01-01T15:35:41Z")
The film is cursed. Most of the cast is dead. ---
**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:** [January 1, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/98 "2014-01-01T15:45:02Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > The film is cursed. Most of the cast is dead. Then that would hold true for every movie nearly seventy years old. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/99 "2014-01-01T15:50:59Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Then that would hold true for every movie nearly seventy years old. Curses were stronger back then. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120/100 "2014-01-01T16:23:12Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > I always wondered if people used to say “HEE Haw!” at each other all the time like Sam did. I always assumed that was just something their group of friends did. I had inside jokes like that with my childhood friends. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-watching-its-a-wonderful-life-for-the-first-time/677120.md?page=6)