“This is an interesting situation!”
Here’s a looooong previous thread about the movie. My post is #90: It's a Wonderful Life - Do you like it or not? - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board
Now that you’ve seen the movie, you can appreciate the alternate ending from SNL.
Oh, that was laugh-worthy. Thanks!
What does the one thing have to do with the other? Even if it was in the public domain, that just means the broadcaster doesn’t have to pay the owners of the copyright to show it. Doesn’t mean they *can’t *show commercials. They still have other costs, you know.
According to Wiki, that’s none other than the great Meade Lux Lewis, in an uncredited appearance, at the piano in this scene.
I’m pretty sure “Nick” had a single appearance on Cheers as the owner of the Hungry Heifer restaurant.
Checking… yep. Light the match!
Um, no.
I haven’t seen BTTF-II. No cable on Alpha Centauri.
It’s a fantastic performance. I don’t know of any other role where the actor goes through practically every emotion. And Jimmy Stewart nails them all.
Were there ever really swimming pools covered with motorized floors? That’d be an accident looking for a place to happen.
It’s not in the public domain, that’s why you’ll find only NBC airing it, they’re the only ones licensed to do so.
The movie was in the public domain (effectively) for years and that is how it became famous as every local TV station in the country could show it without having to pay anybody.
But in the '90s there was a lot of legal wrangling and ultimately it was taken back out of the public domain (as a derivative work of something still under copyright) and that is when every TV station stopped showing it and it became an annual NBC tradition.
A horrible tradition to me as I’m of the opinion that America got it right the first time by mostly ignoring this movie.
every Christmas, my Aunt Laura used to complain about this movie. (she still would, if she were alive)
it’s the most depressing movie ever! she says. she’s wrong.
It’s a Wonderful Movie. 
And the muppets Bert & Ernie were named for the Wonderful Life characters.
Apparently, there was and is a high school in California with this apparatus. It’s what inspired this scene.
I’ve got a couple of books on the background of the movie. (Actually, I don’t have one anymore–it literally got read to pieces. It had the shooting script, original short story, interviews, and info on the background and the various script drafts.)
That scene was originally supposed to end with the principal getting pushed into the pool, but Capra (wisely) decided that it would be a much better cap on the scene to have the principal give into the spirit of the occasion and jump in.
I’m running out of time to watch it myself since I’m 57 years old now. I’ve never seen A Christmas Story either.
I’m off work for 5 whole days, maybe I’ll get the chance.
Right you are, Hermione. It’s called the Swim Gym, it’s located at Beverly Hills High School and it’s still in use today. Here’s another look.
I still assert that “Welcome home Mr. Bailey” is the hottest scene in the history of cinema.
Stop typing and watch the damn movie! :mad:
But I am envious. I have watched It’s a Wonderful Life so many times, but I can never again watch it for the first time. Oh, to have that experience again.
Compared to the scene where they’re both on the same phone?
That gym with the floor that opens up to show a pool is real. It’s at Beverly Hills High. I know. I was there, in Fall 1966, with the water polo team from Redondo High. We watched them open the floor.