Some, including the Jim Henson team, who should know. See paragraph 15 here: http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/02/10/mf.muppet.favorites.stories/
I remember seeing a colorized version of “It’s a Wonderful Life” when it was temporarily in the public domain, probably on TBS. Ted Turner was heavily into colorization at the time.
NM
And with the annual NHL Christmas break…
No games on TV (even in an Olympic year)
You’ll love it. It’s set in that indeterminate 30s-40s-50s-very-early-60s period that you caught the tail end of. Radio instead of TV, but I felt right at home.
As for the floor opening in the Beverly Hills high-school gym, my father was attending Hollywood High at the time they filmed the movie. He knew all about the Beverly Hills High gym floor and confirmed it was real.
And just what qualifies you to speak for America?
You got that right, and it looked invariably AWFUL. That weird pinkish-yellowish tone they tried to pass off as “flesh”…
My folks got me the VHS of IAWL when I was fourteen (my CCD class had watched it over my teacher’s house and I’d fallen in love with it), but they got the colorized version. After a while, I got to turning down the color knob so I didn’t feel like I was watching a cheap Saturday morning cartoon.
(The thing is…many of the movies that were colorized were made in the era of color film, so if they’d wanted to film it in color, they WOULD have. It might have been nice if this were filmed in color, but it’s in black and white and looks fine that way.)
I happen to be watching this movie right now as I type (the job offer scene, by coincidence). We watch it every Christmas. Given my hatred of most commercials, we simply bought the DVD.
Second the loathing for colorizing.
Apparently having better taste. (Not that I spoke for America and pretty explicitly stated it as a personal opinion.)
YOU have better taste? Ho, ho, ho. Well, trot out titles of YOUR favorite movies and we’ll see!
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.
I think an angel just got her wings.
I may be wrong, and it is just my opinion, but wouldn’t this be considered an example of thread-sh*tting? If that is the case, please go away, the grownups are talking about a movie they enjoy.
I expressed very mildly my opinion on the movie in the course of correcting someone’s misinformation as to the intellectual property status of the movie, it was demanded that I defend that opinion. And when I declined to do that (mostly because it wasn’t really relevant) it was demanded that I present my bona fides for having any opinion at all.
This was not a thread started for the sole purpose of praising this movie. In fact, no opinion is initially expressed at all. I was not aware that having any divergent opinion from the average or thoughts on how the movie came to have the reputation it does would be beyond the pale.
I’m glad you all enjoy the movie. I’m sorry that someone not agreeing with you apparently causes trauma.
You were on reasonably safe ground until this comment because it’s just intended to annoy. Everybody drop the hijack, please.
Actually, that one was sincerely meant. The It’s a Wonderful Life as ugly mother was the one intended to annoy. But your point is taken and I’ll move on.
So, in sincerity, I’m glad the OP experienced a new movie and enjoyed it. And since comments in this thread suggest that Leaffan has had at minimum a lack of exposure to old movies, if not an aversion to them, I hope this success opens a door to the many wonderful discoveries waiting.
Within the vein of Frank Capra I would suggest trying It Happened One Night or Arsenic and Old Lace. Leaving Capra I would also recommend my personal favorite movie of all time (since I was asked): All About Eve.
If we’re making recommendations for old movies: Kind Hearts and Coronets with the great Alec Guinness in multiple roles.
OK, I’ll play:
Casablanca - rousing WWII-era drama and romance. Bogie, Rains, Henreid, Lorre and Bergman! Deservedly a classic.
Notorious - my favorite Hitchcock. A great spy thriller/romance.
The Third Man - Atmospheric, post-WWII thriller set in occupied Vienna. Great zither soundtrack.
The Maltese Falcon - Classic hardboiled detective story, also starring Humphrey Bogart.
The General - Buster Keaton slapstick in an idealized American Civil War.
City Lights - Charlie Chaplin at his bittersweet best.
My father dismissed this movie without watching it. “Like hell it’s a wonderful life!” If he only had watched it, he may have gotten its message.