# Things that bug you about It's A Wonderful Life
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 25, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941 "2003-12-25T01:45:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/1 "2003-12-25T01:45:26Z")
Damn, that Viloet was fine! Remember that dress? (“What? This old thing?”) I think she would’ve got out of Pottersville, and not end up as a crack ho.
Mr Gower sure was mean! I mean, let’s not even talk about child labour laws, he was physically abusing a kid!
The kid George didn’t stutter.
What was the deal with that gym floor over a swimming pool? What if someone couldn’t swim? Would the guy who opened the floor during the dance be sued for wrongful death?
I wanted to see a naked teenage Mary.
George should’ve invested in plastics. Even if it was just the minimum. He was in the finance business. Shouldaben up on the stock market and industry gossip.
Even in the 30s, would Uncle Billy have really walked the street alone with an $8000.00 deposit on him? Just think of what that would be in today’s money!
Can a bank examiner really call a warrant to be issued? I’m curious.
Joseph!
Potter was a real crank. If he had real cause for closing the Building and Loan, he should’ve gone after it, instead of playing hate games.
Ya know, in the feel good movie of the last century, there sure was a lot of negativity. Even in the good parts.
Damn! Violet was fine!
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/2 "2003-12-25T02:05:01Z")
Oh yeah! I almost forgot the casual acceptance of heavy drinking, the meanness of George to Mary while courting, the seething violence laying just under the surface of everything George said and did, how mean his friends were just because they didn’t own a home in the alternate reality, the pandering of his brother towards the family maid, I’m sure I’ll think of more…
It’s Christmas! JOIN ME!
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### Author:  [@Brad\_Pittiful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brad_Pittiful)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/3 "2003-12-25T02:34:12Z")
the kid who opened the pool floor was alfalfa from the little rascals
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### Author:  [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/4 "2003-12-25T02:37:41Z")
I’ve always found this movie to be incredibly, irredeemably depressing.
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### Author:  [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/5 "2003-12-25T02:38:26Z")
Well, it really seemed like a cliche to me, when I finally saw it, and not worth it.
Of course when it was done maybe it wasn’t a cliche. Then again, maybe it was.
But I am a known Grinch.
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### Author:  [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/6 "2003-12-25T03:09:25Z")
I’ve always had a problem with wimpy, “I’m not really any good,” sorts. I also hate it that his intent to suicide is gone just like that–it was all a misunderstanding! That simply is not the way suicides are.
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### Author:  [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/7 "2003-12-25T03:14:17Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Brad Pittiful \*
> \*\*the kid who opened the pool floor was alfalfa from the little rascals \*\*
[Damned if you’re not right!](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/fullcredits)
What bugs me is the damn movie makes me cry every time I see it. “I won’t let it get to me this time . . .”
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### Author:  [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/8 "2003-12-25T03:22:27Z")
NoClueBoy, thou art well named… Okay, that’s kind of harsh, but… have you actually watched the movie?
> [@](#):
>
> Even in the 30s, would Uncle Billy have really walked the street alone with an $8000.00 deposit on him? Just think of what that would be in today’s money!
The '30’s? You may remember some mention of the beginning, middle and ending of WWII. Although I agree it’s poor business practice to entrust your large cash deposits to somebody as absent-minded as Uncle Billy.
> [@](#):
>
> Mr Gower sure was mean! I mean, let’s not even talk about child labour laws, he was physically abusing a kid!
Normally Mr. Gower was a kind man, but he’d just received devastating news (that his son had died in the great influenza epidemic of 1919), and was also a bit drunk. George clearly had great affection for his old boss, years later.
> [@](#):
>
> The kid George didn’t stutter.
Okay, this is a valid criticism. I wonder what Jimmy Stewart actually sounded like as a child?
> [@](#):
>
> What was the deal with that gym floor over a swimming pool? What if someone couldn’t swim? Would the guy who opened the floor during the dance be sued for wrongful death?
Well, fortunately nobody drowned. Do you want every movie scene to depict the worst possible outcome of an event?
Here’s a real problem: at the end of the movie, George’s friends have raised enough money to make up for the missing deposit. We see the bank examiner tear up the warrant and go for the eggnog. But – _the deposit is still unaccounted for_. Nobody but Potter (and I guess his wheelchair-pushing servant) know where the money is, and Potter could still press for an investigation. George could still go to prison.
I love the fact that Mary’s horrible fate in the alternate history is to be… **the spinster librarian**! How awful, not to be able to fulfill her womanly existence by marrying and pumpin’ out babies.
A question – Pottersville is the _eeevil_ version of Bedford Falls, the one that would have happened if George Bailey hadn’t been around. Which version of the town would you rather spend Saturday night in?
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### Author:  [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/9 "2003-12-25T03:46:53Z")
I love this movie. It’s my favorite movie of all time, but even I see things that bother me.
The one that stands out the most to me is that Clarence watched everything that went on the day the money was lost. He knows Mr. Potter found it in the newspaper Uncle Billy was carrying. Why didn’t he just tell George?
BTW, here’s more useless trivia. Baby Dumpling played George’s son in this movie and was also in another movie with Jimmy Steweart. He played one of the Governor’s sons and recommended Jefferson Smith to be Senator in _Mr. Smith Goes to Washington_.
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/10 "2003-12-25T03:47:05Z")
I’ve seen it about 17 hundred times. I actually like it. It’s just that there are some very disturbing things in the classic Christmastime movie.
Yes, I know Gower got bad news, doesn’t excuse HITTING A CHILD TILL HE BLEEDS.
The 30s I got wrong. I noticed after posting, but thought it would still fly. The same point works, tho.
Oooh, I forgot the old maid librarian bit.
Sometimes, the dark parts work. Like the graveyard. “Every man on that transport died, George. You’re brother wasn’t there to save them becuase you weren’t there to save him.” Feel the pathos. That was a cool line in a cool scene.
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/11 "2003-12-25T03:49:18Z")
I put a mistake in that last post just for someone to find. Enjoy! 🙂
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### Author:  [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/12 "2003-12-25T03:52:43Z")
Okay 2 things bother me:
1. **No punishment for Mr Potter ?** What the Hell kind of moral is that? The plot should show him convicted of grand theft and sent to jail, etc.
2. At the very end of the Pottersville segment, Bert the cop fires his gun at an escaping George Bailey. What law had he broken? Mary the librarian was frightened that “some man” was following her. Wow, Pottersville had aserious police brutality problem !!!
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### Author:  [@The\_Wrong\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Wrong_Girl)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/13 "2003-12-25T03:56:15Z")
I used to love this movie, and I watched it again last night, and the main message of it really bothered me. I mean, “yeah, your life sucks, but just be happy about it.” The only time you ever really saw Jimmy Stewart happy was at the end and when he was talking about travelling and going places and actually experiencing things beyond Bedford Falls.
I know it’s an oversimplification of the movie’s message (and maybe I’m relying on my own opinions too much), but it was so depressing to see a guy just accept the mediocrity of his life. Every time he was getting ready to leave and the taxi or whatever was pulling out of Bedford Falls and _something_ had to happen, I wanted to strangle him out of exasperation. Just go, George! Uncle Billy can take care of things till you get back!
Plus his violence with Mary before they get married was a little scary. Donna Reed was gorgeous in that movie, though, wasn’t she?
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### Author:  [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/14 "2003-12-25T04:00:48Z")
I’ve never seen it.
Really.
Whats its about?
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### Author:  [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/15 "2003-12-25T04:01:18Z")
NoClueBoy, we should never make fun of each other’s names. (After all, I’m named for a leper king.) So I’m sorry about that.
You’ve got me; I can’t find a mistake in your post, outside of spelling errors. Your quote from the graveyard scene isn’t an exact quote, but I don’t think that’s important.
About Gower – he hit George just once; George’s ear bled because it was his bad ear – the one ruined by the pneumonia he contracted when he rescued his little brother from the pond that cold winter day. Also, Gower’s grief was exacerbated by George’s apparent dereliction in not delivering medicine to a diptheria patient. When Gower examines the medicine and realizes that he had misfilled the prescription and almost given a poisonous dose to a sick child, his expression is a bit of great acting by H.B. Warner. Gower is a good man seen in a terrible moment in his life.
By the way, did you ever see the parody they did on SNL, where Uncle Billy suddenly realizes that Potter got the money, and the whole gang breaks into Potter’s house and beats him to death?
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### Author:  [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/16 "2003-12-25T04:02:44Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Baldwin \*
> **I love the fact that Mary’s horrible fate in the alternate history is to be… the spinster librarian! How awful, not to be able to fulfill her womanly existence by marrying and pumpin’ out babies.**
Well, apparently having babies helps your eyesight, since the Bedford Falls Mary didn’t need glasses, while the Potterville Mary did.
Maybe George was too poor to get glasses for her?
DD
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/17 "2003-12-25T04:15:12Z")
**Baldwin** , I can accept that explination. The worst point of his life, he just flipped. And, yes, the acting in that scene is powerful. A heavy bit of writing for them, too.
The mistake was two. You’re in place of your, and the name George wasn’t in the line. Other than that, I believe it’s an exact quote. Could be wrong…
**vanilla** , you’ve got to be kidding. I’ll write out a synopsis in the morning. All my friends are on seperate vacations this week, and I’ll be visiting my great aunt tomorrow. Her husband is coming home form the hospital tomorrow. (That would make him my great uncle). But, it’s not good news. He’s got a week or less. Might be why I’m being so negative tonight. ☹
**Desert Dog** , it’s all the masturbation by the alternate universe spinster. Told ya it has an effect!
Yeah, I’m a freak.
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### Author:  [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/18 "2003-12-25T04:17:49Z")
don’t be a stranger in e mails,now.
Will await the story of the movie tomorrow.
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/19 "2003-12-25T04:29:24Z")
Good points by all. Thanks.
**Wolf** , I remember being extremely worried for the poor by standers when Bert (Ernie?) was shooting IN A CROWDED STREET!
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### Author:  [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bug-you-about-its-a-wonderful-life/220941/20 "2003-12-25T04:33:49Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by wolf\_meister \*
> At the very end of the Pottersville segment, Bert the cop fires his gun at an escaping George Bailey. What law had he broken? Mary the librarian was frightened that “some man” was following her. Wow, Pottersville had aserious police brutality problem !!!
Yes! Bert starts firing his gun down main street at fleeing George, heedless of cars and pedestrians in the line of fire. And all because George had scared a librarian!
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