Information
| Year: | 1946 |
| Rating: | 8.7(101270) |
| Listed in: | Drama, Fantasy, Romance |
| Directed by: | Frank Capra |
| Actors: | James Stewart Lionel Barrymore Thomas Mitchell Henry Travers Donna Reed Beulah Bondi |
| "Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! How could it be anything else?" | |
Cast
| Directed by | |
|---|---|
| Frank Capra | |
| Actors | |
| James Stewart | as George Bailey |
| Lionel Barrymore | as Henry F. Potter |
| Thomas Mitchell | as Uncle Billy |
| Henry Travers | as Clarence Oddbody |
| Frank Faylen | as Ernie Bishop |
| Ward Bond | as Bert the Cop |
| H.B. Warner | as Mr. Gower |
| Frank Albertson | as Sam Wainwright - a friend of George's |
| Todd Karns | as Harry Bailey |
| Samuel S. Hinds | as Peter 'Pa' Bailey |
| Charles Williams | as Cousin Eustace |
| William Edmunds | as Mr. Martini |
| Robert J. Anderson | as Little George |
| Ronnie Ralph | as Little Sam |
| Danny Mummert | as Little Marty Hatch |
| Georgie Nokes | as Little Harry Bailey |
| Sheldon Leonard | as Nick the Bartender |
| Frank Hagney | as Potter's Bodyguard |
| Ray Walker | as Joe - Luggage Shop |
| Charles Lane | as Lester Reineman - Rent Collector |
| Edward Keane | as Tom - Building & Loan Board Member |
| Larry Simms | as Pete Bailey |
| Jimmy Hawkins | as Tommy Bailey |
| Ernie Adams | as Ed |
| Stanley Andrews | as Mr. Welch |
| Sam Ash | as Nervous Banker |
| Jack Bailey | as One of Vi's Suitors |
| Brooks Benedict | as Military Officer in Montage |
| Joseph E. Bernard | as Townsman |
| Al Bridge | as Sheriff |
| Buz Buckley | |
| Lane Chandler | as Minor Role |
| Michael Chapin | as Young George's Friend |
| Tom Chatterton | as Townsman |
| Jack Cheatham | as Cop Arresting Violet |
| Harry Cheshire | as Dr. Campbell - Building and Loan Board Member |
| Edward Clark | as Building & Loan Board Member |
| Tom Coleman | as Building & Loan Customer |
| Jimmy the Crow | as Crow in Bank |
| Lew Davis | as High School Teacher at Poolside |
| Harry Denny | |
| Dick Elliott | as Man on Porch |
| Tom Fadden | as Tollhouse Keeper |
| Frank Fenton | as Violet's Boyfriend |
| Eddie Fetherston | as Horace - Bank Teller |
| Sam Flint | as Relieved Banker in Potter's Office |
| Lee Frederick | as Minor Role |
| Dick Gordon | as Man with Sheriff |
| Jack Gordon | as Bar Patron |
| Herschel Graham | |
| Joseph Granby | as Joseph - Angel |
| Charles Halton | as Carter - Bank Examiner |
| Carl Eric Hansen | |
| Herbert Heywood | as Building & Loan Depositor |
| Harry Holman | as Mr. Partridge - High School Principal |
| Art Howard | as Building & Loan Board Member |
| Bert Howard | as Building & Loan Board Member |
| Arthur Stuart Hull | as Mr. Randall |
| John Indrisano | as Man in Fantasy Sequence |
| Eddie Kane | as Building & Loan Depositor |
| Carl Kent | |
| Milton Kibbee | as Building & Loan Board Member |
| Mike Lally | as Building & Loan Customer |
| Harold Landon | as Marty Hatch |
| Meade 'Lux' Lewis | as Piano Player in Nick's Place |
| J. Farrell MacDonald | as House Owner |
| Wilbur Mack | as Building and Loan Customer |
| Charles Meakin | |
| Bert Moorhouse | as Man with Sheriff |
| Philip Morris | as Building & Loan Customer |
| George Noisom | as Dancer at School Dance |
| Bob O'Connor | as Bar Patron |
| Frank O'Connor | as Military Officer in Montage |
| Moroni Olsen | as Senior Angel |
| Garry Owen | as Bill Poster |
| Franklin Parker | as Photographer/Reporter |
| Mark Roberts | as Mickey |
| Constantine Romanoff | as Bar Patron |
| Cy Schindell | as Nick's Bouncer |
| Cedric Stevens | |
| Brick Sullivan | as Man in Fantasy Sequence |
| Charles Sullivan | as Bartender at Nick's |
| Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer | as Freddie Othello |
| Max Wagner | as Cashier/Assistant Bouncer at Nick's |
| Larry Wheat | as Building & Loan Board Member |
| Charles C. Wilson | as Charlie |
| Actresses | |
| Donna Reed | as Mary Hatch Bailey |
| Beulah Bondi | as Mrs. Bailey |
| Gloria Grahame | as Violet Bick |
| Mary Treen | as Cousin Tilly |
| Virginia Patton | as Ruth Dakin Bailey |
| Sarah Edwards | as Mrs. J.W. Hatch |
| Lillian Randolph | as Annie |
| Argentina Brunetti | as Mrs. Martini |
| Jean Gale | as Little Mary |
| Jeanine Ann Roose | as Little Violet |
| Carol Coombs | as Janie Bailey |
| Karolyn Grimes | as Zuzu Bailey |
| Jean Acker | as Townswoman |
| Monya Andre | |
| Mary Bayless | as Townswoman |
| Beth Belden | |
| Marian Carr | as Mrs. Jane Wainwright |
| Adriana Caselotti | as Singer at Martini's |
| Ellen Corby | as Miss Davis |
| Bryn Davis | |
| Helen Dickson | as Woman at Graduation Dance |
| Effie Laird | as Townswoman |
| Irene Mack | |
| Priscilla Montgomery | as Student in Gym |
| Netta Packer | |
| Almira Sessions | as Potter's Secretary |
Movie info
| Languages: | English |
| Budget: | USD 3,180,000 |
| Gross: |
UK - 248,018 GBP (21 December 2008) |
| Plot: | On Christmas eve, all of the citizens of the small town of Bedford Falls pray to the heavens to help George Bailey. It's then decided that Clarence, an angel who hasn't earned his wings, is to help George. Before he does, he should know who George Bailey was. George Bailey grew up in Bedford Falls, a small town where he dreams of leaving it and making his mark on the world. His family's business is the only thing stands between the good citizens and Mr. Potter, a rich miser who takes sick pleasure in taking from everybody, without even caring how it affects them. George was all set to leave when his father died and had to take care of the business. George would forever be hindered by his plans to leave and thinks that he is nothing but a failure, he decides to kill himself. That's when Clarence comes in and tries to convince him that he has made something with his life, and that he had a "Wonderful Life". |
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Original Soundtracks
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"Buffalo Gal (Won't You Come Out Tonight)" (uncredited) Written by William Cool White Played often as part of the score Played at the school dance "Adeste Fidelis (O Come All Ye Faithful)" (uncredited) Music attributed to John Reading (ca 16??) Played in the opening scene "Charleston" (1923) (uncredited) Music by James P. Johnson Played at the school dance "My Wild Irish Rose" (1899) (uncredited) Written by Chauncey Olcott Sung a cappella by Thomas Mitchell "Wedding March" (1843) (uncredited) from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Written by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Played after the wedding "I Love You Truly" (1906) (uncredited) Written by Carrie Jacobs Bond Sung a cappella by Ward Bond and Frank Faylen "This Is the Army, Mr. Jones" (1943) (uncredited) Written by Irving Berlin Played as background when war starts "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" (1863) (uncredited) Music by Louis Lambert (Psuedonymn for Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore) Played as background when war ends "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (pub. 1856) (uncredited) Music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1840) Hymn by Charles Wesley (1730) Played on piano by Carol Coombs Reprised by her and sung by the mob at the Bailey home "Auld Lang Syne" (1788) (uncredited) Traditional Scottish ballad Words by Robert Burns Sung by the mob at the Bailey home at the end "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" (uncredited) Traditional Song Played as the theme of the angels "Vieni, vieni" (1884) (uncredited) Music by Vincent Scotto Lyrics by Henri Varna and Georges Koger Performed by Tino Rossi Played in Martini's bar "Avalon" (1920) (uncredited) Music by Vincent Rose (based on "E lucevan le stelle" from the opera "Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini) Played when George and his mother are talking on the porch |
Goofs
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Continuity: Ol' Man Gower's cigar disappears when he sends young George to deliver a prescription. Continuity: Just before George speaks to Harry on the phone, George removes a wreath from his arm and places it on a table. The wreath immediately reappears on his arm. Continuity: George's pipe disappears when talking to Violet in his office. Continuity: George and Clarence swap sides as they are thrown out of Nick's. SYNC: George jumps into the river to save Clarence. As he is rescuing him Clarence is screaming "help" but his mouth is not moving. Continuity: After George storms out of Uncle Billy's house, Uncle Billy lays his head on his arms. At first he has his arms crossed right over left, then immediately they are crossed left over right. Continuity: When George and Clarence are drying off in the bridge keeper's shack the postcard hanging by the thermometer on the wall, next to the door repeatedly disappears and reappears between shots. When Mr. Potter offers George a job, the chain on the the skull and chain on Mr. Potter's desk changes positions repeatedly between shots. Continuity: When everyone is jumping into the pool during the dance, the same person jumps in twice. Continuity: As George approaches Bert and Ernie by Ernie's taxi, and then all three ogle Violet as she walks down the street, the same woman in a print dress, holding the brim of her hat, walks by five times in 30 seconds. Continuity: As Violet walks away from George, Ernie, and Bert, Ernie watches her out the window of his taxi. He stops watching and moves away from the window. In the next shot, he is watching from the window again. Continuity: Snow on Ernie's taxi disappears and reappears when arriving at George's dilapidated house. Revealing mistakes: When Mary ('Donna Reed' (qv)) throws her rock at an upstairs window of the dilapidated old house, the rock disappears a split-second after leaving her hand, and then reappears in the distance just before crashing through the glass. The roof of the house was a matte painting, added after principal photography by the visual effects department. When Ms Reed threw her rock (and it was her throwing it, not a stand-in), the arc of its flight was a bit too high, and it crossed the matte line for most of it's travel. Consequently, it was covered up by the painting, which was added later. Appartently the live-action crew did not notice the potential problem when filming the shot. Continuity: As George and Mary prepare to drive Martini's family to their new home, Mary (in a close up) is holding the goat's horn/antler. The scene cuts to an extreme long shot in which her hand is nowhere near the goat. Continuity: SPOILER: In the first scene where George finds his brother Harry's grave, the year of death (1919) is clearly visible. The next scene, it is obscured by snow and George has to dig it out to find the year his brother died. Continuity: When George wanders across the street (soon to be joined by Violet), the man approaching him with the pipe suddenly becomes a woman. Continuity: After Clarence disappears while being wrestled by Bert the Cop, you can see the shadow of Ernie the Cabdriver, shaking his finger. However, when the camera shows Ernie, he has both hands on the tree, and then he begins to shake his finger. Continuity: During the run inside the Building & Loan, the hat changes position on the coat stand outside George's office. Continuity: A hat being held by someone donating money in the Bailey house first has a little snow then a lot of snow then no snow. Continuity: Alignment of George's car when it hits the tree Continuity: Standing position of Potter's bodyguard when Potter talks to Peter Bailey at the Building & Loan. SYNC: When Mary and George are walking down the street after the dance, she asks him, "Well, why don't you say it?" The next shot George is heard saying, "I don't know. Maybe I will say it," but his mouth is not moving at all. Continuity: When George arrives at home and finds Mary lying there, he puts his right hand on her right hand and kisses her. Next shot he is caressing her head with his right hand. Continuity: SPOILER: When the "old maid" Mary is closing the library door, she has a wreath in her right arm. The wreath disappears in the next shot. Continuity: When George invites Carter to come in and follows him, he is holding the pipe with his left hand. But in the shot after someone asks him about hang up the phone, he appears with the pipe in his right hand. Continuity: When George crashes his car into the tree, there's not much snow on it, when he gets out of the car to have a look at the damage, there's lots of snow on the car Continuity: When George and Mary are throwing rocks at the dilapidated house on the way home from the dance, when George throw his rock, the window that Mary is supposed to throw a rock at is missing. Then when Mary gets ready to throw her rock the window is there. DATE: Young George Bailey is shown working in a drugstore in 1919, but he's standing next to a Coca-Cola Silhouette Girl Thermometer which wasn't produced until 1938. CHAR: SPOILER: Clarence tells George that Harry dies at the age of nine. Yet the gravestone clearly shows 1911-1919. The oldest Harry could be is eight. Clarence must not be good with numbers, as Joseph said he has "the intelligence of a rabbit". Continuity: When George visits his father in his office and finds him arguing with Potter, his father is standing behind his desk talking to Potter. There is a cut away form this but upon return George's father is now on the same side of the desk as Potter. Revealing mistakes: In the scene where George saves Clarence on the bridge (or Clarence saved him), he is seen to be visibly sweating even though it is supposedly winter. This is because the scene was shot in warm weather. Fact errors: 1919: No National Geographic Magazine mentions "Fiji" and "coconuts" in the same subject. GEOG: At the scene showing the new houses at Bailey Park, California hills are visible beyond the houses. The film is set in New York state, which only has much gentler, rolling hills. CHAR: When George Bailey is arguing with Mr. Potter in the board room after Peter Bailey's death, George says to Potter: "What'd you say just a minute ago? They had to wait and save their money before they even ought to think of a decent home." But Mr. Potter never said this line. CHAR: The medal is frequently, albeit incorrectly, called the Congressional Medal of Honor, stemming from its award by the Department of Defense "in the name of Congress". It is correctly the "Medal of Honor". CHAR: At one point George ('James Stewart (I)' (qv)) calls Violet ('Gloria Grahame' (qv)), Gloria. Continuity: When Mary puts on "Buffalo Gals" on the phonograph, she starts a ten-inch, yellow-labeled record, but in the next shot, a dark-labeled record is playing. Also, when Mary breaks the record after the conversation with George, she breaks a twelve-inch, yellow-labeled record instead of the original ten-inch record. Revealing mistakes: In the drugstore when Mary leans over the counter to whisper in George's ear, a piece of tape suddenly appears on the edge of the counter between George's and Mary's heads. This was most likely done as a reference mark for the young actors so the focus puller could accurately pull focus. |
Quotes
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George Bailey: Just a minute - just a minute. Now, hold on, Mr. Potter. You're right when you say my father was no businessman. I know that. Why he ever started this cheap, penny-ante Building and Loan, I'll never know. But neither you nor anyone else can say anything against his character, because his whole life was - why, in the twenty-five years since he and Uncle Billy started this thing, he never once thought of himself. Isn't that right, Uncle Billy? He didn't save enough money to send Harry to school, let alone me. But he did help a few people get out of your slums, Mr. Potter, and what's wrong with that? Why - here, you're all businessmen here. Doesn't it make them better citizens? Doesn't it make them better customers? You - you said - what'd you say a minute ago? They had to wait and save their money before they even ought to think of a decent home. Wait? Wait for what? Until their children grow up and leave them? Until they're so old and broken down that they... Do you know how long it takes a working man to save five thousand dollars? Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about... they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him. But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well, in my book he died a much richer man than you'll ever be. George Bailey: [yelling at Uncle Billy] Where's that money, you silly stupid old fool? Where's that money? Do you realize what this means? It means bankruptcy and scandal and prison. That's what it means. One of us is going to jail - well, it's not gonna be me. Nick: [ringing the cash register repeatedly] Get me. I'm givin' out wings. Mr. Potter: [to George Bailey] Look at you. You used to be so cocky. You were going to go out and conquer the world. You once called me "a warped, frustrated, old man!" What are you but a warped, frustrated young man? A miserable little clerk crawling in here on your hands and knees and begging for help. No securities, no stocks, no bonds. Nothin' but a miserable little $500 equity in a life insurance policy. [Potter chuckles] You're worth more dead than alive! Nick: Hey look, mister - we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast, and we don't need any characters around to give the joint "atmosphere". Is that clear, or do I have to slip you my left for a convincer? Uncle Billy: After all, Potter, some people like George HAD to stay at home. Not every heel was in Germany and Japan. Nick: [slamming a bottle on the bar] That's it. Out you two pixies go - through the door, or out the window. George Bailey: Now, come on, get your clothes on, and we'll stroll up to my car and get... Oh, I'm sorry. I'll stroll. You fly. Clarence: I can't fly. I haven't got my wings. George Bailey: You haven't got your wings. Yeah, that's right. George Bailey: Well, maybe I left the car up at Martini's. Well, come on, Gabriel. Clarence: Clarence! George Bailey: Clarence. Clarence. [George has discovered his brother Harry's tombstone] Clarence: [explaining] Your brother, Harry Bailey, broke through the ice and was drowned at the age of nine. George Bailey: That's a lie! Harry Bailey went to war - he got the Congressional Medal of Honor, he saved the lives of every man on that transport. Clarence: Every man on that transport died! Harry wasn't there to save them, because you weren't there to save Harry. George Bailey: What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary. Mary: I'll take it. Then what? George Bailey: Well, then you can swallow it, and it'll all dissolve, see... and the moonbeams would shoot out of your fingers and your toes and the ends of your hair... am I talking too much? Clarence: Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he? [George returns to the bridge where his nightmare began, hoping to bring back his old life] George Bailey: [praying] Clarence! Clarence! Help me, Clarence! Get me back! Get me back, I don't care what happens to me! Get me back to my wife and kids! Help me Clarence, please! Please! I wanna live again. I wanna live again. Please, God, let me live again. [it begins to snow again] Bert: [shouts] Hey, George! George! You all right? Hey, what's the matter? George Bailey: Now get outta here, Bert, or I'll hit you again! Get outta here! Bert: What the sam hill you yellin' for, George? George Bailey: You... [suddenly stunned] George Bailey: George... Bert? Do you know me? Bert: Know you? Huh. You kiddin'? I've been looking all over town trying to find you. I saw your car plowed into that tree down there and I thought maybe you - hey, your mouth's bleeding. Are you sure you're all right? George Bailey: What the... [licks the corner of his lip and checks his mouth with his hand] George Bailey: Ha, ha, ha, ha! My mouth's bleeding, Bert! My mouth's bleeding! Zuzu's petals... Zuzu... George Bailey: [checking his pocket] There they are! Bert, what do you know about that! Merry Christmas! George Bailey: I wanna live again! Man on Porch: Why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death? George Bailey: You want me to kiss her, huh? Man on Porch: Ah, youth is wasted on the wrong people. George Bailey: You call this a happy family? Why do we have to have all these kids? Mr. Potter: Why, the whole town knows you've been giving money to Violet Bick. George Bailey: You sit around here and you spin your little webs and you think the whole world revolves around you and your money. Well, it doesn't, Mr. Potter. In the whole vast configuration of things, I'd say you were nothing but a scurvy little spider. And... [turning to his aide] George Bailey: And that goes for you, too! Clarence: You've been given a great gift, George: A chance to see what the world would be like without you. Clarence: You see George, you've really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to just throw it away? Harry Bailey: A toast to my big brother George: The richest man in town. Ernie Bishop: Just a minute! Quiet everybody! Quiet, quiet. Now get this, it's from London. Ma Bailey: Oh! Ernie Bishop: [Reading the telegram in his hand] Mr. Gower cabled you need cash, stop. My office instructed to advance you up to twenty-five thousand dollars, stop. Hee Haw and Merry Christmas! Sam Wainwright. Mary: Bread... that this house may never know hunger. [Mary hands a loaf of bread to Mrs. Martini] Mary: Salt... that life may always have flavor. [Mary hands a box of salt to Mrs. Martini] George Bailey: And wine... that joy and prosperity may reign forever. Enter the Martini Castle. [George hands Mr. Martini a bottle of wine] [last lines] Zuzu Bailey: Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings. George Bailey: That's right, that's right. George Bailey: Attaboy, Clarence. [first lines] Mr. Emil Gower: I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father. Annie: I been savin' this money for a divorce, if ever I got a husband. Little Violet: [commenting on George] I like him. Little Mary: You like every boy. Little Violet: What's wrong with that? George Bailey: Well, you look about the kind of angel I'd get. Sort of a fallen angel, aren't you? What happened to your wings? George Bailey: Isn't it wonderful? I'm going to jail! Clarence: [In book inscription] Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends. George Bailey: [on Mary being caught naked in the bushes] This is a very interesting situation! George Bailey: Merry Christmas, movie house! Merry Christmas, Emporium! Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan! Clarence: Ohh, there must be some easier way for me to get my wings. George Bailey: I know what I'm gonna do tomorrow, and the next day, and the next year, and the year after that. Annie: Boys and girls and music. Why do they need gin? George Bailey: 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... George Bailey: Now, you listen to me! I don't want any plastics, and I don't want any ground floors, and I don't want to get married - ever - to anyone! You understand that? I want to do what I want to do. And you're... and you're... [runs out of words, sees her crying] Oh, Mary, Mary... Mary: George... George... George... George Bailey: [kisses her intensely] Mary... Would you?... Would you?... George Bailey: Now, will you do something for me? Zuzu Bailey: What? George Bailey: Will you try and get some sleep? Zuzu Bailey: I'm not sleepy. I want to look at my flower. George Bailey: I know-I know, but you just go to sleep, and then you can dream about it, and it'll be a whole garden. Zuzu Bailey: It will? George Bailey: Uh-huh. House owner: I mean Pottersville. Don't you think I know where I live? What's the matter with you? [He proceeds toward his house. George is completely bewildered] George Bailey: Oh, I don't know. Either I'm off my nut, or he is... [to Clarence]... or you are! Clarence: It isn't me! Mrs. Hatch: Who is down there with you, Mary? Mary: It's George Bailey, mother. Mrs. Hatch: George Bailey? What does he want? Mary: I don't know! [to George] What do you want? George Bailey: Me? Nothing! I just came in to get warm, is all. Mary: [pause] He's making violent love to me, mother! Ma Bailey: First Harry, now George. Annie, we're just two old maids now. Annie: You speak for yourself, Miss B. Bert: Liver pills? We need posters of beautiful places, romantic places. Places George wants to go! George Bailey: I wish I had a million dollars... Hot dog! Clarence: Clarence Oddbody, AS2. George Bailey: Oddbody... Hey, what's an AS2? Clarence: Angel, Second Class. Mary: I feel like a bootlegger's wife! George Bailey: [gazing eyes with Mary] Well, well, well. Freddie Othello: Now, to get back to my story, see? [in a trance, Mary hands Othello her drink, and George and Mary start dancing] Freddie Othello: Hey, this is MY dance! George Bailey: Oh, why don't you stop annoying people. Freddie Othello: Well, I'm sorr- Hey! Mary: You look at me as if you didn't know me. George Bailey: Well, I don't. Mary: You pass me on the street almost every day. George Bailey: Me? Naw, that was a little girl named Mary Hatch, that wasn't you. Mickey: [Mickey walks up to a disheartened Freddie Othello, dumped by Mary Hatch] What's the matter, Othello - jealous? Did you know there's a swimming pool under this floor? And did you know that *button* behind you causes this floor to open up? And did you further know that George Bailey is dancing right over that crack? [Othello turns to Mickey] I've got the key! George Bailey: [the staff celebrates closing the building and loan company with only two dollars remaining, to stay in business] Get a tray for these two great big important simoleans here. Uncle Billy: We'll save 'em for seed. George Bailey: A toast! A toast! A toast to Mama Dollar and to Papa Dollar, and if you want to keep this old Building and Loan in business, you better have a family real quick. Cousin Tilly: I wish they were rabbits. George Bailey: [George is having his last meal at home before leaving on his cruise. His father is distraught over his leaving] Pop, I think you're a great guy. George Bailey: [thinking Annie is eavesdropping] Did you hear that, Annie? Annie: I heard it... 'bout time one of you lunkheads said it! Mary: [embracing George] Remember the night we broke the windows in this old house? This is what I wished for. George Bailey: [softly] You're wonderful... wonderful. George Bailey: Dear Father in heaven, I'm not a praying man, but if you're up there and you can hear me [begins crying] show me the way... show me the way. Man at Bar: Why do you drink so much? Please go home, Mr. Bailey. Mr. Welsh: [sitting right beside George] Bailey? Which Bailey? Giuseppe Martini: This is Mr. George Bailey. [Mr. Welsh angrily pulls George Bailey up to his face by the lapels with one hand and hits him in the face with a right hook, sending him to the floor] Mr. Welsh: Next time you talk to my wife like that, you'll get worse! She cried for an hour! It's not enough she teaches stupid children to read and write, you had to bawl her out! George Bailey: Merry Christmas, Mr. Potter! Mr. Potter: And Happy New Year, In Jail! They're At Your House Right Now! Ma Bailey: [speaking of Mary Hatch] Why, she lights up like a firefly whenever you are around. Besides, Sam Wainright is off in New York, and you're here in Bedford Falls... George Bailey: And all's fair in love and war, right? Ma Bailey: [fixing his collar] Well, I don't know about war... George Bailey: Mary Hatch, why in the world did you ever marry a guy like me? Mary: To keep from being an old maid! George Bailey: You could have married Sam Wainright, or anybody else in town... Mary: I didn't want to marry anybody else in town. I want my baby to look like you. George Bailey: You didn't even have a honeymoon. I promised you... [stops] Your what? Mary: My baby! George Bailey: [stuttering] Your, your, your, ba- Mary, you on the nest? Mary: George Baily Lassos Stork! George Bailey: [still stuttering] Lassos a stork? [Mary nods] What're'ya... You mean you're... What is it, a boy or a girl? Mary: [nods enthusiasticly] Mmmm-hmmm! Mrs. Hatch: [calling from upstairs] Mary, who's down there with you? Mary: It's George Bailey, mother! Mrs. Hatch: Well, what does he want? Mary: I don't know! [to George] Mary: What do you want? George Bailey: What do I want? Why, I'm just here to get warm, that's all! Mary: [calling up] He's making violent love to me, mother! Little Mary: Is this the ear you can't hear on? [whispering in his bad ear] Little Mary: George Bailey, I'll love you 'til the day I die. George Bailey: Rochester? Why Rochester? Pa Bailey: I know it's soon to talk about it. George Bailey: Oh, now Pop, I couldn't. I couldn't face being cooped up for the rest of my life in a shabby little office... Oh, I'm sorry Pop, I didn't mean that, but this business of nickels and dimes and spending all your life trying to figure out how to save three cents on a length of pipe... I'd go crazy. I want to do something big and something important. Pa Bailey: You know, George, I feel that in a small way we are doing something important. Satisfying a fundamental urge. It's deep in the race for a man to want his own roof and walls and fireplace, and we're helping him get those things in our shabby little office. George Bailey: I know, Dad. I wish I felt... But I've been hoarding pennies like a miser in order to... Most of my friends have already finished college. I just feel like if I don't get away, I'd bust. Pa Bailey: Yes... yes... You're right son. George Bailey: You see what I mean, don't you, Pop? Pa Bailey: This town is no place for any man unless he's willing to crawl to Potter. You've got talent, son. I've seen it. You get yourself an education. Then get out of here. George Bailey: Pop, you want a shock? I think you're a great guy. [to Annie, listening through the door] Oh, did you hear that, Annie? Annie: I heard it. About time one of you lunkheads said it. Real Estate Salesman: Fifteen years ago, a half-dozen houses stuck here and there. There's the old cemetery, squirrels, buttercups, daisies. Dozens of the prettiest little homes you ever saw. Ninety per cent owned by suckers who used to pay rent to you. Your Potter's Field, my dear Mr. Employer, is becoming just that. And are the local yokels making with those David and Goliath wisecracks! Mr. Potter: Oh, they are, are they? Even thought they know the Baileys haven't made a dime out of it. Real Estate Salesman: You know very well why. The Baileys were all chumps. Every one of these homes is worth twice what it cost the Building and Loan to build. If I were you, Mr. Potter... Mr. Potter: Well, you are not me. Real Estate Salesman: As I say, it's no skin off my nose. But one of these days this bright young man is going to be asking George Bailey for a job. Mary Hatch: [trapped naked in a bush] Shame on you! I'll tell your mother! George Bailey: [thoughtfully] My mother's way up on the corner there. Mary Hatch: I'll call the police. George Bailey: They're way downtown. Anyway, they'd be on my side. George Bailey: [to Mary] You look older without your clothes on. Ernie Bishop: [as George is trying to find Mary in the abandoned house] Watch this guy, Bert, he's bats! Little Violet: Good afternoon Mr. Bailey. George Bailey: Hello, Violet. George Bailey: Hey, you look good, that's some dress you got on there. Little Violet: This old thing? Why, I only wear it when I don't care how I look. Ernie Bishop: How would you like to take... George Bailey: -Yes. Ernie Bishop: Want to come along, Bert? We'll show you the town. Bert: No, thanks... I think I'll go home and see what the wife's doing. Ernie Bishop: Family man. Violet Bick: [being dragged into a squad car by police] That sailor's a liar! |
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