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Fallows’s article expresses that Bedford Falls is reflective of the contemporary political times that Arthur Schlesinger emphasizes in The Vital Center: The Politics of Freedom. In this view, there were three political viewpoints at the time of Truman’s presidency: progressive, liberal, and conservative. The progressives were too soft and were seen as irresponsible. The conservatives were seen as too cruel and invasive. The liberals were at the center, as Fallows describes, “between communism and fascism.” George Bailey embodies this liberal morality and acts on a check of the two extremes. Mr. Potter embodies the conservative right. He is greedy and oppressive, caring solely about money over physical needs. Naturally, when Clarence first sees Potter, he asks, “Who’s that, a king?” Uncle Billy, conversely, represents the progressive right. He is incompetent and weak. As a result, he accidentally provides Potter with the means to destroy Bailey. These two are single and both portrayed negatively. George and his father Peter are both shown as the righteous liberals. They are family men, which encompasses not only their own families but also their communities. They take care of the community while still being realistic in their goals. George does have experiences with progressive and conservative urges. He progressively wants to escape town and find adventure and idealistic freedom. Conservatively he has an urge to earn more money and power. He complains of his shabby house and his cheap car and even considers Potter’s job offer. However, he is able to subdue these extreme urges, demonstrating his ultimate success.
This article is powerful in its ability to find exactly why George Bailey is the ideal character within the film. Not only is he charitable, but also he is the character that maintains a perfect balance. He is realistic in his goals and accomplishment and is caring in his interactions. He has conservative and progressive urges, but he suppresses them for the good of the community. While he may not originally see the value of this balanced way of life, he sees it in the end in the friendships that save him. George Bailey is not a failure because of the balance he has found in his life.
Fallows, Randall. “George Bailey in The Vital Center: Postwar liberal politics and It's a Wonderful Life” Journal of Popular Film & Television. 25.2 (1997) pg. 50-56
tagged balance community george_bailey it's_a_wonderful_life liberalism moderate mr_potter by sweinreb ...on 02-DEC-08
Deneen’s article is noteworthy because while it commends George’s charitable actions, it notes their negative consequences as well. In creating the affordable homes for all, he has inadvertently led to the destruction of community within Bedford Falls. Deneen ends his article with a thoughtful question. He wonders if the people who live in Bailey Park be willing to help future neighbors and friends in the way they were willing to help George. Since he has created a new isolated community of Bailey Park, one must wonder if his charitable message will be able to go beyond his own personal life. While the community is there for George at the end of the film, the key question is whether the Bailey Park residents will still treat each other like neighbors in the way George treated them. This article emphasizes that George’s relationships made his life wonderful, but is skeptical that the future generations will be able to form such strong relationships.
tagged bailey_park community escape george_bailey it's_a_wonderful_life by sweinreb ...on 02-DEC-08
In this article, Stricker emphasizes the value of the masses in five of Capra’s films: American Madness, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Meet John Doe, and It’s a Wonderful Life. In each of these films, the hero is a small town person that conquers the establishment. What is most notable, however, is that Stricker explains that the hero could not accomplish his goals without the help of the masses. In the case of It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey and the Building and Loan could not have survived were it not for the masses of people that gave him money in a time of trouble. These masses are only there for him because he was there for them. Therefore, the underlying current is that both the hero and the masses need each other in order to survive.
This article is significant because it ties together a theme in five of Capra’s films. We come to the understanding for why George Bailey was actually saved. He was saved because he inadvertently set himself up to be saved. Bailey returned to his house with no expectations that the crowds would arrive to save him. He had not spent his life helping people afford homes in order to save himself in the future. However, good things happen to good people, and the masses were there to help him. This article is especially significant because it does not overlook the role of everyone else. Even with his resurrection to appreciate his own life, George Bailey could not have been saved without Mary’s assemblage and the townspeople’s money. Therefore, this article emphasizes the parallel needs of George and those of the masses.
Stricker, Frank. "Repressing the working class: Individualism and the masses in Frank Capra's films." Labor History. 31.4 (1990) p. 454-467
tagged community friendship george_bailey it's_a_wonderful_life masses by sweinreb ...on 02-DEC-08