The Friday Link for 12/22/17

Religious Disclaimer:  You do, or don't do, whatever it is you want to do, or not do!  Cool?

I'm Catholic.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

For this week's installment, we shall play the ending of a Christmas classic, 'It's A Wonderful Life.'

The story of this movie was wild.  It finished as the 26th biggest movie of 1947 (although it officially opened right before Christmas in 1946), one spot ahead of another Christmas classic, 'Miracle on 34th Street.'  The movie got so so reviews, lost money, but was rewarded with 6 Academy Award nominations, including nods to Frank Capra for Directing, Jimmy Stewart for the lead, and was nominated for the Picture of the Year.  At this point, it clearly was NOT some garbage movie destined for the trash heap.  Jimmy Stewart called it his favorite film.

So how did this movie end up not copyrighted in the 1970's?  First, beginning almost immediately in the late 1940's, there was a massive campaign against 'It's A Wonderful Life' by the conservative elements of the country, as well as the FBI.  They were furious the banker was the villain.  Lionel Barrymore is the most memorable character of the movie, but capitalism wanted to be perceived as the hero, instead of the hero being community betterment for all.

Into the 50's, there was a real distancing from 'It's A Wonderful Life,' due to McCarthyism.  Anything which could be labeled 'commie,' such as a local Building & Loan, where the community's money worked for the betterment of all, was to be vilified.  Hollywood somewhat blacklisted the film.

But it was still a classic, occasionally re-opening in theaters over the holidays well into the 1960's.  What happened to the copyright wasn't that no one wanted it.  It was a clerical error which caused National Telefilm Associates, the company who gained control of the film in the 1950's, to lose the rights to broadcast of the film (somewhat), leaving the film available to be broadcast without worry of paying royalties.  But before you start to think it's time to broadcast it against your garage and make a few bucks selling tickets, they eventually got that all straightened out.

In the 1970's it wasn't like people blew dust off of a lost film canister, finding 'It's A Wonderful Life' inside, but it was marketed as a 'forgotten classic.'.  Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and Frank Capra were beloved, one of the reasons the movie got tremendous play, instead of something like 'It's a Bonanza Christmas.'  TV stations leaped at the idea of airing an Academy Award nominated film with real Hollywood star power over the holidays.  It was beloved when it was released in the 1940's, as well as into the 1970's, as much as it is today.

Here is the last 10 minutes from YouTube.  It is a classic.  Someone will be airing this over the holidays and so I do hope you take time to track it down.



Have a wonderful Christmas holiday and drive safe!