It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - The Apollo Theatre in Peoria

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It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Written by Administrator
Nov 23, 2009 at 12:57 PM
December 5 and 19, George Bailey spends his entire life giving up his big dreams for the good of his town, Bedford Falls, as we see in flashback. But in the present, on Christmas Eve, he is broken and suicidal over the misplacing of an $8000 loan and the machinations of the evil millionaire, Mr. Potter. His guardian angel, Clarence, falls to Earth, literally, and shows him how his town, family, and friends would turn out if he had never been born. George meant so much to so many people; should he really throw it all away? It wouldn't seem like Christmas without "It's A Wonderful Life," and it wouldn't seem like Christmas in Peoria without the Apollo Theater's annual screening of director Frank Capra's (1946) classic. Peoria's downtown Apollo this holiday season has scheduled two showings of the Jimmy Stewart gem: Saturday, December 5 and Saturday, December 19. When author Philip Van Doren Stern self-published "The Greatest Gift" in 1943, he probably didn't envision the short story getting picked up by Good Housekeeping magazine two years later, much less optioned by Hollywood and used as the basis for the enduring movie "It's A Wonderful Life," starring Stewart, Donna Reed, Henry Travers, Thomas Mitchell and Lionel Barrymore, and nominated for five Oscars. A few quotes from the film remain memorable - and, appropriately, timely for such a universal message: "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."- George Bailey "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. ... Do you know how long it takes a working man to save $5,000? 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 "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?" - Nick the bartender "I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father." -Mr. Gower "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?" - Clarence "A toast to my big brother George: The richest man in town." -Harry Bailey