tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post672544460426058443..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: It’s a Wonderful(ly Capitalist) Life(!)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-35896695675663385732012-02-12T01:46:07.494-05:002012-02-12T01:46:07.494-05:00Joel, I've come to realize since penning this ...Joel, I've come to realize since penning this article that both interpretations do require a fair bit of massaging in order to be made definitively. That said, I think one must approach the film with a generous amount of naïveity and/or cynicism to land on the socialist side. Naïveity because it demands material gain bestowed upon Bailey before it will recognize a capitalist theme. (And also because the simplest interpretations invariably come to that conclusion.) Cynicism because one must regard every form of cooperation or contract as a form of socialism, which it technically is, but the capitalist is threatened only when such behavior is coerced. <br /><br />I made no error in subtitling one segment "A Tale of Two Capitalists." Capitalism is itself benign, and perhaps that is why it is simplest to declare the film agnostic. It is the men practicing capitalism that determine the good or the bad of it. The film therefore illustrates that the problem with capitalism is capitalists. I assume you know the rest of that saying, but it is no matter because <i>IaWL</i> doesn't really even deal with socialism in a policy sense. <br /><br />Now, perhaps merely showing the bad side of capitalism would make the film anti-capitalist in it's day. Of that I cannot be sure. But in a present context, the mere admission of a good side makes it intensely pro-capitalist.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-37263451581732935432012-02-11T21:53:01.932-05:002012-02-11T21:53:01.932-05:00A good presentation of your views - with which I d...A good presentation of your views - with which I disagree. ;) I'm with Andrew on this, and think that the film is nominally liberal in terms of its values (though it doesn't have much to say at all about government's role in the economy). The important point is that Bailey is forced to sacrifice success for the "right thing". In this sense, he's a good capitalist only in the sense that he happens to be a capitalist (i.e. he operates a business) and he's also, quite apart from that, good. But he's a very poor businessman as he himself realizes, and as his father was before him. I've only been able to skim the comments so far but I think the general outline of Andrew's comments is correct - within the framework the film sets up, the message coincides far more with liberal and/or socialist ethos (not policy) than with conservatism. I think the best right-wing case for the film would be to fight to a draw: that the film is agnostic on questions of social policy. But even that might be a stretch.<br /><br />On another note, you're quite right that Capra was no leftist. However, many of the writers he worked with were. In fact, I believe Dalton Trumbo contributed to this screenplay (uncredited). This film really melds well with others like Force of Evil, which was written and directed by an American Communist - in my perspective anyway.Joel Bockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-7866815996771724872011-12-27T13:13:58.424-05:002011-12-27T13:13:58.424-05:00Kit, Interesting idea. Basically, you are saying ...Kit, Interesting idea. Basically, you are saying that the story is about a man who does the right thing his whole life but then loses his faith in doing the right thing because he can't see how his doing the right thing has helped anyone. So he gets shown how his actions have made the world a better place.<br /><br />That makes a lot of sense. And it's an interesting extension of the usual morality tale where we are told simply that doing the right thing is its own reward. Here we're also shown that it's also good for the outside world and the outside world does appreciate it.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-79569150355681758652011-12-25T05:11:06.990-05:002011-12-25T05:11:06.990-05:00So, in attempt to codify my earlier remarks.
The ...So, in attempt to codify my earlier remarks.<br /><br />The movie is about a man named George Bailey who, as a boy always wanted to see the world, to be an adventurer and "shake the dust of this crummy town off my boots and see the world!" <br /><br />But each time he is given the oppurtunity to carry out those dreams something happens. His father has a stroke, his brother gets a good job offer, and he, despite being tempted, chooses to do what is right. <br /><br />As head of the Building and Loan he continually makes sacrifices to ensure his customers get a fair shake. And the people of the town both understand and respect his sacrifices and throughout the movie we see this respect.<br /> -The Honeymoon where Bert and Ernie serenade them. <br /> -The bar, where Martini (who George helped buy a house) assures George that the man who punched him will not be allowed back in.<br /> -And the many scenes where they interact with him.<br /><br />They know the impact he has had on the town, even if he doesn't quite understand it. He always helps and never asks for help. <br />And when he does need he help He goes to Mr. Potter for help, not to his clients, who, as we later see, would jump in a heartbeat to help him.<br />But when the people of Bedford Falls find out he is in trouble they Jump at the chance to help him. Giving us the most cheer-worthy scene in motion picture history. <br /><br />Also, notice what changes him. I don't think its the noirish nightmare Clarence shows him that makes him see how important he is. <br />It's the desire to be around the people he loves and love him.<br />By removing George Bailey from Bedford Falls he also took Bedford Falls from George Bailey. <br />He loses everything and realizes how much everything meant to him. Everything from the simple kindness shown to him by people such as Bert the cop and Ernie the cab driver. Even his own wife doesn't recognize him (one of the most harrowing scenes of the movie, when it reaches the pit of despair).<br />When he wanted to kill himself he thought he had lost everything and failed everyone he loved, now he just wants it back.<br />And when he gets it all back, it is no surprise he runs through town yelling "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"<br /><br />I think what makes him realize how important he is is a bit of Clarence's vision but what truly makes him realize his importance is everyone in the town coming in and helping him out of his troubles.Kitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-7502928868023387342011-12-25T04:24:30.212-05:002011-12-25T04:24:30.212-05:00Just finished watching it.
I wasn't crying a ...Just finished watching it.<br /><br />I wasn't crying a whole lot (though I was a tad misty-eyed).<br /><br />Instead, I was cheering!<br /><br />More on it later.Kitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-17154269694942853142011-12-25T03:29:45.846-05:002011-12-25T03:29:45.846-05:00Also, I think there is another way to look at the ...Also, I think there is another way to look at the movie: As a tribute to the people who built the Post-War Boom as well as the virtues of Small Town America.<br /><br />The boom came from the 20+ years of hard work by men like George Bailey who lived to make the lives of those around them better. <br /><br />Who when, to borrow from Professor Albus Dumbledore* whenever given the "choice between doing what is right and what is easy" they chose to do what is right.<br />He always choose what was right, and he paid for it. He didn't get to live the life he wanted as a kid, he didn't get to go to college, but his sacrifices built a vibrant and successful community that never forgot his sacrifices.<br /><br />You see their gratitude as early as the honeymoon. They know George Bailey is a good man, saying he "never thinks of himself". But he does, often. He is often thinking of making the selfish choice but he never does, he always makes the right one.<br /><br />Except Mr. Potter, who, where it not for the sacrifices of George Bailey, would have everyone, even the soldiers who fought the tyrannies of Nazidom and Japanese Imperialism, would return home to Pottersville.<br /><br />And eventually, on Christmas in 1947 (I'm guessing the year, could be 1946). All that pressure building up on him collapses. Thus the movie.Kitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-22015155104899487162011-12-25T03:22:18.680-05:002011-12-25T03:22:18.680-05:00"As I've said before about this film else..."As I've said before about this film elsewhere, if you spen all your time looking for something to be pissed about you will probably find a reason, justified or not. Some of these people need to get a grip and quit over thinking things."<br /><br />Okay, this is getting creepy. <br /><br />Outlaw, are you in anyway related to my mother? Because what you just said is something I can easily imagine her saying.Kitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-80866409386079125792011-12-20T11:30:55.370-05:002011-12-20T11:30:55.370-05:00Matt, Thanks for the interesting perspective. I h...Matt, Thanks for the interesting perspective. I hadn't thought about seeing Potter as FDR.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-43507807852933818122011-12-20T09:55:28.856-05:002011-12-20T09:55:28.856-05:00Matt, thank you for that insight. It is often easy...Matt, thank you for that insight. It is often easy to think of literature of all sorts in the present context rather than the context it was created in. I was unaware of the specific limitations placed on Building and Loans. (Though I might have guessed, since such things don't hardly exist anymore.) <br /><br />In my analysis, I was mainly relying on my general familiarity with Capra and my gut instincts. It seems they serve me better than I knew.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-27336356923051321542011-12-20T07:12:51.758-05:002011-12-20T07:12:51.758-05:00I think what most people forget when looking at th...I think what most people forget when looking at this film and trying to figure out its politics, is the years in which the movie depicts. It covers the years that FDR was in office and monopolized big and small business through his National Recover Act (NRA). For those who think that Potter represents capitalism, think again. Potter is FDR and his controling and buying up Bedford Falls depicts FDR's NRA. The fight for the B&L itself is symbolic because of the strict laws placed on B&Ls during the depression and how their competition with banks was limited. So Potter represents socialism, not capitalism. He's trying to take over and regulate all businesses like the NRA did. George Bailey represents compassionate capitalism. He fought to keep people out of Potter's ghettos by giving them affordable, quality homes. Like he told Potter, "Doesn't that make them better customers?" and then told him that to him, people were just cattle. I think a reading of "The Forgotten Man," would put this movie into proper perspective to people who are confused about its politics.Matt Helmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14989031790120618638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-35438987796598579242011-12-19T06:48:58.533-05:002011-12-19T06:48:58.533-05:00As I've said before about this film elsewhere,...As I've said before about this film elsewhere, if you spen all your time looking for something to be pissed about you will probably find a reason, justified or not. Some of these people need to get a grip and quit over thinking things.Outlaw13https://www.blogger.com/profile/17232117096525959967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-45404921804405337022011-12-17T13:43:22.705-05:002011-12-17T13:43:22.705-05:00Koshcat, glad to be of help. Your comment puts me ...Koshcat, glad to be of help. Your comment puts me in mind of a point I wanted to make but couldn't quite fit in, which is that while we get a chance to see Potterville, we can only imagine what Bedford Falls might be like without Potter. <br /><br />If I had to guess, on one hand there might not even be a Bedford Falls. But on the other hand, if Potter weren't so domineering, Bailey would not have had so much of a struggle. Verily, every major obstacle put into Bailey's path had Potter behind it. Which only serves to underscore that Potter's status as villain has little to do with his merely <i>being</i> a businessman and everything to do with his being just a plain nasty character.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-83188148367239270332011-12-17T12:52:56.985-05:002011-12-17T12:52:56.985-05:00Koshcat, We're glad Commentarama can bring you...Koshcat, We're glad Commentarama can bring you comfort! :)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-63678724184748256102011-12-17T01:54:53.741-05:002011-12-17T01:54:53.741-05:00Thank you, Tyranmax. Now I can continue to enjoy t...Thank you, Tyranmax. Now I can continue to enjoy this movie in peace.<br /><br />This movie to me certainly is black and white. Potter is not a capatilist. He is a tyrant. He is the perfect example of most liberals and their view of government. Only he decides who gets the money and who doesn't. Only he decides the rules. And only he benefits. Bailey on the other hand is the perfect example of how most conservatives think. Give everyone an equal chance i.e. equality of opportunity not outcome. With the invisible hand most will be successful. Not always wealthy but successful as businessman as well as humanity.Koshcatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-25348543760167770012011-12-17T00:00:15.656-05:002011-12-17T00:00:15.656-05:00Sadly, the modern purveryors of populism on the co...Sadly, the modern purveryors of populism on the conservative side feed that with anti-education talk. They have wrongly used education as a substitute for liberal elitism. I think that's a huge mistake.<br /><br />Yeah, you Nebraskans have quite the interesting history with populism, don't you?!<br /><br />Colorado has a fascinating history that travels through everything from socialism right up through libertarianism. We're currently trending toward elitist liberalism... blech.<br /><br />I think it made sense to discuss <i>Life</i> in a capitalism v. non-capitalism manner because that's how the issue came up. But you're right that it might be more meaningful to speak in terms of classical liberalism/conservatism v. modern liberalism/progressivism. In that regard, I think hands down, this is not a progressive film.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-61909895096274708452011-12-16T23:52:31.808-05:002011-12-16T23:52:31.808-05:00It's like you said about populism today being ...It's like you said about populism today being very different than populism of the late 1800s. And, of course, I have a very Nebraskan take on that term, what with William Jennings Bryan and all. <br /><br />As I've understood it, populism has always has conservative underpinnings but with a dire tendency to get hijacked by leftist influences. They're not quite the useful idiots, but they are the easily deceived. I tend to consider populists the reason why progressive elites think all conservatives are stupid.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-75341583595620105322011-12-16T23:43:40.069-05:002011-12-16T23:43:40.069-05:00If I had the article to do over, I'd probably ...If I had the article to do over, I'd probably focus on the broader concepts of classical liberalism/conservatism rather than winnow it down to the economics. <br /><br />There is still a case to be made since liberals like to claim a broad leftist message in it, as well. But that interpretation can be more decisively knocked down.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-39645579846906083152011-12-16T23:40:22.817-05:002011-12-16T23:40:22.817-05:00Well, that would have been a very dry film.
Part...Well, that would have been a very dry film. <br /><br />Part of the reason I touch on Capra's other projects is to allude to the fact that I've checked some conclusions about <i>Life</i> against his larger body of work. That might not make it the most casual assessment, but I rarely approach things casually.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-41389422552229151462011-12-16T23:33:39.859-05:002011-12-16T23:33:39.859-05:00I think the word for that -- individual freedom, r...I think the word for that -- individual freedom, rule of law, constitutional government of the people -- is classical liberalism, i.e. conservatism. :)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-33481287762343849882011-12-16T23:31:58.851-05:002011-12-16T23:31:58.851-05:00tryanmax, Nothing wrong with nuance as long as you...tryanmax, Nothing wrong with nuance as long as you know how to wield it! :)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-34767153737784120632011-12-16T23:31:49.905-05:002011-12-16T23:31:49.905-05:00Yeah, come to think of it, I probably should have ...Yeah, come to think of it, I probably should have veered clear of the term since it has no solid meaning any more.<br /><br />I link it to capitalism in the sense of putting power in the hands of the people. You know, like they talk about in the Preamble to the Constitution.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-68645542413236973042011-12-16T23:31:22.689-05:002011-12-16T23:31:22.689-05:00Also, I agree that a pro-capitalist movement need ...Also, I agree that a pro-capitalist movement need not declare capitalism blameless as it is not. It has many flaws and it doesn't pretend it doesn't (unlike socialism, which claims to be perfect). But it is the best system at letting consumers and producers come together.<br /><br />And I do agree with you that a pro-capitalist message can be seen in <i>Life</i>. I just also think the opposite can be seen too. And I suspect that ultimately means Capra didn't think through the economic questions because it wasn't his intent to talk about that.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-23924911838269437192011-12-16T23:29:05.852-05:002011-12-16T23:29:05.852-05:00I probably was taken in by all his nuance.I probably was taken in by all his nuance.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-56825018631994136722011-12-16T23:28:07.965-05:002011-12-16T23:28:07.965-05:00Unfortunately, populism is faulty because it's...Unfortunately, populism is faulty because it's based on anger and irrationality and it saddens me that the current "populism" (i.e. opposition to crony capitalism/socialism) is being linked with old-school "populism" and its insane history.<br /><br />I would actually argue that modern "populism" is basically conservatism in its most pure form. And the reason it's being called populism is an attempt to discredit it.<br /><br />As I see it, the modern "populism" is about ending the use of the government as a weapon by the establishment, returning our government to its constitutional constraints and bringing genuine capitalism back to the markets.<br /><br />Unfortunately, this is being linked in with crappola like the Gold Standard flat-earth brigade, bizarro isolationism, and a fetish for grandiose but useless ideas like constitutional conventions to end the federal government. These same clowns are not conservatives, they are paranoid fringe and they just shift back and forth left to right with whatever group is currently on the rise.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-52257307718187118302011-12-16T23:13:53.710-05:002011-12-16T23:13:53.710-05:00How can you trust Smith... the man saw invisible h...How can you trust Smith... the man saw invisible hands!<br /><br />;)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.com