Trivialities:

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love this film. It gives me a nice cathartic cry without fail at year’s end, and it also reminds me that I need to expand my posse (“Remember no man is a failure who has friends”). But this scene where Uncle Billy fumbles away 8000.00 is so painful, I can hardly stand to watch it. I don’t blame Capra or the writers, it’s a pivotal scene in the film. And the great character actor Thomas Mitchell plays him masterfully. My big beef is with the George Bailey and the other employees at the Bailey Building & Loan, Cousin Tilly and Cousin Eustace. Why in the hell would they allow a man who clearly suffers from pre-senile dementia (he says at one point, “I can get another job, I’m only 55.”…. to which Cousin Tilly responds, “56!”…. thus proving the point!!) — probably exacerbated by alcoholism — carry around a big wad of cash like that unattended?! It’s the whole damn enchilada! This man keeps squirrels in his home and he’s got bats in his belfry. He even forgot his nephew’s wedding, no doubt because of a bender. And, if we assume that Harry Bailey’s Congressional Medal of Honor was announced shortly after the war in 1945, then that 8000.00 is the equivalent of 132,500.00 today. Nice going, team! You just about screwed the pooch, but for the cash infusion of that insufferable douchebag Sam Wainwright. He can shove the “Hee-Haw!” right up his hee-haw, as far as I’m concerned (keep your stinking money!). Man, what were they thinking…??!

Oh, and Happy New Year!!