Merry Christmas, Bedford Falls

My favorite Christmas movie has always been and always will be It’s a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore. There is something so captivating about this film that makes me watch it every year.

Maybe it’s the story; George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) is a frustrated businessman who is having another battle with the evil Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore). He reaches a breaking point that involves $20,000 of stolen money and he decides to end it all. That is until the angel Clarence steps in and saves that day, showing George what his life would be like if he was never born.

Maybe its the ending. George Bailey running through the snow, shouting “Merry Christmas” to everyone is Bedford Falls, the town that he has always helped, that helps him in return. And Clarence gets his wings.

Maybe it’s the memories I have of it. The telephone scene. George and Mary (Donna Reed) like each other, but she is sort-of in a relationship with someone else. Her suitor calls while George is with her and she holds the phone up to both of their ears so George can listen in. There is this moment where George smells her hair and when I was younger it always made me think, “I hope someone smells my hair one day.” It is just a simple gesture in the movie that means so much to me.

But I think what makes the movie special for me is just because it is a great movie . Anything with Jimmy Stewart AND Frank Capra involved is automatically great, but it that last moment when after we have seen that George Bailey is a fortunate man we learn how much every person loves him and why George Bailey is the luckiest man in Bedford Falls.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas Bedford Falls.

I’ll be seeing you tonight.