WTF Is This Model of ‘It is A Great Life’?

Frank Capra’s 1946 movie It’s a Great Life is definitely one of the best holiday films ever made. It’s additionally simply one of the best films ever made, period. An enormous a part of that’s due to the third act, when the primary character, George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), sees what life would’ve been like if he’d by no means been born. It makes him understand how stunning and particular his life was, resulting in the heartwarming closing scene of a city’s appreciation and adoration.

However what would It’s a Great Life be with out that scene? What if George Bailey didn’t see what his life can be like with out his being born? These are questions actually no one has ever asked as a result of it’s like saying, “What’s Dwelling Alone with out the traps?” It’s sort of the purpose. And but, there’s a model floating on the market that removes that essential scene, and we nonetheless can’t imagine it.

Final yr, I used to be sitting down for a viewing of It’s a Great Life on Prime Video and realized there have been a number of variations. There’s the unique black and white model, which is clearly the one one anybody ought to be watching. Then there’s additionally a colorized model (sacrilegious however comprehensible) in addition to an “abridged” model. After I noticed that final one, it crammed me with curiosity. It’s a Great Life is ideal. What would you abridge, precisely? I used to be much more curious after I noticed the model was an entire 12 minutes shorter than the unique. How do you trim 12 minutes from that film?

The reply, unfathomably, is that it completely removes the very best, most vital scene within the film. George’s guardian angel, Clarence, arrives, throws himself within the river, and George saves him. All of it performs out precisely like the unique film, besides after George asks Clarence how he’s going to assist, the movie smash cuts to George screaming, “Mary!” again within the current, crammed with pleasure that he’s again in actuality. He doesn’t see Pottersville or meet any of his associates or something. It’s simply gone. The ending then performs out usually. The edit is mindless and utterly ruins the movie.

Now, after I first noticed this, I posted about it on social media, and it went a little viral. Within the feedback that adopted, a couple of individuals supplied what I imagine is the very best and most rational clarification. Apparently, it’s a authorized factor. The large alternate universe scene in Pottersville relies on a brief story referred to as “The Best Reward” by Philip Van Doren Stern. That story has a special copyright than It’s a Great Life as an entire, which hit the general public area in 1975. So this model exists as a rights-free model that anybody can use or entry with out fear. Not that you just’d wish to.

Fortunately, there may be loads of warning turning you away from this model. It’s very clearly marked as “abridged” in its title, and there’s a card in the beginning saying that it’s shorter and the ending has been modified. However both approach, that it exists and is so simply accessible feels oddly evil. Like one thing Previous Man Potter would’ve completed, trying to disclaim us the enjoyment of the Baileys.

The unique, black and white model of It’s a Great Life is on Prime at this link. You may seek for any others when you so need.

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