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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Screenwriting
"It's a Wonderful Life"
I watched this DVD today, first time I've seen the movie from start to finish without commercials and I also watched the special features on the reverse side.
I like this film a lot. I'm going to watch (or re-watch) more Frank Capra movies.I learned that Bedford Falls/Potterville was a 300 yard long California set (even the trees were planted for the movie). That the movie, including the snow scenes, was filmed during summer, some scenes during a record heat wave. That the crow was almost always (or was that always?) in Frank Capra films. That Potter wasn't in the original scripts. RKO had commissioned three scripts before selling the movie rights (including the these three scripts) to Frank Capra.
That in two of the original scripts there were two Georges, the bad George and the good George, and in one, the good George killed the bad George on the bridge. (That would have been an uplifting Christmas movie!) That the kissing scene, at the phone, was short about a page of dialog. That it was shot in one take. And that James Stewart kept putting that scene off, which is why Frank Capra forced him and Donna Reed together by having them both listen to the phone at the same time.
That, had this film's copyright been renewed in the early 70s, a clerical error led it not getting renewed, then TV stations wouldn't have played it so much and the movie would have never become as popular as it is today.
...And, lots of other stuff.
Oh, and I learned that there was such a term as "capra-corn." Because, even when his movies were being made, they were considered "sappy."
BTW, I'm going to be gone for a few days. So maybe when I get back I'll be out of this "chatter" mode.
Motor mouth city.
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"
I like this film a lot. I'm going to watch (or re-watch) more Frank Capra movies.I learned that Bedford Falls/Potterville was a 300 yard long California set (even the trees were planted for the movie). That the movie, including the snow scenes, was filmed during summer, some scenes during a record heat wave. That the crow was almost always (or was that always?) in Frank Capra films. That Potter wasn't in the original scripts. RKO had commissioned three scripts before selling the movie rights (including the these three scripts) to Frank Capra.
That in two of the original scripts there were two Georges, the bad George and the good George, and in one, the good George killed the bad George on the bridge. (That would have been an uplifting Christmas movie!) That the kissing scene, at the phone, was short about a page of dialog. That it was shot in one take. And that James Stewart kept putting that scene off, which is why Frank Capra forced him and Donna Reed together by having them both listen to the phone at the same time.
That, had this film's copyright been renewed in the early 70s, a clerical error led it not getting renewed, then TV stations wouldn't have played it so much and the movie would have never become as popular as it is today.
...And, lots of other stuff.
Oh, and I learned that there was such a term as "capra-corn." Because, even when his movies were being made, they were considered "sappy."
BTW, I'm going to be gone for a few days. So maybe when I get back I'll be out of this "chatter" mode.
Motor mouth city.
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"
Top answer
This is one of my favorite movies, and the level of casual domestic violence would not be considered PC these days - also, it was quite controversial that Potter kept the 8K deposit and was not punished in the least - far from being korn, I think it was kinda lifelike. I mean, so many of us are bound by duty.
- This is one of my favorite movies, and the level of casual domestic violence would not be considered PC these days - also, it was quite controversial that Potter kept the 8K deposit and was not punished in the least - far from being korn, I think it was kinda lifelike.
- I mean, so many of us are bound by duty.
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5 Answers
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This is one of my favorite movies, and the level of casual domestic violence would not be considered PC these days - also, it was quite controversial that Potter kept the 8K deposit and was not punished in the least - far from being korn, I think it was kinda lifelike. I mean, so many of us are bound by duty.
00
[nq:1]This is one of my favorite movies, and the level of casual domestic violence would not be considered PC these ... far from being korn, I think it was kinda lifelike. I mean, so many of us are bound by duty.[/nq]
Being bound by duty is one of those things that makes us adults. I admire those who manage it.
"Life is sweet and small. The rest is just talking. Let everyone live."
Being bound by duty is one of those things that makes us adults. I admire those who manage it.
"Life is sweet and small. The rest is just talking. Let everyone live."
00
[nq:2]This is one of my favorite movies, and the level ... I mean, so many of us are bound by duty.[/nq]
[nq:1]Being bound by duty is one of those things that makes us adults. I admire those who manage it.[/nq]
I like being bound by Dotty.
jaybee
[nq:1]Being bound by duty is one of those things that makes us adults. I admire those who manage it.[/nq]
I like being bound by Dotty.
jaybee
00
[nq:1]This is one of my favorite movies, and the level of casual domestic violence would not be considered PC these ... far from being korn, I think it was kinda lifelike. I mean, so many of us are bound by duty.[/nq]
They mentioned that in one of the "making of" special features. The movie didn't do as well as expected partly because it was too "dark" for a Christmas movie. I guess they have
They mentioned that in one of the "making of" special features. The movie didn't do as well as expected partly because it was too "dark" for a Christmas movie. I guess they have
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[nq:1]They also mentioned Potter not getting caught in the special features, which was the subject of most of the letters to Frank Capra concerning the movie. RonB "There's a story there...somewhere(49)"[/nq]
Saturday Night Live once did a sketch portraying the "lost ending" in which, after singing Auld Lang Syne, Uncle Billy suddenly remembers what happened to the money. The townspeople then
Saturday Night Live once did a sketch portraying the "lost ending" in which, after singing Auld Lang Syne, Uncle Billy suddenly remembers what happened to the money. The townspeople then
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