'Swonderful
I took a stroll down memory lane this weekend. I returned to the small town and theater where I grew up, more or less, and revisited a favorite story. I’ve always liked the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. So much so that six years ago I penned my own script (a sticky confession because somehow the public domain status was revoked) and directed the production. It is one of my top ten beloved movies of all time.
I like the movie. I like Frank Capra. What can I say? I like his humor and optimism. And… dare I say it… I like the socialist undertones of that movie. But, more than anything, I like what the movie says. It IS a wonderful life. And eventually, good people get their due.
Funny thing, though. That movie has always made my feet itch. I identify quite a bit with George Bailey. I grew up in a small town by which I have felt trapped…but more encompassing is his tendency to just do what is necessary to help. I don’t count myself as noble as George, but I do think I am the sort of person who does things for other people, even when it comes at a sacrifice to my own wishes and wants. So, no surprise that both times I lived with that story (a stage production in 98 and then the second six years ago), I found myself evaluating my life. I didn’t end up standing at a bridge with an angel hoping to fly, but I did take steps to shake the dust of small town off my feet by heading back to Boston so I wouldn’t marry my life to a Building & Loan.
I haven’t really gone back to this story since 2003, when I moved out of Central MA. I tell myself I can’t sit through the movie because I listened to that dialogue for over six months that half decade ago… but I think there was something emotional I didn’t want to admit. I miss my Bedford Falls.
I don’t know if this contemplation is going to inspire a reversal of my wanderlust. Maybe it’s just a waxing of nostalgia for a yesteryear that is shifting into a new focus. Maybe the voice inside of me is a Clarence pointing out the often invisible joy and value of a life in my hometown. Maybe that joy is just in my past… or maybe… maybe it will be my future.
It’s just a thought, a fleeting contemplation. But maybe not.
Whatever it is, I look forward to revisiting the movie in the next week or two, and maybe I’ll find a new appreciation for Zuzu’s petals as I do.
Comments
The key to the effort (here, at least) is that they apparently didn't try to simply colorize the movie, but colorize it consistent with the style of other colorized movies from the time, as well as using actual color sources such as stills or sections of color film from the time as a template source. The end result (for me, at least), is a film that looks like it was originally shot in color and all the times I watched it before I was using a black & white TV.
Now, I don't know how this may relate to your musings, but perhaps seeing it in this format might help provide a slight edge in variation that you might be looking for; or, perhaps not. In either case, I thought you could benefit from being made aware of this twist on a classic.