It's a Wonderful Life

It’s a Wonderful Life (Frank Capra, 1946)

An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed.

The great American classic of Christmas movies that is It’s a Wonderful Life is like the Casablanca of holiday films. Almost everyone has seen it and some adore it while others, let’s call them the naysayers, call it overrated. Loosely based on Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, Frank Capra’s film has passed through the ages like a classic novel that lustre the nostalgia of the old-fashioned Christmas.

Gilda

Gilda (Charles Vidor, 1946)

Johnny Farrell (Glenn Ford) is an American gambler who just arrived in Argentina to have a new life. After a succesful dice game a mysterious man, named Ballin Mundson (George Macready) saves his life and Johnny says that it is his rebirth. They quickly became partners in Ballin’s gambling house and they share a friendship that may flirt towards a couple. After a trip that Ballin takes he comes back with a beautiful and sexy wife called Gilda (Rita Hayworth). It is more than clear that at the first gaze of each other, Gilda and Johnny, they are sharing a troubled past together. But they keep it quiet to hide it from Ballin and not loose his trust towards both of them.

A Matter of Life and Death

A Matter of Life and Death aka Stairway to Heaven (Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, 1946)

First, a film from the 1000 Greatest Films of All-time at They Shoot Pictures, then, one of the most celebrated offering of the association of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger commonly called The Archers. A Matter of Life and Death become one of those quest fuelling titles in my film viewing goals of the year. Moreover, our new household acquisition, a 46” LCD television from a Korean manufacturer needed to project or illuminate my living room with some Classic film. What is more classic than a Powell/Pressburger film? You tell me!

The Best Years of Our Lives

The Best Years of Our Lives (William Wyler, 1946)

Telling the story of three American War heroes of the second World War coming home; a sergeant/banker, a captain/soda bar clerk, and a sailor who lost his two hands while serving. Presented like that this nearly 3 hour long film seems very American, and yes it is. This is a glorification of soldiers who got back from the front trying to save America's values and integrity.

But more deeper it's the reintegration of these soldiers in the way the American life has gone by them. As great as they could be in the war these men are not rehabilited to go back and live their lives. Even if the war is probably the worst thing for humanity it is presented here like the greatest thing that happened to these men gloryfying their memories of "camaradery" and simple better times...

On some level the tone is right but most of the times the subject is treated to easily and many corners are rounds. Well, It's not a surprise that it won many Oscars. This is the kind of films that can make you feel good even if the "propos" is wrong or too cheesy for what it is.

I would recommend ten times A Time to Love and A Time to Die by Douglas Sirk before recommending a film like William Wyler's The Best Years of Our Lives to anyone.