For our final episode of the year, we look at a yuletide classic from a philosophical and existential angle, gently challenging the fairytale ‘happy ending’ and looking at other inconsistencies within what is close to being a perfect Hollywood tale of darkness rescued by light and hope. George Bailey and the other characters are archetypes that stay just the right side of being clichés, but there may well be more going on than meets the eye…

Following this, Antony makes some other observations about life and asks a few questions (don’t expect the answers!) about our human relationship to the world around us, with further connections made to the ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ film

Enjoy!

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episode links

Some famous scenes from ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’

The opening

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79pIurpNARs&t=9s

George and Mary fall in love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wABeIIjxmJk

‘You’re worth more dead than alive’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COAnVhYNbTI

George receives a great gift

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNQ76UyurLA

A Christmas miracle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDQVRxRlGdQ

Film Gold’s review of the film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1o-yaBhGjY

Scott Phipps’s marvellous festive review for the ‘Stinking Pause’ podcast

https://stinkingpause.libsyn.com/webpage/2018

Is the film’s ending actually happy?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um3C3GHchZw

SNL’s alternative ending (Potter finally gets it…)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw89o0afb2A

Scrooge sees the light (1951 version)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FYV0BJJycs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPceYjVQVnw

The Beatles And A Mass of Humanity (life is people)

https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com/the-beatles-and-a-mass-of-humanity

Life

Some famous quotes about life

https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/life.html

The universe is waaay bigger than you think

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy7NzjCmUf0

Recommended books

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/347852.The_Road_Less_Traveled

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16024912-fuck-it

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197782.Rogue_State