There's not many Christmas movies that I watch every single year, but one of them is Frank Capra's 1946 black & white classic, It's A Wonderful Life.
Recently, CRACKED.com posted 15 "Facts About 'It's A Wonderful Life' You Probably Didn't Know" and it's true, I didn't know most of them!
Here's the 8 facts which fascinated me the most!
If you want to see the other 7 facts, you can find the CRACKED article here.
Oddly enough, CRACKED did NOT include the one bit of trivia that I DID already know: namely, that the Sesame Street characters of Bert and Ernie were named after Bert the policeman and Ernie the cab driver from this movie!
D'oh! Turns out it wasn't included because that persistent rumour is FALSE! Read its debunking here.
Oh well, at least it's still true that these Muppet roommates were modeled on a gay couple's relationship!
I'll just have to settle for that now!
41 comments:
So wonderful to see you, Debra!
Imagine having to wear winter gear during a heatwave? No thank you!
I can't believe it bombed at the box office! It's such a fantastic movie!
Warmly,
Elsie
I’ve watched that movie a few times over the years too. I can’t imagine anyone other than Jimmy in the role.
Interesting, including the part about Bert and Ernie.
I do enjoy this film, despite myself, every time I see it. I love the trivia. The fact that it bombed at the box office astounds me.
I may have seen this movie all the way through ONCE in my many years. Something about sappy movies...I guess.
The movie my wife and I watch every year is the Muppet Christmas Carol with Michael Caine.
the Ol'Buzzard
I am sure I have seen all of it, but a long long time ago.
My favorite Christmas movie is "The Santa Claus" with Tim Allen. Fell in love with the first movie, the first time I ever saw it ... the ensuing #2 and #3 ... not so much!
And then there is also "Susan Slept Here" with Debbie Reynolds and Dick Powell ... it runs a really close second ... first saw this one when I was in high School! TCM has shown it a few times and I still love it!
Interesting facts. I always thought that pool bit was a massive set built for the film.
It seems that so many great films bombed at the box office when they opened, only to become very popular as the years went on.
bert & ernie have been together since 1969. I can't watch this movie, but RTG does.
Hello Debra, Somehow I am surprised that you like this film. It never clicked with me, and the constant repetition didn't help. Cary Grant would have been a big improvement, but even he played his share of sappy roles.
--Jim
Interesting facts though I can't imagine Cary Grant in that role.
I had no idea about any of these. Now that I know I really want to watch the movie again!
And every time a bell rings, a Lesbian gets her wings!
Oh I love the movie too and watch it. But what got me was the ZU ZU Ginger Snaps tin. When my grandmother had pasted and we were cleaning out that house for sale, we came across a ZuZu Ginger Snaps tin with cookies still in it. Never been opened. That find would be a expensive collectors tin now....damn!
Someday I will have to watch that movie. My Christmas movie is the original Dickens A Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim. Another one I like is Emmitt Otter's Jug Band Christmas which is a muppet type movie
Fabulous Fabulous post!!!!
I love Bert and Ernie!
Pretty cool I did not know about the new fake snow or how it bankrupt the film company. I have to wonder if Zu Zu was a product placement before product placement existed. Meet Zu Zu a few years ago sweet lady from Chicago.
I love that movie! I remember seeing Jimmy Stewart on Johnny Carson saying it was his favorite movie as well.
Back before we could buy Videos/DVD, I would scan the television listings to see when it would be on and then cancelled everything so that I could watch it.
I'm going to go and check out the other facts now.
I love old movies and this is one of my favorites. I didn't know any of these facts except that the movie flopped at the theaters. That was a shame.
i hate to admit this, but i've never watched this. maybe i'll try it this year.
love, kisses & magical wishes...
~*~
I don't intentionally seek it out. But it's on enough times around Christmas that all of a sudden I'm sitting there watching the whole thing.
Aaaaaaah
Bert and Ernie!
And it’s a great movie. I can understand why they thought it was Commie propaganda.
Americans.
XoXo
This is mom and mine, favourite Christmas film too! Thanks for the fun facts! We didn't know any of these! Big Hugs!
I knew some of those fun, film facts! While I love Cary Grant (Archibald Leach from Bristol), I find it hard to see him in the role. -great film & one from which I still quote.
Thanks for posting this. The information about the film is interesting. What a great movie It's a Wonderful Life Is.
My sister was in love with Cary Grant's Bishops Wife, and would make nasty, disparaging remarks during my movie, Wonderful Life.
I ADORE this film! I quote from it all the time. I bet YOU would even get my quotes.
"You don't like coconut? What are you, brainless?"
Oh, the casting in this film was PERFECT, just perfect. I am so dang picky about my movies and this one is just right.
It's my favorite movie. I have to watch it every year.
Love,
Janie
Debra, I agree It’s A Wonderful Life is the best Christmas movie. I didn’t realize Jimmy Stewart was a WWII pilot. He was a true hero, unlike another big star from that era who only played war heroes on the big screen. The retractable pool is another fun fact, and it’s incredible that it still exists. Too bad the Bert & Ernie story is a tall tale.
Happy Holidays and all the best in 2021!
Julie
Anything with Jimmy Stewart is watchable, but the movie ends up getting the capitalism all wrong. After World War II, the bankers of the day were encouraging the growth of the suburbs (as represented by Bedford Falls) at the expense of big cities (as represented by Pottersville.) If you were watching It's a Wonderful Life in the 1970s or '80s, when many U.S. cities (such as Cleveland) had become ghost towns after sundown, it might have induced in you a feeling of nostalgia--for Pottersville!
I know, I know. I'm taking the whole film too seriously, but when it comes to Capra, I prefer It Happened One Night.
Winterwear in heat waves is somewhat of a normal thing in Hollywood these days. Filming winter scenes in warm weather can kill an actor just as fast as shooting summer scenes in a cold climate/weather as well.
Strangely enough, "It's A Wonderful Life" is my short list of burnout movies, in that a movie that was shown so frequently in the Christmas season makes one not want to watch it ever again.
On the plus side is that the reason why the movie is now shown but once a year is that someone was able to claim a copyright on the music, thus taking all the versions (including the crappy colorized version) out of circulation.
Such interesting facts! This is definitely a must-watch film.
One of my favorite holiday movies as well. Another is A Christmas Carol, with George C. Scott.
Interesting..I didn't know any of that..I might revisit it this year..
Would you believe that I watched this the year before last for the FIRST TIME?! I know. I feel ashamed. Lolo and I cried at the end and that girl never cries.
I love the fun facts you've shared...now, I just need to watch it again.
I'm probably the only person that can't stand that movie..I may have liked it the first time I saw it..but all these years later? I'd rather eat worms.
Never seen it...
i would love to see this one dear Debra
i have seen few Christmas movies and i think they are so uplifting and cherishing :)
the song "it's a wonderful life" is often used for showing intensity of life so title of the movie made me bit sad but through trailers it looks entertaining too just like life itself :)
thank you for sharing facts
Dang! I was sure the Bet and Ernie thing was true. It's still my favorite Christmas movie.
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