Glimpse To Clarence About George's Life example essay topic

Discuss whether "It's a Wonderful Life" seems to conform to the model of the "Classical Hollywood Cinema. What motivates the action? Do any characters have goals? Does the film exhibit techniques which maintain continuity?

Is the narration generally omniscient, or restricted in some way? How does it potentially embody the basic traits of classical Hollywood narrative (causality, motivation, goal-oriented protagonists, etc. )? Classical Narration of any HOLLYWOOD CINEMA are fundamentally broken down to the following elements, namely- action springing from the individual characters as "usual agents", Concentrated preliminary exposition which trigger strong "First Impressions" which become the basis for our expectations across the whole film - known simply as the "Primary Effect " -along side with other chief characteristics including, Desire which functions to get the narrative going, Goals- which shape our expectations, , Cause and effect - implying change (maintaining continuity), Motivation strives to be as clear and complete as possible, Repetition of story information, Self-Conscious, omniscience and communicative degree of narration implications, Strong Objective narration, and finally Strong Degree of closure at the end. We shall now analyze each element as stipulated above in greater depth with reference to the Classic Hollywood Film, "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE" by Frank Capra. The story revolves around the hero, George Bailey (James Steward)., whom never seems to come out of his quiet birthplace in Old Bedford Falls.

As a young, vivacious, enthusiastic man; he dreams of making it big in the world. He longs to travel off to the far ends of the earth to accomplish his lifelong ambitions- One to travel extensively around the globe and second to gain entry into college and become an architect himself. Circumstances hindered him from doing so. He gave it all up to stay home (Bedford Falls) to manage the Bailey Building and Loan Society which he overtook after his father's (Peter Bailey) death. In the entire movie, George lived by a creed-that was-he continued to place the human needs of others above riches, as a result, as seen in the end his friends and family in times of great need are there for him in good and bad times. Each character has certain traits and reacts to certain situations as an agent of action and decision.

In "It's A Wonderful Life" though George may appear as suave, strong, good shoulder his head kind of an individual who has got everything under control seem to lose his grip when the situation gets out of hand. When reality sets in, he takes it on in great despair. In the scene where he despontely wonders outside into the dark, snowy night and drives aimlessly in his car. In his state of drunkenness he crashes his car into a tree and comes out of it alive and decides to tread on foot. In the next scene he heads for the bridge with the water pounding in great waves of the icy water and decides to do the unethical form of death, for his absent-minded uncle bailey (Thomas Bailey) misplaced a large amount of eight thousand dollars in cold hard cash. Unable to find a solution to rectify the predicament that his uncle had left him in, George does the unthinkable -He contemplates to commit suicide.

In here the audience is made to question his principle and moral ambiguity of his life. It showcased an element of dark side. Throughout the movie, George solves everyone else's problem but now seem dump-founded when the tables are turned onto him, he seemed 'paralyzed' to find an amicable solution for himself. The character played by Clarence (Henry Travers), George's lovable bumbling guardian angel, whom was sent by the almighty above, to arrive in Bedford Falls and prove to George that life is worth living for.

As his angel, Clarence reacts to George's situation by using reverse psychology on him. In the scene where they were in the shed, Clarence pointed out the fact that by jumping into the water himself he had inevitably allowed George to save him. Once again, emphasizing how he had helped many others in his town of Bedford falls. Clarence saving George from his suicide plight somehow turned the situation into a natural reflex action of one Good Samaritan aiding another in a drowning situation. The Character played by the films villain Henry Potter (Lionel Barrymore) most certainly created certain traits which caused reaction in the film.

He's an Antagonist who creates the conflict with protagonist (George bailey). He uses his considerable wealth to swindle the citizens of Bedford Falls dry. In the scene, the bailey's building and loan society is the only institution in Bedford falls that potter has no sole proprieties ownership. During the board meeting after his father's death, Potter insist on closing down the place but in a unanimous vote of opposition from the rest, his plans are ruined. The board members then decide to appoint George as the executive chairman, he turns this offer down for he wish to pursue his studies.

But they caution him, if, he refuses to control and run the building Potter would eventually intervene with his manipulative ways and cease operation of the building. George is thus made to give up his dream once again due to Potter. In "It's a Wonderful Life" the basis that for our expectations across the whole film creates a primary effect based on the first impression. The opening scene in the movie starts off with the scene whereby folks in Bedford Falls are seeking God in their prayers. The audience is made to relate that some celestial being from above hears all of these prayers and aids them in their greatest time of need. The scene straight-up next, takes a comical step further; its light hearted yet a trivial component to the narrative of the film.

The audiences are greeted by two stars in the universe played respectively by God and the biblical figure Joseph. They seem to engage in this conversation that sheds light on the synopsis of the movie. The voice of God is significant for he drives as the narrator (story-teller) of the movie. He (The voice) gives us the audience a flashback to the past of Georges's past since the element of control of the past, present and future are infinitely possible with God. He calls upon Clarence (Henry Travers), an unwinged angle to tackle this assignment with Joseph as his mentor.

As such the audience are made to gather that the God would narrate the past giving a glimpse to Clarence about George's Life. Clarence would then step into the present time and help George to sort out his differences and ensure that in the future (climax) of the movie yields a happy ending. This is ultimately what the movie strikes to put across to the audience in the first half hour of the movie the so call: concentrated preliminary exposition that triggers strong first impression. Desire functions to get the narrative going. In "It's a Wonderful life"; the desire to end his life in a cowardly manner was the pivotal point of continuity in the film. The story was built around on how God intervened - sent his angel (Clarence) down to earth to help George realize that life no matter how insignificant has it may seem has the power to make a difference, and that measure of humanity has the very least to do with fame or money, but, rather how we live our lives on a day to day basis.

The film tackles a highly desire able question, which is- What Would This World Be, If I Had Never Been Born? Capra compels to answer this question throughout the entire progression of the film. The audience is made to go back and forth through this tunnel vision of what George's life might have been and might not have been as a result. The Goal in the film strives to shape our expectations of both the character and plot. In the scene in which George first met his high school sweet heart Mary played by Donne Reed, they met for the first time together at Sam Wainwright's (Frank Albertson) farewell dinner. In here the audience is greeted by some seemingly playful arrogant guys whom were also in the party with Mary and George.

The guys decided to play a prank joke on the couple by opening up the dance floor-giving way to the swimming pool below, with both George and Mary ultimately dancing, losing their footing and then falling into the pool water and drowning. The audience is made then to shape their expectations to anticipate this result, instead, things are took a turn for the better- the couple danced away and though they did fall into the pool water, they made the best of the situation and carried on dancing in the water itself. The telephone scene where George walks in a second time to retrieve his coat and Mary was on line with Sam from New York. Mary was rumored to have intimate feelings for Sam when both she and Sam were in New York. Sam making it big career wise and Mary pursuing her studies in the big apple (New-York) at the same time. But Mary had no intimate feelings for Sam, for she did not see him in that light but the latter did.

Mary's heart still longs for George for he was her childhood sweetheart. She deliberately talks loudly on the phone to get George's attention. She then invited George to the phone to speak to Sam. At this scene the audience is made to expect that George would politely accept the call and talk to Sam, instead, both he and Mary listen cheek to cheek romantically on the phone over Sam's voice, emotions run high and shortly after both Mary and George are helplessly drawn to each other and kiss passionately. Do the characters themselves have a goal in this film? Indeed they do.

Gero ge (James steward) has a dual goal. In the fist half of this film, when he was dwelling in his past, we the audience get a steadfast understanding that George has ultimately one main primary goal-that was to travel to Europe, make it big, head off to collage and become an architect. He was adamant about achieving his goal that in the scene when he sits together with his father for dinner, when his father expected him to do so, but George was obstinate in doing what he desired to achieve his goal. As the film progressed into the present time, George's goal took a turn, now for than ever he wishes to end his very existence by contemplating suicide and wished he was never part of his humble creation of his very existence.

His guardian Angel, Clarence (Henry Travers) comes along since George did actually seek god's help in aiding him in his time of distress. Clarence's goal is to get his wings from his assignment (George) and the only possible way to him to achieve that annunciation he very much needed to be part of George's shortcomings and help him walk through it. He works hard at accomplishing his goal despite George's resentment in acknowledging him as his guardian angel. To prove his seemingly authentic self, Clarence grants George his wish that - never to have been born. The film exhibits great techniques in which continuity (cause and effect) is prominently highlighted at various instances in the film. In the beginning when George was pursue his ambitions, and dreams the cause of his father's death was sufficient enough of a blow to George to terminate his voyager instincts to travel.

He soldiers on to fulfill his other unaccomplished dream- to attend college. Once again due to the antagonist potter who wants nothing more than to bring down the bailey building and loan society; the board of chairman voted in favor of having George at the helm and making him the executive chairman of his father's company. He of course turns it down, because, he does not wish to run the show; he wants to fulfill his dream of studying and graduating. But the plan backfires at him, because, without him the scrupulous potter would find ways and means to bring his father's company down. George had no intention of allowing that to happen, for his father worked at keeping it running through thick and thin. By that decision, George was once again "cemented" in bed falls by the clutches of that decision laid by the board and thus having to give up his dream.

The continuity is further reiterated in the film when George's absentminded Uncle (Thomas Mitchell) Billy walks into the bank during the yuletide season to deposit eight thousand dollars. In this sc " ene, he is greeted by the antagonist Potter who's wheeled in a wheelchair, he strikes a sarcastic statements with him provoking the swindler Potter further, uncle billy in his haste to walk off, unintentionally slips the envelop containing the money into Potter's newspaper and walks away. The caitiff Potter having realized what had happened chose to keep the money to himself. The implication of losing that valuable sash of eight thousand dollars creates a rippling effect down the movie. The cause and effect traits are clearly highlighted in this film after this scene. This scene was indeed momentous.

It's the turning point in the movie. This caused George to freak out, loses his self confidence and drove him to the point of suicide. More importantly it made George question his existence, he wished he had never been born- and as a result of that, Clarence granted him his wish and George was made to go thorough a whirlpool spin with visions of his life, had he not existed; making him realize his self worth and significance he played in every citizen of Bedford falls. The film depicted plausible process of investigation through its narrative range and depth. Piecing the pieces together like a jigsaw creates a pattern of gradual revelation which enhances curiosity in this film.

The narration allows us the audience to formulate about George, from the time when he was young to being a mature man. The film's plot treats the flashback in much subjective depth. They are rendered objectively as when George goes through the tunnel vision of his life. Omniscient narration calls attention for itself, by Clarence the angel and God in the opening scene, for he is truly aware of what befalls George. He is THE omniscient being ever, and that was highlighted evidently in the film's story.

The film indeed further exemplify itself with it's strong degree of closure, in the scene during the movie climax all of George's friends rallied together in good will and helped him out of his predicament just as he did when they (his fellow friends) needed a friend to lend a helping hand. They raised the money in time and paid the bank what was duly theirs. The movie ties up all the loose ends very amicably in the end. In the scene, when George carries his daughter Zuzu, Zuzu opens Clarence gift to George for Christmas, his Tom Sawyer book. More importantly was Clarence message in the book. The fact that no man is a failure who has friends.

Which was the message Clarence was trying to get across to George from the very beginning? Succeeding in his quest in accomplishing his assignment. Clarence attains his Wings from the Heavens by the symbolic ringing of the bells on George's Christmas tree at home. On the whole, in its entire production and presentation., It's A Wonderful Life" adheres to the classical Hollywood convention of objective narration.