‘It’s (still) a wonderful life’
Alison Bert on December 25th, 2007 | Filed under Family, Judaism, Theater, Holidays
“Merry Christmas!” I chimed when my father answered the phone last night, causing him to laugh. That’s because we’re Jewish. Not that we don’t enjoy the spirit of the season.
Before I called, I was watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” for the umteenth time, sobbing when George Bailey came home from the run on his family’s bank on what should have been his honeymoon only to find that Mary had turned their quaint home into an elegant honeymoon suite. Below a window in the pouring rain, the cops, Bert and Ernie, are crooning “I Love You Truly.” Yes, Bert and Ernie. They’ve become old friends of mine.
I first watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” with Mom when I was growing up. It always makes me think of her in a nostalgic way — the era and the fact that she’s a connoisseur of old films. So I told Dad, also an aficionado, that I watch parts of it every year because it reminds me of Mom.
“I hate that movie,” he said, mentioning how Frank Capra is always so sentimental. “If you want to watch a good movie, you should watch Ingmar Bergman’s ‘The Seventh Seal,’” he proclaimed. “Now that’s a great film. Or the 1937 version of — what’s that film in Yiddish …”
“The Dybbuk”? I offered.
“The Dybbuk,” he said. “Now that film asks some important questions.”
I promised to rent those films before steering the subject back. “What about Mom? Does she like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life?’” I asked hopefully.
“She’s never liked it either,” he said.
Mom confirmed that fact, saying how it was OK the first time, but she’s so tired of it. “What do they show it every year?”
At that moment, I felt betrayed. Like George Costanza’s mom when she let Gloria Chang talk her out of getting a divorce by imparting the wisdom of Confucius only to discover that Gloria Chang isn’t even Chinese. All these years I’d been watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” thinking that Mom was enjoying it right along with me. Instead, she’s been watching classic films I’ve never even heard of.
I should know, Mom’s always been more intellectual than sentimental. No lesson here. Other than that our illusions die hard. And I still like “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
December 26th, 2007 at 7:27 am
I like it too, Alison. Don’t let anyone talk you out of it. Some people are just too cool for their own shirts.
Merry Christmas.
-Krumhorn
January 8th, 2009 at 3:10 am
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