Mr. Potter is a remarkably detailed description of the Deep State: ancient, psychopathic, greedy, cold, evil, and uncaring. He uses financial as well as psychological manipulation to try to convince George Bailey to work for him, and then tries to crush him when the opportunity arises. There's even a scene when Potter declines a call from a congressman because he's busy.
George Bailey is the normie who undergoes his own Awakening: a thoroughly decent man whose acts positively impact many around him and constantly battles Potter. He becomes angry, depressed, and suicidal when he's exhausted by the constant efforts to improve his life that never lines up with his dreams. When meeting Clarence, he frequently challenges Clarence's assertions, not just about being an angel, but helping him understand how he needs to change his perception of his own reality, and even gets a chance to see an alternative timeline.
Clarence is the Anon who brings him back from the brink: quirky and imperfect, but determined to do his job despite all the challenges he faces in trying to change George Bailey's mind, and is awarded with wings and gratitude for succeeding.
The film is an incredible red pill. In retrospect, It's remarkable that this film (along with Mr. Smith Goes To Washington) ever got made.
One of my favorite movies of all time. I try to watch every year or two.
Last night, I, too noticed Pottersfield as the Deep State vision for America: perverse, greedy, immoral, hatred, disrespectful, etc.
We, by God's grace and our prayers, are the only thing in the way of their vision being a reality.
Little trivia for you. Potter was played by Lionel Barrymore, Drew’s (great? grandfather). He was a remarkable actor and was in some of the first Hollywood films in the silent era, and went onto win best actor in 1930. The scene where he offers Stewart’s character $20k a year was largely ad libbed by Barrymore, and I thought he really nails the evil, scheming, money grubber perfectly.
In addition, Stewart himself was a bad ass and joined the military prior to Pearl Harbor as a pilot, and spent time as a flight instructor before going on to flying numerous bombing missions in the B-24 where crews life expectancy was 8 missions, he flew 20.
Our family watches this movie on Christmas Eve while we wrap presents. One of my favorite films of all time.
Lionel Barrymore was Drew's granduncle, the brother of her grandfather John (her father, John's, father).
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