To be honest, when I viewed the film again after not having seen it for many years, I was shocked by George’s yelling and screaming at his wife and kids. He was really abusive, and I had a hard time sympathizing with him after that.
Yelling and screaming are symptoms of depression leading up to suicidal thoughts. Very realistic.
Really? It made it realistic, He’s about to go to jail and under intense stress, it humanized the film. How many husbands have never yelled at their wives, children? It was out of character as noted by the children and wife.
You have got to be kidding me. A man under enough stress to be suicidal and you are shocked that he yelled at the wife and kids? If you actually saw the movie why not acknowledge tha this was highly unusual behavior...so much so that Mary Bailey went to find out what was wrong. And then like a good help mate she did everything she could. George’s apology to Mary and the children is heart warming
George's downfall is portrayed in a too sudden fashion, that is a weakness in the film (one of my all time favorites). I would forgive Capra for that weakness, and attribute that to the constraints of 'film time'. If the downfall of George would have been portrayed in a more hard biting realistic fashion, the movie would have been extended by an hour or more.
I was shocked by George’s yelling and screaming at his wife and kids. He was really abusive,
You’re joking, right...?
I always felt it really gave the movie its chops. Stewart makes you feel George Bailey’s despair and desperation in that scene. Brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it, and makes the film’s payoff that much sweeter.