It’s a Wonderful Life
Ecclesiastes 12:1, 13-14 Victory Fellowship
March 31, 2024 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
Resurrection Sunday
I. Introduction: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) is an American Christmas supernatural drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra. It is based on the short story and booklet "The Greatest Gift" self-published by Philip Van Doren Stern in 1943, which itself is loosely based on the 1843 Charles Dickens novella A Christmas Carol.
a. The film stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his personal dreams in order to help others in his community and whose thoughts of suicide on Christmas Eve bring about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody. Clarence shows George all the lives he touched and what the world would be like if he had not existed.
b. Although it was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, It's a Wonderful Life initially received mixed reviews and was unsuccessful at the box office. Theatrically, the film's break-even point was $6.3 million, about twice the production cost, a figure it did not come close to achieving on its initial release. Because of the film's disappointing sales, Capra was seen by some studios as having lost his ability to produce popular, financially successful films. (Even I have issues with the film)
c. Its copyright expired in 1974 following a lack of renewal and it entered the public domain, allowing it to be broadcast without licensing or royalty fees at which point it became a Christmas classic. It's a Wonderful Life is now considered to be one of the greatest films of all time and among the best Christmas films. It has been recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films ever made. It was No. 11 on the American Film Institute's 1998 greatest movie list, No. 20 on its 2007 greatest movie list, No. 8 on its list of greatest love stories, and No. 1 on its list of the most inspirational American films of all time.
d. In 1990, It's a Wonderful Life was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being deemed as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Capra revealed that it was his favorite among the films he directed and that he screened it for his family every Christmas season. It was one of Stewart's favorite films.
e. A modern remake of the film, written and directed by Kenya Barris, is in development at Paramount Pictures as of Jan. 2024.
f. Even though this film was born a seemingly dismal failure, it gained new life no one could predict. The film actually experienced a wonderful life after all.
II. The Conclusion of the Matter.
a. Solomon summarizes his seemingly dismal book of Ecclesiastes this way:
Ecclesiastes 12:1, 13-14 So remember your Creator in the days of your youth: Before the days of adversity come, and the years approach when you will say, “I have no delight in them”; When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity. For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil. (HCSB)
b. Like George Bailey experienced, there will be hard times in this life. Unlike George Bailey, we need to remember that God has the final word. Our help is not from some beleaguered angel.
c. In the resurrection, Jesus took our nothingness, our separation from God, and He breathed new life into us.
d. He made a way where all seemed hopeless. He gave us a wonderful, abundant life.
e. On Easter we celebrate that Jesus gained the victory over sin and death.
f. And one glorious day He is returning and all believers (past, present, and future) will be with Him. Forever.
PRAYER
SONG: Glorious Day
