Question about "It's a Wonderful Life"

I think the term problematic is likely to be a modern-day value judgment about a film that is going to turn 80 next year.

This is the scene.



These days, any sort of poison would be kept under lock and key, and most likely not sold in a pharmacy, anyway. Also, druggists don't mix up medicines from scratch as much as they used to.

Children aren't as conditioned to believe adults unconditionally, or to follow orders no matter what.

You can attribute some of that to the Nuremberg trials, where lower level Nazis were convicted of war crimes even when they claimed they were, "only following orders". And to the case of US v William Calley, where First Lieutenant Calley was convicted under international humanitarian law for killing civilians at My Lai in Vietnam, again under direct orders. The court said an order to kill everyone in the village, even infants, was illegal on its face, and Calley should have disobeyed it.

You can also attribute growing American skepticism of authority to events such as Watergate.

So, you can call it problematic right now, if you like. But audiences at the time would not have found it to be so. And, even now, it's a huge testament to George's character, and his ability to do the right thing. It's even more compelling a testament when you understand the context of the scene.

Hi Jespah and thanks for your answer. It's really more than I was expecting. Very kind of you to share some thoughts with me. I'm actually lukewarm about this picture, but a friend of mine has some strong feelings about it. Thanks again. Wishing you well. Happy movie viewing! Tim