When it was released in 1946, Bosley Crowther of the New York Times criticized the tone of It’s a Wonderful Life, noting that “the picture’s weakness lies in its sentimentality.” Capra’s early filmmaking was similarly associated with a sentimentalized and idealized version of American life. Works such as “Mr. Dees Goes to Town” and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” were labeled “Capracorn” because of their sweet, understated nature. However, while “It’s a Wonderful Life” ends with pure-hearted George’s victory over the greed-obsessed Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore), the film depicts the gruesome unspoken struggle of an ordinary man. exposed. At a time when masculine asceticism was prevalent and mental health was rarely discussed, Stewart’s portrayal of George’s despair addressed issues of anxiety, depression, and personal failure.
The ordinary person he played was a departure from his previous heroic roles, and showed a change in his personality on and off screen. In 1973, he explained his on-screen persona on Michael Parkinson’s chat show. “I’m a lazy person. I’m a trying but uncertain guy. I’m a pretty good example of real human weakness. I don’t really have all the answers. I don’t have all the answers. There are very few answers, but for some reason, I managed to pull through.”
George’s specific personal struggles may not have been shared by Stewart, but as a veteran recently returned from World War II, the actor has had his own mental health issues. was. “This is the first photograph I took after I finished my military service,” Stewart told a BBC audience in 1972. It would be almost 40 years before post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Veterans were often diagnosed with “shell shock” and “combat fatigue,” and faced many challenges when rejoining civilian life.
“I broke down crying.”
In an era of stiff upper lips, Stewart’s acting was vulnerable, emotionally honest, and at times devastating. Near the beginning of the film, George begins drinking, praying for help, and crying at a bar in the fictional town of Bedford Falls, New York. He considers himself a failure. After a life of sacrifice after sacrifice, putting aside his personal dreams, he has completely lost his self-respect.
