Riding with Death

(Before the movie starts, Mike blows up another planet. Crows goes on a tear, ultimately taking Mike’s collar in his hands (which I thought weren’t supposed to work, but never mind) and shaking him, yelling, “What did you do with that planet you silly, stupid old man? One of us is going to jail and it’s not going to be me!”)

This is taken from the scene in It’s a Wonderful Life where Uncle Billy has misplaced the money from the bank (actually, his nemesis Mr. Potter stole it) and he and George Bailey retrace his every step searching for it. Poor guys never do find it (because Mr. Potter stole it) and George—who’s always been kind of high-strung since his hopes and dreams to “get out of this crummy little town and see the world!” were smashed as soon as he said “I do” to Mary “Down-the-Street” Hatchet and even more so when they started having about a dozen kids (well, maybe just four)—starts ripping the poor little old man apart. He pretty much says exactly what Crow says here, although instead of “planet”, insert “money”. I realize that I haven’t actually said anything about It’s a Wonderful Life; I usually just note how many times they reference it in their shows. Well, it’s definitive Capra-corn—movies by Frank Capra that were usually light-hearted and ended with everyone being relatively happy. This was James Stewart’s first movie since World War II. Despite the fact that, as an Air Force pilot, he became the most highly decorated actor to serve in WWII, his contract forbade any films he made to reference or laud the fact. Which is rather noble if you think about it, but Stewart was a class act anyway and so it isn’t surprising. It’s a Wonderful Life was one of those rare movies that don’t do so well upon initial release, but gradually gain popularity. It’s now considered one of the greatest American films made, and is required viewing in the holiday season.