Forgo It's a Wonderful Life this season and go with the real Capra gem, You Can't Take It with You. If you've never seen it, it should be a must see. Absolutely pure Capra, a zany comedy with a social lesson for everybody, especially those in this greed and gore world of ours.

A plot summary

The Vanderhof household lives a spirited, care-free life in spite of the fact that they have no visible means of financial support. Grandpa Vanderhof (Lionel Barrymore) is the avuncular head of a loose collection of family, friends, and hangers-on who seem to do nothing but what they want to do. The story surrounds the fact that Granddaughter Alice (Jean Arthur) is in love with Tony Kirby (James Stewart) who just happens to be the son of stuffed-shirt, banking tycoon, Anthony P. Kirby (Edward Arnold). Of course, the elder Kirby has plans to buy up and tear down the Vanderhof neighborhood for his latest development project.

No spoilers here. The Vanderhof household is truly an exemplar of craziness, a kind of low-rent version of the Bullock clan from Gregory La Cava's similarly brilliant 1936 My Man Godfrey (another one of my favorites). That both movies feature the always comedic iconoclastic musings of Mischa Auer may be no accident. The extent that the Vanderhofs are totally unbuttoned is the extent that the Kirby's are buttoned-down stuffed shirts (except Kirby son, Tony--Stewart). Therein lies the charm. Of course, Capra's goal here is to show the Kirbys that the way of the world exhibited at the Vanderhof's might be the one true way using love as the seed.

YCTIWY is a unforgettably charming movie, a clear winner. Supporting cast, who turn in some of the best ensemble work of any movie since, are outstanding. It won the Best Picture Oscar, deservedly so.

I encourage DUers to see it this season.

Cast

Jean Arthur -- Alice Sycamore
Lionel Barrymore -- Granpa Martin Vanderhof
James Stewart -- Tony Kirby
Edward Arnold -- Anthony P. Kirby
Mischa Auer -- Boris Kalenkhov
Ann Miller -- Essie Carmichael
Spring Byington -- Penny Sycamore
Samuel S. Hinds -- Paul Sycamore
Donald Meek -- Poppins
H.B. Warner -- Ramsey