Film Background"It Happened One Christmas", a 1977 made-for-TV film, is a gender-reversal remake of the iconic holiday classic "It's a Wonderful Life". Directed by Donald Wrye, the movie aired on ABC. Marlo Thomas stars as Mary Bailey Hatch, the gender counterpart to the original film's George Bailey. While "It's a Wonderful Life" has been perennially acknowledged as one of the most well-known Christmas motion pictures ever made, "It Happened One Christmas" isn't as familiar and remembered by the general public.
Plot OverviewThe film follows Mary Bailey Hatch, a businesswoman who's teetering on the brink of despair due to her stopping working family business. Similar to in the initial, she ponders suicide on Christmas Eve, considering tossing herself off a bridge. Prior to she musters the courage, an angel named Clara Oddbody (Cloris Leachman) steps in. Clara is a second-class angel, sent out down to save Mary and make her angel wings.
Seeing Mary's awful state, Clara chooses to inform her about the impact she's had on her regional community. She takes Mary on a fantastic journey through a version of Bedford Falls, her hometown, but with one crucial difference: this is a world where Mary never existed.
The sight of this alternative reality serves as a wakeup require Mary. She discovers the lives of her loved ones had she not existed. She sees her more youthful sibling drowning without her to save him, her partner George living unhappily for he never married, and the whole town suffering under the dictatorship of Henry F. Potter, the vicious banker who had no opposition considering that Mary never ever continued her dad's structure and lender.
Character Portrayal and ThemesMarlo Thomas, undertaking an enthusiastic job of entering Jimmy Stewart's shoes, is powerful and effective as Mary Bailey Hatch, recording the anguish and sense of vulnerability her character sustains. While other characters like George Hatch (Wayne Rogers), Uncle Willie (Doran Clark), and other townspeople show the nostalgia of the original movie with their own distinct takes.
"It Happened One Christmas" preserves the sense of community and humanity discovered in the initial movie, concentrating on themes of altruism, sacrifice, empathy, and the importance of each individual in the web of human existence. The movie emphasises the butterfly effect of our existence and actions and promotes the concept that everyone matters.
ConclusionIn the end, Mary Bailey Hatch comes back to reality, understanding the weight of her existence and the many lives she has favorably impacted. Clara receives her wings and Mary returns home with newfound hope and commitment to her life and neighborhood.
"It Happened One Christmas", while not as widely known as the original, still provides a warm, heart-stirring take on the classic tale, shedding brand-new light on the story by examining it through the lens of a lady's experience. For fans of "It's a Wonderful Life", this film provides the opportunity to revisit the timeless narrative with a fresh perspective. The movie acts as a pointer of the significance of family, neighborhood, and altruism, especially throughout the holiday season, making it a beneficial addition to the roster of Christmas motion pictures.
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