DAILY DIRT: After all of these years, ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ remains a wonderful film

Welcome to a milestone moment in Daily Dirt history. Today’s collection of three thoughts represent Vol. 800. 

1. At some point in the coming days and weeks, most of us will see all — or at least a portion of — the Christmas classic “It’s A Wonderful Life,” starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and a memorable supporting cast.

For me, the holiday season would not be complete without spending the necessary time to take in “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “Love Actually”. I could not pick which of those holiday films I like the most, but since today’s subject is “It’s A Wonderful Life,” we’ll stick with the 1946 black-and-white film classic that has touched hearts for decades.

First, just a little background, then some (of what I think are) interesting facts about the movie you may not know.

The plot centers around a character named George Bailey (portrayed by Stewart), who lives in Bedford Falls, N.Y., and is contemplating suicide as Christmas nears. The prayers of his family and friends reach heaven, where “guardian angel second class” Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers) is assigned to save George in order to earn his wings.

Here’s 10 things you may not have realized about the movie, which, in my opinion, has one of the finest endings of any film ever made. (That’s all I’ll say about those memorable closing scenes, just in case someone reading this has not seen this magnificent movie.)

Anyway, back to business. Did you know that:

• 1. Cary Grant was originally scheduled for role of George Bailey? Some Hollywood front-office shenanigans, however, saw Stewart wind up with the role.
• 2. The movie was actually filmed in the summer, in the middle of a heat wave. If you look closely, you can see Stewart sweating in some close-up scenes.
• 3. A new kind of “chemical snow” was used in the film, transforming a California set into a New York winter wonderland.
• 4. The movie was the first starring role for Reed.
• 5. There is a “It’s A Wonderful Life” museum in Seneca Falls, N.Y., the city supposedly used as inspiration for the film.
• 6. Originally, director Frank Capra did not look at the film as a “Christmas movie”. He later admitted he was astonished at how it developed as such over the years.
• 7. Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer (of Little Rascals fame) played the character who pushes the button that opens the gym floor to reveal the pool — but he is uncredited in the movie.
• 8. The original final scene had the cast singing “Ode to Joy” instead of “Auld Lang Syne.”
• 9. At the time of its release, the movie received mixed reviews. “It’s a Wonderful Life” only made back $3.3 of its $3.7 million budget at first. It placed 26th in box office sales for its year of release.
• 10. Did you ever notice the cab drivers in the movie were named Bert and Ernie? Muppets creator Jim Henson has always said it was just coincidence the two famous “Sesame Street” characters had those same names.

2. Kudos to the Quincy Notre Dame pep band that plays at home basketball games.

If the QND bunch is not the best in the area, it is certainly on the medal stand. The Notre Dame musicians are crisp, loud, clear and on point.

For me, the mark of a good prep pep band is how much the crowd reacts, and at QND games the band is truly appreciated. I especially like the band’s version of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” when the crowd joins in and becomes an added “instrument”.

Muddy River sports czar Matt Schuckman has me scheduled to cover Thursday’s Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin at QND girls game, and I’m looking forward to the band as much as the game. (Well, and the concession stand, too.)

3. When the Detroit Pistons lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers Saturday night it marked the team’s 17th consecutive defeat.

The Pistons were 0-for-15 in November, becoming the 13th team in NBA history to go winless for an entire month, and the first since the 2014-15 Philadelphia 76ers.

Switching sports, the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots enter the first NFL Sunday in December after going 0-for-November.

Steve Thought O’ The Day – “Alfalfa” was in “It’s A Wonderful Life?” Who knew!?

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. He is excited for the Cotton Bowl, as he should be.