It's a Capra kind of day!

Whenever it's wintertime, the thoughts of our nation turn to Christmas. My thoughts, however, turn to Frank Capra.

As it turns out, the media has instilled in us the idea that 'It's a Wonderful Life' can only be shown a Christmastime. This being, I suppose, because there is a Christmas tree present during the final scene. Whatever. Capra movies should be enjoyed at all times of the year but since they are excessively 'warm' in nature, I suppose it's natural that the cold weather seems conducive to enjoyment of them.

My favorite of Capra's creations will aways be 'You Can't Take it With You', quite possibly the happiest movie of all time and definitely a 'pick me up' for any ill. It is from this joyful film that my little blog has taken it's name. There is an endearing scene in which some neighborhood youngn's are teaching a dance called 'the big apple' for a nickel. Jean Arthur and James Stewart take a lesson with hilarious results. It's a fascinating and fun movie, all about the futility of ill-gotten gains. Everyone who reads this should go and watch it now.

For morbid humor and biting sarcasm, watch Arsenic and Old Lace which provides Cary Grant at his zany best. For endless refrains of "the Flying Trapeze" and excellent witicisms , watch It Happened One Night. On snowy evenings, It's a Wonderful Life never fails to serve. And then there are the three 'musketeers' of American film: 'Meet John Doe', 'Mr Smith Goes to Washington', and 'Mr Deeds Goes to Town' which provided their three lead actors when some of the best performances of their career. James Stewart's 'Mr Smith' is still my favorite of all time.

Capra's films are largely responsible for the fact that I prefer the pure and unsullied to the crass and debased in entertainment. I'm proud of that.

I think I'll put one on now.