It’s a Wonderful Life Study Guide
Be familiar with the following items, events, and figures in U.S. history from the time period 1919 to 1946.
1. 1919 Flu epidemic (Mr. Gower’s son)
2. Soda Fountain/ Soda Jerk (Mr. Gower’s drug store)
3. Telegram
4. Building and Loan (Bailey business)
5. Charleston contest (Prom scene)
6. Run on a bank
7. Herbert Hoover (portrait in Building and Loan)
8. Air-raid warden
9. Scrap drives
10. 1A / 4F Draft Board
11. War bonds
12. VE Day/VJ Day
13. Medal of Honor
14. Harry Truman
Questions:
1. How many different modes of transportation are used in the film?
2. How does weather affect the mood of the film? How many types of weather are used?
3. What style architecture is the Granville House? Compare this style to the houses in Bailey Park.
4. Give three examples of how technology has changed since this movie was made.
5. Compare George Bailey’s office to Mr. Potter’s office.
6. What are the differences between Martini’s Bar and Nick’s Place?
7. What are the differences between Bedford Falls and Pottersville?
8. What happens to the women in George’s life if he had never been born? His mother? Mary? Violet Bick?
9. Where do these three important sayings appear in the film?
A. Bread... that this house may never know hunger. Salt... that life may always have flavor. And wine... that joy and prosperity may reign forever.
B. Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends.
C. All you can take with you is what you have given away. (Hint – it is on the wall in George’s office.)
Vocabulary:
squall
rabble
miser
pox
lout
chloroform
malfeasance
picketing
confound
smidgen
potter’s field
Who said the following significant quotes in the film?
1. Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?
2. Ah, youth is wasted on the wrong people.
3. You sit around here and you spin your little webs and you think the whole world revolves around you and your money. Well, it doesn't, Mr. Potter. In the whole vast configuration of things, I'd say you were nothing but a scurvy little spider.
4. A toast to my big brother, George: The richest man in town.
5. George Bailey, I'll love you 'til the day I die.
6. Boys and girls and music. Why do they need gin?
7. Now you listen to me. I don't want any plastics and I don't want any ground floors. And I don't want to get married *ever* to anyone! You understand that? I want to do what I want to do.
8. You know, George, I feel that in a small way we are doing something important. Satisfying a fundamental urge. It's deep in the race for a man to want his own roof and walls and fireplace, and we're helping him get those things in our shabby little office.
Be able to identify the following people associated with the film:
Jimmy Stewart
Donna Reed
Lionel Barrymore
Thomas Mitchell
Frank Capra
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
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