Top Tweets for #iawl
It’s a Wonderful Life starts in soon…..I will be following @SethDavisHoops live tweets…he does it every year. We need more George Baileys, Bert the Cops, Ernie The Uber Driver, Gowar the Druggist….most communities have a Sam Waynewright…..more of them…let Potters. #IAWL
It is truly hard to believe a year has passed, but here we are again, Christmas Eve, counting down the hours to NBC’s airing of “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Once again, the best movie ever made arrives just when we need it. Do we ever NOT need it? #IAWL
Each year I am more grateful to be alive and able to partake in this holiday tradition. I live in L.A. but I’ll be live tweeting the east coast version thanks to my father @LannyDavis who will FaceTime the whole thing for me. He just turned 80! Hey Pop, you want a shock? I think you’re a great guy.
This year is the movie’s 79th anniversary. It has lived a long and wonderful life! Like many of you, I grew up watching it more times than I can count. I can recite virtually every line. As my family will tell you, they come up often. “I burped!”
Many years ago, I was watching the movie on Christmas Eve like always, and I started tweeting about it. I was inundated with good cheer—on Twitter! I have done a live tweet every year since. This is your chance to unfollow if it’s not your cup of egg nog.
The story of how this became a Christmas classic is almost as good as the movie itself. #IAWL is based on a short story written by Philip Van Doren Stern called “The Greatest Gift.” The story tells of a man named George Pratt who contemplates suicide on Christmas Eve.
He’s saved by The Stranger, never identified. The whole story takes place on the day George went to the bridge. It doesn’t explain much about George’s life. One of the differences in the story is that when Unborn George finds Mary, he discovers she is married with two kids. Her husband is meshugenah.
Anyway it took Philip two years to finish the 4100-word story. He couldn’t find a publisher so he printed a bunch of booklets and sent them to friends for Christmas in 1943. There’s a great lesson in that. Believe in yourself and be true to your art, no matter what!
Somehow a producer at RKO Pictures saw the story and pitched it to Cary Grant, who said he was interested in playing George. RKO purchased the movie rights for $10k and later sold it to Frank Capra’s Liberty Films. Two magazines, including Good Housekeeping, published Philip’s short story in January 1945 under the title “The Man Who Was Never Born.”
When Grant became unavailable because he was making The Bishop’s Wife, Capra reached out to super agent Lew Wasserman and said he wanted Jimmy Stewart, who had starred in Capra’s movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Stewart had just served as an Air Force flight leader in WW2. His nerves were frayed and his bank account was empty. @CNN published a great story about how he called on that pain for that compelling moment where he prays alone in Nick’s bar.
https://t.co/OAaOiBhS41
Capra tried to get several actresses, including Ginger Rogers, to play Mary and eventually chose Donna Reed. Reed grew up in Iowa and won a bet with Lionel Barrymore (Mr. Potter) that she could milk a cow on set.
The town of Seneca Falls, N.Y., claims itself as the place upon which the movie was based. There’s a museum there, an annual festival and a bridge that looks like the one George jumped off. It’s unclear just how true this is, but hey, let’s roll with it.
The movie was filmed over 90 days in Culver City and Encino, Calif. The famous swimming pool scene was filmed at Beverly Hills HS. I’m told the floor/pool still exists and yet somehow I have never jumped in while wearing a suit. Who can make that happen for me in 2026?
One of the alternate endings was a scene where George drops to his knees and recites the Lord’s Prayer. Capra thought that was overly religious and had it changed. The movie also originally ended with everyone singing “Ode to Joy.” Capra changed that to “Auld Lang Syne.” Janie practiced it all day!
#IAWL opened in NYC on 12/20/46 to mixed reviews and poor box office. It lost about half a million dollars for RKO. It got a slew of Oscar nominations (picture, director, actor) but only won a technical achievement award.
Shortly after its release the FBI conducted a review of the film out of concern for “communist messaging.” They didn’t like the portrayal of Mr. Potter. Critics like Ayn Rand apparently forgot that George Bailey was a capitalist, too.
https://t.co/kuulvPp9XA
The movie would have been largely forgotten except for a heavenly clerical error. It had been purchased by Paramount, but in 1974 the company made a mistake and failed to renew the copyright. That meant any TV station in America could air the movie for free.
Starting in the early 1980’s, It’s A Wonderful Life aired nonstop through the holidays. It recaptured America’s hearts. Karolyn Grimes, who played Zuzu, was walking by a TV store one day, saw it on all the tubes and said, “I think I was in that movie.”
Incidentally Grimes has endured many hardships. She was orphaned as a teenager, lost two husbands, and her 18-year-old son died by suicide. She is an eloquent ambassador for the film. This 2011 @wapo story descibes it:
https://t.co/86yvXpyc5X
Here's another sad story about the actress who played Mary’s rival, Violet Bick. You never know what someone is going through. That’s why it’s so important to be kind! https://t.co/1mk2ZXhunJ
The copyright was reclaimed in 1993 and the movie was licensed to NBC. The re-airings became less frequent, but by that point the movie had become a must-see holiday classic, which is why I’ll be watching (yet again) tonight.
Two of the child actors are the only members of the cast still alive. Grimes and Jimmy Hawkins, who played Tommy (he burped!) are the living ambassadors for this beautiful piece of art.
https://t.co/bU4GH2T74A
I also recommend this 2022 essay by Clare Coffey at @bulwarkonline about the movie’s somewhat controversial portrayal of Mary in the post-George world. Interesting take!
https://t.co/V8chmWkysy
What makes this such a special work of art is that it doesn’t just remain relevant, it becomes MORE relevant each year. The themes of love, longing, empathy and gratitude remain ever-present. It is a beautiful reminder of what's really important in life, even (and especially!) during our hardest hours.
The movie is also coming amidst a very important conversation about the definition of manhood. There is a growing strain in our culture that argues a “real” man is someone who says what he wants, does what he wants, and takes everything he can, regardless of whom he hurts. You don't win unless someone else loses. George Bailey presents a different archetype, a man who is humble, who sacrifices and puts other people first, who loves his wife and is loyal to his children, who seeks to lift people up even when he's down, who has big dreams but never wants credit for the things he already has. Which one is “real” to you? Discuss!
This year for my live tweet I am extending a special invitation/request for people who have attempted suicide or had suicidal thoughts. If you are comfortable, please share your stories with me so I can RT them. People are hurting, and they need to know they’re not alone. The national suicide hotline is 988. Please use it if you need it! There’s nothing stronger than recognizing your vulnerabilities. We all have them.
For a long time, I have wanted to write a book on “It’s A Wonderful Life.” So allow me to manifest: Someday soon I WILL write a book about this movie. I have so much to say about it! Feel free to pass this message along to your favorite book publisher and editor. Y’all know how to reach me.
Also, I have two Goldendooles. One is named Clarence. He is my guardian angel. My previous dog’s name was Bailey. Notice a pattern?
Three years ago, I took (forced?) my family to go to our local theater and we watched it with no commercials and no tweeting. Just the five of us and our popcorn. And yes, we cried when Harry made his toast at the end. I highly recommend that experience if you get the chance.
So I hope you will join me, George, Clarence and the gang at 8 pm ET. When the movie is over in the east, I will watch it again on the west coast with my family. I won’t watch the movie so much as watch them watch the movie. Even better.
Even in the toughest of times, there’s nothing like a beautiful piece of art to remind us to be grateful for the wonderful things in our lives. Tweet ya at 8 pm ET!
@SethDavisHoops What time do we start tomorrow Tucson time? One my favorite Seth Davis rituals of the year. I lost my Dad this year whose name was George….he was a guy who was I like to believe was “Tucson’s George” I’ll be ready. #iawl
One Day More! #IAWL
Two more days! Zuzu's petals! #IAWL
Three days til we hear the greatest line in movie history:
"I burped" #IAWL
Four more days #IAWL
Five days to go! #IAWL
Six days to go! #IAWL
#Ourveryown Pamella Ager joined a powerful panel at #WELLA by #IAWL on Leadership & Gender Equality in Law. She urged firms to adopt IAWL policies for accountability. CJ Mutunga spoke on sexual harassment in the judiciary, while Justice Mugenyi shared career tips for #WomenInLaw
Join us at #WELLA2025 tomorrow!
#Ourveryown Managing Partner Pamella Ager will share insights on leadership, wellness & excellence at IAWL’s Women’s Law & Leadership Academy.
Register: https://t.co/EAz65LT9aJ
#IAWL
Are you eager to expand your arbitration practice internationally, but uncertain about where to begin or how to manage it with your daily responsibilities?
Read more here: https://t.co/BQMsJ8QBwa
#WELLA2025 #WomenInLawAfrica #LegalLeadershipAfrica #IAWL #WELLATraining
Oraro & Company Advocates is honoured to support the Women’s Excellence & Leadership in Law Academy (WELLA) as one of the sponsors of this impactful initiative by the Institute for African Women in Law (IAWL).
Read more here: https://t.co/DVZzqyZVnx
#WELLA #IAWL #LawInAfrica
I am honored to be featured in the 25 Women in Law Who Inspire in 2005 Magazine series #IAWL
Many thanks J. Jarpa Dawuni and IAWL team for creating platforms for African women to tell their stories, share their experiences and inspire future generations https://t.co/pWf1ChTdIS
Leadership by Example: B&P Associates Champions Gender Equality in Law
We are pleased to announce our formal adoption of the #IAWL Gender Equality in Law (GEL) Model Policy. We had the honour of welcoming the IAWL team, led by Professor J. Jarpa Dawuni, for a signing ceremony.
The story of how this became a Christmas classic is almost as good as the movie itself. #IAWL is based on a short story written by Philip Van Doren Stern called “The Greatest Gift.” The story tells of a man named George Pratt who contemplates suicide on Christmas Eve.
I still look like a little devil playing dress-up! 🤣🤦♀️😇😈 @AlexPlayersSE7 #IAWL #AngelGloria #ActingAgainstType #AmDram #CostumeGathering
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