So it was my birthday yesterday on Christmas Eve: my 21st birthday, to be exact! It started off with a bang, and by bang, I mean that two of my best friends drove over, picked me up, and drove me to Safeway to buy a six-pack. Great. That's how it's done, people. That's how it's done.
And at night, I went to the Cheesecake Factory and ordered a glass of merlot. I was alone, which was a little depressing but not unexpected. The waiter who took my order saw that it was my birthday from my ID, and he said: "Oh, you're alone??" which made me feel a little worse about it, but what are you going to do, friends have families and my mom was too tired from the day's activities to keep me company for a late-night showing of It's a Wonderful Life, which I was headed to after the merlot.
Jimmy Stewart in The Greatest Film of All Time (1946)
Then after the Cheesecake Factory, warm with wine, I walked to the Stanford Theater, which is this lovely, grand old movie theater that only shows old movies and even silent films. I'd noticed on the marquee earlier in the day that they would be showing It's a Wonderful Life at night on Christmas Eve, but I had never even dreamed that it would be sold out, which is what it was! There was a line out the door for "extra seats." Well, thankfully, the line actually moved and for the first time that night I was thrilled to be by myself, because it was easier to get a seat. Also, I mentioned quite loudly that it was my birthday. (I had to get in. Also, I was a little tipsy and more aggressive than usual.) Once I barreled into the theater, I found a lone seat in the totally-packed house, which was lucky because I had expected to sit on the floor once I learned that the theater was full.
And then the organist descended and the movie started.
I have to say: watching It's a Wonderful Life on the big screen on Christmas Eve with hundreds of other people is a Rocky Horror-like event. When the opening credits rolled, the names "James Stewart" and "Frank Capra" received huge, huge applause. And in the actual movie, whenever we saw Mr. Potter, the audience would hiss like a snake. (He actually does kind of look like a snake. Well done, Lionel B.) And at the end, when Zuzu cries, "Teacher says, every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings!" people in the audience RANG BELLS. This is not a joke! People brought bells and RANG THEM at that part! I felt so happy at that moment. It was the best birthday gift, to sit amongst so many people in the holiday spirit and watch a fantastic movie that seems to get better and better with age. I've only seen the movie maybe 6 times in my life, but every time I see it, something amazing is illuminated for me in some way or I finally understand a joke that I hadn't understood before. For example, at the very beginning, when Clarence and the other two angels are stars in the universe, Clarence asks, "What are they wearing nowadays?" but instead of giving him time to dress, the other angels make him watch "the film," or George Bailey's greatest hits in sequence. He doesn't get to change clothes, and when we finally see Clarence, sure enough---he's decked out in some strange, ruffly 18th century underwear-cloak. Awesome.
Anyway, below is the scene in which George "asks" Mary to marry him. (He doesn't really ask...at least in the appropriate sense.) Best. Best best best. Someone kiss me like that all over my face, yeah?
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