It's a Wonderful Life - 1946

"It's A Wonderful Life" Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed (© 1946 RKO)

 

Review by DB

This is a phonograph connected movie classic. It's suffered a bit over the years as the last time I watched it there were some time-related popular culture subjects that I hadn't paid much attention to sixty years ago. So let's just say I still like it because it has two of my favorite phonograph-in-the-movies scenes.

First, the memorable Victrola scene in Reed's house where the record "Buffalo Gals" is playing and after an argument with Stewart she smashes the record to pieces.

 

WATCH Excerpt of Scene

 

And who could forget the honeymoon night dinner preparation scene where Donna Reed is roasting chicken on a spit in the fireplace with a spring-wound phonograph supplying the music and the power for turning the spit?

 

 

 

The movie does also raise several questions which may be worth considering:

Who else cares if you were born?

What is your contribution to your time and place?

What is your legacy to planet Earth and other beings?

 

 

This movie has the Friends of the Phonograph seal of approval based on the phonograph connected scenes - which means pay more attention to the phonographs the next time you watch this movie. This movie was originally black and white so apologies to purists for the colorized clips.

 

You want the moon?

 

 

 

Buffalo Gals

 
Buffalo Gals, won't you come out tonight,
Come out tonight, come out tonight.
Buffalo Gals, won't you come out tonight
And dance by the light of the moon?
As I was walking down the street,
Down the street, down the street,
A pretty little gal I chanced to meet,
Oh, she was fair to see.
Buffalo Gals, won't you come out tonight,
Come out tonight, come out tonight.
Buffalo Gals, won't you come out tonight
And dance by the light of the moon.
I stopped her and we had a talk,
Had a talk, had a talk,
Her feet took up the whole sidewalk
And left no room for me.
Buffalo Gals, won't you come out tonight,
Come out tonight, come out tonight.
Buffalo Gals, won't you come out tonight
And dance by the light of the moon.
I asked her if she'd have a dance,
Have a dance, have a dance,
I thought that I might have a chance
To shake a foot with her.
Buffalo Gals, won't you come out tonight,
Come out tonight, come out tonight.
Buffalo Gals, won't you come out tonight
And dance by the light of the moon.
I danced with a gal with a hole in her stockin',
And her heel kept a-knockin', and her toes kept a-rockin'
I danced with a gal with a hole in her stockin'
And we danced by the light of the moon.
Buffalo Gals, won't you come out tonight,
Come out tonight, come out tonight.
Buffalo Gals, won't you come out tonight
And dance by the light of the moon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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