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It's a Wonderful Life - 1946

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

Review by DB

This is a true classic. And it's even better because it has two of my favorite phonograph-in-the-movies scenes.

Most dramatic is the 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.

And who could forget the honeymoon night dinner when 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?

On a more serious note, this movie asks some important questions and its story is about the answers:

What would it be like if you were never born?

What is your contribution to your time and place?

What is your legacy?

Highly recommended. Just pay more attention to the phonographs the next time you watch this movie.

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.