It’s a Wonderful Life, Frank Capra’s legendary holiday classic was be screened at Detroit’s Redford Theatre on the weekend of November 22.
The storyline needs no explanation; the film has been engrained into the American subconscious for decades that summarizing it will waste your time.
Yes, Zuzu grew up. Now get over it.
The Redford welcomed a special guest to the screenings of Life: the young child actress that played George Bailey’s daughter Zuzu, Karolyn Grimes. Now 73, she will reflect on her most famous role to audiences at the screening as well as a special meet-and-greet for 50 lucky guests. She also has owns a museum devoted to the film and continues to reflect on the film to the public to this day. In a BBC interview, she reflected to reporter Rebecca Thomas on the making of the film, her time with the film’s star, Jimmy Stewart, and the impact the film has had on many people, herself included. This interview can be read here.
The Redford, built in the late 1920s, is one of many revival houses in the country screening classic films year-round, even though the initial purpose was to screen more recent films. The architecture reflects Japanese decor, and evoked an outdoor style with scenery painted on the walls “stars” twinkling brightly from the ceiling. The theater is owned by the Motor City Theatre Organ Society, an organization dedicated to “promote the preservation of theatre organs in their original settings.” The organ was being played presenting Christmas songs before the program. Grimes was there to sign autographs at the lobby before the screening and during intermission.
Grimes opened the screening with interesting and rather humorous anecdotes about the film’s production and legacy. Some of it was dedicated to sharing personal memories during the film and the reason for her retirement and subsequent move to Missouri. She has no regrets about leaving Hollywood and praised the Midwesterners in the audience for their spirit and kind personalities.
During the 20-plus minutes she spent presenting the film, she makes note of several things that happen during the film and provides an explanation to quite a few. These got the biggest response from the audience after she pointed it out.
- The actor that played Mr. Gower was really drunk during the earliest scenes. Frank Capra, for some reason allowed the actor, H.B. Warner, to spend some cozy time with booze. (For realism purposes, perhaps?) A shot where Gower guzzles down a bottle of whiskey got a huge laugh from the audience.
- Grimes made reference to one shot of the film where a man running the bridge toll shines his flashlight at the commotion when Clarence saves George/George saves Clarence in the river. She pointed out that the flashlight seems to shine as bright as a searchlight. This also got guffaws.
- Grimes at one point during the intro stated: “Frank Capra was a genius. Why he never taught me the lyrics to ‘Auld Lang Syne,’ I’ll never know.” She said that she was singing off gibberish during the scene. It may have ruined one of the most touching scenes in cinema. Laughter erupted when that shot of her singing came on.
- Fortunately, she didn’t mention any humorous backstory about filming the scene where George visits Harry Bailey’s grave!
In moments not related to her presentation, the sound dropped out during a montage sequence that seemed to span almost 10 years of George Bailey’s wonderful life. No big deal, everyone’s seen it before, and it was a moment where the visuals were able to stand out in terms of telling the plot. Some people were imitating sound effects and dialogue during the screening and everything turned out alright.
In retrospect, my attendance of It’s a Wonderful Life‘s screening at the Redford seemed to satisfy everyone. It was a packed house and everyone seemed to have a good time. Watching an old movie on TV is one thing, but seeing it on the big screen is another.
Click here to see upcoming events from the Redford Theatre!