Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” – the Paradoxes of Interpretations

Elżbieta Durys

kwartalnik.filmowy@ispan.pl
University of Lodz (Poland)

Abstract

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) is perhaps the most famous and frequently cited film in the area of American pop culture. Described as populist and sentimental, the work of Frank Capra is of great interest to researchers both from the broadly defined cultural studies, as well as historians and political scientists. The aim of the article is to point out some, often divergent, interpretations of the film. Their presentation points to the nuances and shades of meaning of It’s a Wonderful Life, which often remain unseen due to the affective dimension of the film.


Keywords:

Frank Capra, American cinema, sentimentalism

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Published
2016-06-30

Cited by

Durys, E. (2016) “Frank Capra’s ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ – the Paradoxes of Interpretations”, Kwartalnik Filmowy, (93-94), pp. 6–20. doi: 10.36744/kf.2186.

Authors

Elżbieta Durys 
kwartalnik.filmowy@ispan.pl
University of Lodz Poland

Dr hab., adiunkt na Wydziale Studiów Międzynarodowych i Politologicznych Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego. Autorka artykułów publikowanych w czasopismach i antologiach. Współredaktorka książek poświęconych kinu amerykańskiemu oraz tematyce gender. Autorka dwóch monografii: Mieliśmy tu mały problem... O twórczości Johna Cassavetesa (2009) i Ame­rykańskie popularne kino policyjne w latach 1970-2000 (2013).



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