MovieChat Forums > It's a Wonderful Life (1947) Discussion > I apologise for being harsh on Uncle Bil...

I apologise for being harsh on Uncle Billy

posted 8 years ago by foebane72
11 replies | jump to latest

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I saw this movie a few days ago and only saw one side of George's dilemma, but now it's on TV again at this moment I'm seeing fully how it devastated Billy, and I just didn't get that. I should understand, as I've been forgetful myself, and I noticed Billy's line "I can't think any more, it hurts", meaning that it was, as others said, a mental condition brought on by advanced middle age. I feel tempted to delete my other thread, now, but maybe I'll just edit it to not sound so bad towards him.

Why are you here if you haven't seen the movie yet?

[–] homergreg 8 years ago

It's all right, I'm sure Uncle Billy has forgotten all about it by now.

"But I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now"

[–] tmaj48 8 years ago

I hold George responsible for the loss of the money. Uncle Billy always had memory problems; from his very first appearance in the movie, when George was just a boy, this was apparent. To allow Uncle Billy, or anyone for that matter, to carry around such a large amount of cash was asking for trouble. Gently telling Uncle Billy that someone should accompany him could have been done tactfully without any hurt feelings. George should have had that much sense.
Similarly, would it have been sensible to have at least a small stash of cash on hand in the Building and Loan in the event of an emergency such as the run on the bank? Without the honeymoon money, there was not so much as a single dollar on hand?

I'm not crying, you fool, I'm laughing!

Hewwo.

[–] Jb (21) 4 years ago

"Similarly, would it have been sensible to have at least a small stash of cash on hand in the Building and Loan in the event of an emergency such as the run on the bank? Without the honeymoon money, there was not so much as a single dollar on hand?"

It's easy to miss, but when George first enters the B&L, they tell him that the bank called in their loan balance and they had to pay all the cash they had to the bank.

[–] wt1963 8 years ago

The OP doesn't need to apologize. I posted on the OP's original thread, and the initial assessment of Uncle Billy is correct.

Billy is not a bad man, not by any means, and his regret over the situation proves it.

However, he monumentally screwed up. Not only did he lose the $8,000, he did so under almost unforgivable circumstances. He sees Potter in the bank, then starts to gloat when he rips the newspaper out of Potter's hands and brags about his brother's exploits. Upon finishing his rubbing it in Potter's face, he inadvertently hands over the $8,000.

Such a slick move is rare indeed.

If Billy had kept his eye on the ball and just deposited the money, much pain could have been avoided...but no, he had to get cocky and he paid for it.

There's a lesson there, and if one thinks about it, it's easy to figure out.

[–] whynotwriteme 8 years ago

I really liked Uncle Billy with his pet crow and squirrel. The scene where George storms out of Billy's house leaving him in tears and the little squirrel runs up and tries to comfort Billy was very touching.

[–] katerra23 8 years ago

Why didn't Potter get in trouble for keeping the 8,000? He didn't steal it but he was such an evil person and keeping money that wasn't his should have gotten him in trouble

[–] TheMouseShadow 8 years ago

because bad people do bad *beep* and get away with it. Life sucks some times.

On the other hand you could also take the viewpoint that had Billy not displayed such arrogant pride when he was talking to Potter in the bank, he never wouldve lost the money in the first place. So there is another lesson the film is teaching us.

[–] montgomerydou55 8 years ago

Swearing out a false warrant wouldn't help.

[–] snelling 8 years ago

"Saturday Night Live" gave us the real answer in the 1986.

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/its-a-wonderful-life-lost-ending/n9521?snl=1

"'Extremely High Voltage.' Well, I don't need safety gloves, because I'm Homer Simpsonznznznnnzzznnnzzz--" - Frank Grimes

[–] liscarkat (18388) 4 years ago

Billy is an incompetent, often-drunk f-up who probably has his job only because his brother (George's dad) regarded him as a family charity case who wouldn't be able to support himself otherwise. It is frustrating to watch as his ineptitude and stupidity plunge George into disaster.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

It does suck to see what Billy did but you'd think if he was that much of a moron that George wouldn't have trusted him. Maybe George was asking for trouble just as much as Billy. It's one thing to be a moron but it's worse to entrust a moron with serious tasks.