Enter the Martini castle ... The Enesco Martini Home of Mr. and Mrs Martini

    Next visiting one of the finest buildings in all of Bedford Falls and of course in all the Enesco village. It's also central to one of the best scenes of the film. Of course we are talking about the owners of Martini's, the warm and genuine Giuseppe and Maria Martini. Their house represents so much more than just a home, and it's scene in the movie could be considered a core of the movie's theme or central plot. We see the contrasts between Potter's machine and the Building and Loan's organic community system. On one side, the bankers or middle man seem to make all the profits, while on the other a family becomes the owners of their own home with only their future and hearts to profit. We see George and Mary's commitment to their work, while by the end of the scene we also see their (George's at least) slight frustration at the realization of what sacrifices he's made to become the figure of that very work they do. Goerge and Mary are at the opening of the new home, they drive the family (and their goat) to the new home, and create a friendship that becomes very special. In this scene Martini simply calls George Mr. Bailey but by the end of the film we know that George has become Giuseppe's best friend.
    Mr. Martini is played by the wonderful William Edmunds, and his wife Maria by the lovely Argentina Brunetti. Edmunds was a minor actor in many films including a small role in the famous Casablanca and Shop Around the Corner. Shop as I've mentioned before is a must see! He costars with Jimmy Stewart in at least 3 or 4 movies. Argentina, was not ironically probably, born in Argentina in 1907 and had an astoundingly long career in movies and television. It's a Wonderful Life was one of her first roles, and she went on to play parts in everything from The Lone Ranger, Bonanza, Fantasy Island, to even yes ... Everybody Loves Raymond. Both William and Argentina lived long into their 90's with Edmunds passing away at 96 and Brunetti at 98!

     Contrasting the living environments we can start by just comparing the two locations. Here is a shot of the renter house that the family leaves.

Notice the 'To Rent' sign on the door. Potter doesn't waste any time. 

Pretty little holmes

 Then we move to the newly created Bailey Park and see that by no means is this the first home to be built. George and Mary have been very busy as we already can see that a community within and around Bedford Falls is there. In just two shots Capra has shown us both the hole George would leave with individuals as well as the entire town. 

Castle Martini

   

Then we see our first look at what is so appropriately 

called the Martini castle. Here are a couple shots stuck together so you can get the entire view from the front. 

     

    

     We can even see what address in Bedford Falls the family will not reside in. I might have to snatch some URL's with those numbers in case I want any additions to the blog. A nice view of their front porch which is a vast improvement over their previous version. 

     While at the grand entrance to their new home, we come to what I consider some of the finest lines of dialog in any film. Not crucial to the plot or storyline, the speech Mary and George give concerning their gifts is marvelous. It's short, it's telling, its true. It's more than worth repeating here. 

"Bread, That this house may never know hunger"

"Salt, That life may always have flavor"

"Wine, That joy and prosperity may reign forever!"

  Having saw the home in the film, now we can see the building from the Enesco village. It's from the fourth series, which is probably the best of all those released. It's also by far the rarest to find. This is one of teh best looking pieces too as it's differently shaped, and has a lot of detailed decorations. Here is the unboxing. 

Enesco Martini Home: Front angle

Enesco Martini Home: Front. Click below on 'Read more' to continue with the gallery. 

Serves hard drinks for men who want to get drunk fast. No atmosphere ... must be Martini's Bar!

   Probably no other building seen in the film serves better to offer us a complete contrast of life in Bedford Falls with George Bailey and life without. The building, the owner, the look, and dare I say the atmosphere changes dramatically in the twist of Clarence's visit. Martini's Bar is one of the most memorable establishments as a lot of crucial scenes and even more crucial dialog happen here.

Desperate George in Martini's Bar

    Martini's Bar is of course owned by Mr. Martini who we meet as Mary and George welcome them into their new home which resides in Bailey Park. We'll visit him and his family , as well as their home later when I showcase that piece/building from the collection. You can't miss the place with it's dramatic signage flashing on the front of what is really a small building. Inside George is attempting to drink an idea into his head, and at first is seen just wracking his brain, then like anyone sane person when they are at the end of their own strength ... look above.

George offers his famous prayer here, then receives a quick reply that is anything but divine. Worth repeating

George's Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven,

I'm not a praying man, 

but if you're up there and can hear me. 

Show me the way. 

I'm at the end of my rope. 

Show me the way God. 

Andrews as the 'Old Ranger'

George's CHRISTmas eve present from Mr. Welch

     And coincidentally by his fellow bar patron right next to him. This of course is Mr. Welch, the husband of the teach of George's daughter Zuzu. I need not have to explain that due to a certain conversation between the two earlier, each had promised the other an early CHRISTmas gift of sorts. Mr. Welch is played by Stanely Andrews, an actor who had quite the various roles during his career. Andrews was in literally hundreds of films in the 30's and 40's filling in a massive amount of small to medium sized roles in films ranging from Capra's Mr. "Deeds Goes to Town" and "You Can't Take it With You" to just about every early Western series on television. It was from those Western series that he got the job as Host of Death Valley Days to which he was a part of until he died in 1963. He was replaced by a man by the name of Ronald Reagan. Reagan subsequently left Death valley Days to become California's Governor and of course onto greater things. But back to that answered prayer and CHRISTmas presents. Well just study the image and you can see them exchanging gifts. Or rather Mr. Welch giving George something at least.

Snow White?

    One last note. Another thing you might listen for and take notice of is Snow White singing in the background of Martini's when George first enters and while he prays. By Snow White, I mean of course the voice of Disney's Snow White from 1937. Walt Disney specially selected Adriana Caselotti for the voice of his most famous and monumental animated epic. Adriana stayed famous for this prestigious role the rest of her life, but also had uncredited and tiny background musical bits in both The Wizard of Oz, and of course our film It's a Wonderful Life. We can hear hear singing with another uncredited male behind George and if the woman who appears behind him is in fact that singer, has a tiny amount of screen time. Listen close for that high pitched little Snow White voice. 

    As mentioned and as of course realized by good fans of the film. We see two versions of this establishment with much different attributes. Below are some quick snapshots of some WIG (With George) and WOG (Without George) shots of the bar. I suppose the technical contrast would be the Bedford Falls and the Pottersville versions. First, we see that in Bedford Falls they have enough sense to still decorate for CHRISTmas while in Pottersville they are focused only on CHRISTmas spirits ... as in spirits.

With Decorations

Without Decorations

   Next it seems that business is definitely booming for the bars in Pottersville as just the clientel seems to have increased on CHRISTmas eve. The entire place seems to come to George aid and is caught in the shot below but in the WOG shot, I couldn't get everyone in a single frame as there are too many folks in the place. You will notice that some younger woman seem to be working there in the WOG bar which might also have something to do with that. Previously the only women in the place looked to be there with their husbands ... while in the WOG establishment it's more like the men are there to avoid their spouses.

WOG Folks

WIG Folks

WOG crowd and various bar maiden

WOG Music and crowd

   And finally a quick look at the changes to the outside of the building. Namely of course the name signage switching between the ownership. 

  Speaking of the owners, we get to see one special actor playing the famous Nick. Nich as both the bar tender and as the bar owner is played by the famous Sheldon Leonard. Leonard is most famous for ... well everything! He directed , he acted, produced, and worked on innumerable famous tv shows over the decades after It's a Wonderful Life. He is credited with creating such hits as both the Andy Griffith Show and the Dick Van Dyke show. He stared in just about everything from westerns on up an episode of The Cosby Show. (Seen at around the 12:35 mark). Never retiring, Leonard worked and excelled right up to his death in 1997 at age 89. Besides the films main stars and of course Capra himself ... Nick the bartender is by far the one who left his mark on history and entertainment. 

Leonard after IaWL

   Lastly before heading to the village, we need to look at the accessory that comes with this pice. Something that every Bedford Falls needs, a town welcome sign. The welcome to Bedford Falls is more than just a symbol of the movie, it's something that connects the viewer to the surroundings that we come to love in teh film. When you read YOU ARE NOW IN BEDFORD FALLS you shouldn't be able to help yourself smile. Continuing the contrasts that this post relays here are the two signs from the movie. Pay special attention to the scale of the Bedford Falls sign in regards to people, cars, and especially the buildings around it. 

Mentally I don't think I ever leave :) Also notice the bandstand welcoming Harry Bailey in the background for those of you wondering where it belongs in your village placement. Again notice also the scale of the sign.

The sign is a perfect example of Capra trying to dramatically show the changes between WIG and WOG worlds. Again for village owners, notice the placement of where George is in relation to the main street and see where the soldiers statue is located. 

      Yet onto the buildings and the village piece. It's from the first series of buildings and is proportionally smaller than the other buildings. Judging from the film I believe they got the scale right as it does seem to just be a small pub/bar in relation to a lot of the other structures in town. Saying that, it boggles my mind how they managed to misrepresent the scale and size of the sign that comes with this piece. I suppose they wanted it to be easily readable but I find that it just seems totally too large and is almost distracting. I have noticed that one some of the re-releases of this building by Enesco the sign is even larger than first issued. I'm not sure why this is the case. But anyway, grab a drink and more on for some pictures of the unboxing and gallery for Martini's Bar from Enesco. 

Enesco Martini Bar and Bedford Falls Sign: Front.
To continue with the rest of the gallery just click the 'Read More' Below

Visiting the lair of the Bedford Falls scurvy little spider , the Henry F Potter Mansion

   For a presence so felt in a film as that of Mr. Potter, it's surprising we don't ever see where the man lives or what such a man would call home. Judging from his taste for horse and a coach, even in 1918 one can assume that such a building would be a grand one in all sense of the word. From a directors point of view also, it's surprising that Potter's residence isn't used as a kind of visual representation of his separation and wealth. As Clarence exclaims in his question "a king!?", such a man's castle would surely do the trick. But perhaps Capra does indeed tell us something by not showing us the Potter house. What we do see, is that when someone wants to see Mr. Potter it's always at his office in the bank. That fact that it's always at the bank that we can find him, rather than at home is more telling of the man. He spends most of hist time at work, close to his money, and where he can keep an eye on the towns financial business somewhat. His office there is decorated and fill the room. We do however see his office at home just prior to his move over to the bank. Though not confirmed it must be from his home. It's our only glimpse of perhaps what truly is likely the spider lair.

Here is the only view at potentially the Potter mansion. Notice again his own portrait hanging there (the other two are in the bank) and likewise 2 additional busts of Napoleon. 

   

Black Bart

    In what should be not news, everyone should know that Henry Potter was played to perfection (or infamy) by the great (and I do mean great) Lionel Barrymore. Born when the outlaw Black Bart was still robbing stagecoaches, Lionel was born into an acting family , one that can claim well over a century of performing, Barrymore has quite the famous career even when only counting jobs in moving pictures with sound. In fantastic films ranging from 'You can't take it with you' (with Jean Arthur), 'Captains Courageous' (with Spencer Tracy) to 'The Gorgeous Hussy' (with Jimmy Stewart). Lionel was almost always known prior to It's a Wonderful Life as a fatherly or grandfatherly figure with the utmost kindness or sincere compassionate nature and afterwards as mostly simply Mr. Potter. On a side note, Lionel Barrymore is also indeed related directly to the modern Drew Barrymore for whom her first, and middle names are direct takes of her famous ancestral acting surnames.

Browse some pictures, I think you'll see some resemblance. Chins maybe?

    Lionel Barrymore had a career that lasted over six decades! He passed away of heart failure in 1954. You can find his full NY Times obituary here. For more on his life, hope over to here. 

Hagney in the Riflemen 1959

    As Mr. Potter, through Lionel's portray we might not know where Henry F Potter is or lives during the movie but we always know and feel that he is there somewhere close. When George is feeling most down and frustrated after the visit and bragging of Sam Wainwright ... who gives him a call? When the bank run occurs and the Building and Loan almost sinks ... who gives George a call? When George comes to him desperate and afraid ... who gives the police a call? He and his 'fingers on' are indeed all over the town. Part of that must be due to his hired minions. As a rich man, and due him be confined to a wheelchair we do see various henchmen and minion women that 'scurry' around and carry out his chores. Not named, but seen many times is the man behind Potter pushing him around and likely taking a verbal abuse no one in town gets is the actor Frank Hagney. Hagney played bit parts in various films and then was seen on quite a few westerns in the 50's and 60's before his death in 1973. During the film it should be added that Potter's wheelchair henchman ages quite well from the early scenes in 1918 to the ending scenes in 1946. 

Pusher in 1918

Spider Pusher years later

   George shouts and relates Potter to his wheelchair pusher in the 'spider' scene, and walking out the door he makes the same insult to another unnamed female Potter bank minion walking in the door. This actress is Almira Sessions, who had a very long career regally acting in dozens of television shows right up to the 70's just before her death. She did everything from the 'Munsters' to 'Carolle Burnette'.

Scurvy Spider #3

    Briefest of all is the driver of Potter's carriage who we presume was canned without much sympathy whenever Potter made the change to automobiles. We can only hope he found some way into Bailey Park rather than Potter's fields. 

Potter's driver

     Speaking of the two competing residential areas in Bedford Falls, that brings us to the most vocal of Potter's employees. His rent collector. But we'll cover him when we visit the bank at a later time. Anyone know who he is? As a tip, he was the longest living adult member of the cast. But back onto the home of Mr. Potter. Perhaps some of these employee's lived there, perhaps not. It's not by accident that my imagination can't help but draw comparisons to Ebeneezer Scrooge's flat. In the various incarnations of his place in each 'A CHRISTmas Carol' film, the living arrangements and setting seem to come the closets to what I think Potter's mansion must have looked like. Drafty, wooden, open, dark, and empty. But that's as much as we can do is use our imagination. Enesco did just that when they created their version of the Potter mansion as a web exclusive piece. Not part of a series it was a special unique piece.

    As I have said and probably will say, some buildings Enesco got just right, others dead wrong. Luckily this one I believe they did a great job on. Keep looking below for my gallery for the Enesco Henry F. Potter Mansion. I think the colors are great, the height and size make for an impressive building when put beside any others of the village. The windows trim is fitting, the small tower does indeed give off a slight castle feel, and the large window also distinguish it. One of the finest Enesco put out. Here are some shots of the building in day light. As the norm, starting with the unboxing. 

Enesco Henry F Potter Mansion: Box Front. To view the rest of the gallery pics just click the 'Read More' to see them.