As you can see, I’m having technical problems. All posts after this date can be read by clicking on the links under ‘Latest Posts’. It’s usually on the right but you’ll have to scroll down to find it today.
This is a re-blog (updated), but I thought you might enjoy it.
To celebrate December, I watched It’s A Wonderful Life again. It’s a wonderful film and the ending still chokes me up; I love it.
For the first time, I noticed something about the names in the film, one of those tricks of the brain. There’s nothing scientific about this; it’s just a bit of fun.
- The cop is called Bert and the cab driver is Ernie. Bert & Ernie are Muppets who live on Sesame Street.
- Ernie’s full name is Ernie Bishop. Ernie Bishop was a character on Coronation Street. He was gunned down. It’s the first television murder I remember seeing (they say you never forget your first) (actually, they don’t say that; I just put it in to be funny) (did it work?).
- There is a bar called Martini’s. Martini is a drink served in a bar.
- The young brothers are called George and Harry Bailey. My Dad’s name was George Harry. Sadly, his surname wasn’t Bailey. I did know a Julie Bailey once, if that helps; and there’s a Doctor Bailey on Grey’s Anatomy. I feel like I know her*.
- The uncle is William Bailey, or Uncle Billy. Bill Bailey. I feel a song coming on. Sung by a long-haired British comedian,
a trilogy by Catherine Cookson and a scene from The West Wing when the character Will Bailey is hazed by the staff. - The villian, Potter, is told he will have a Potter’s field someday. Potter’s Field is associated with the death of Judas Iscariot, another villain.
- Potter’s full name is Henry F. Potter. ‘Harry’ is a nickname for ‘Henry’ so he is the first fictional Harry Potter. The latest Harry Potter film is out and I haven’t seen it yet and that puts me in a very bad mood so the first Harry Potter and I have something in common.**
*Sad, isn’t it?
**That’s not now true; I have seen it; I have loved it; I have seen and loved the one after it; I have hopes the Hub will buy me the box set for Christmas.
Related articles
- “Hello plot hole, we meet again!” Thoughts on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (mynotsofictionallife.wordpress.com)
The Laughing Housewife 
Nothing to do with your post but I really miss that wonderful picture of your laughing face!
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I’ve never seen that film, but I would be surprised ifit didn’t influence some of those name choices. (Is ‘Bill Baily’ Bill Baily’s real name?) http://www.billbailey.co.uk/
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Mark Bailey, ackershally, so Wiki says.
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Pseu, are you saying you’ve never seen It’s a wonderful life??? Tell me I misunderstood you.
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Never.
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Tilly, I’m asking you to ban Pseu from receiving any more CoWAbunger awards until she watches “It’s a wonderful life”.
Pseu, I can’t believe what I’m reading. 😦
Please watch it this weekend and fill your family’s hearts with the true spirit of Christmas.
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Sorry. No can do….
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I have to watch the Godfather. NOT my choice
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So easy! Tell your husband you have to watch The Godfather and he has to watch It’s a wonderful life. Then you call them us which movie made you both cry.
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Is this a private conversation or can anyone join in? 😀
And Pseu: listen to PM; she knows whereof she speaks.
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I don’t remember having seen that one, but at their best, those endings did tend to bring on sudden attacks of hayfever, I recall!
Interesting about Harry Bailey – I wonder if it registered with them that he is the inkeeper/narrator in Canterbury Tales? *with insufferable smugness* I brought him in for that role in my latest Fabulous Forest book, and even have him talking in the same style and rhyme! 🙂
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I am shocked – shocked, I tell you – that there is anyone over the age of thirty who hasn’t seen IAWL. Shocked.
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Reddit reddit, said the frog
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Oh the machinations of the tortured mind.
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Who, me?
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I picked up on the Bert and Ernie and the potter’s field, but totally missed the Harry Potter! Good catch!
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I haven’t watched It’s a Wonderful Life in years but I was impressed with the name game. My favorite Christmas movies are the Riskin & Bass claymation movies for children.
My favorite is The Year without a Santa Claus, there are more and I watch them every year brings me back to my childhood.
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I don’t know those movies. My kids must be too old or too young.
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Good observations, Tilly.
For more on It’s A Wonderful Life:
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My favorite line from “It’s a Wonderful Life” – “She’s just about to close up the library!”, spoken with true horror. (I won’t say more than that, so as not to spoil it for anyone who has not seen it.)
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I’d forgotten about that 🙂
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“It’s a Wonderful Life” gets my vote for one of the five best of all time. Never tire of watching it every year. The angel (Henry Travers) reminds me of my grandfather who was my hero in life.
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How lovely!
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Great film! Some interesting connections with the names – clever you.
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One of my most favorite movies of all time. I watch it every year when it comes on TV just before Christmas. Merry Christmas theater, Merry Christmas hardware store…
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I love everything about that movie.
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Funny & entertaining. (Two of my favorite adjectives). Your holiday background is so cool!
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Thanks!
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I hope the Hub reads your wishes for the boxed set!
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Me too!
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That’s a lot of coincidences, Tilly. Spooky, but in a nice way. It’s a wonderful film.
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Very cool. I’ll have to watch it for the 100th time and take note of these things!
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Hope you fix the problem soon… Here’s to a Happy Harry Holiday! 🙂
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😀 😀
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there are indeed gremlins lurking behind your blog, to annoy. maybe you told a joke about them?
the tricks with names in the movie – i suspect a lot of them were wordplay thought up by the original writers. fun what’s come up since then though
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Great post! Technology is both friend and foe to a blogger isn’t it?
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Sigh…it sure is. Think I’ve fixed one problem, but my widgets are still in the wrong place. I thought it was all connected, but it appears not.
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Who stole your face?
I hope you get it sorted out.
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the only way I can see your post is by clicking on the number 15 on the left. otherwise, I get a blank screen. hmmm. why???
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Should be okay now.
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