Voice of Reason

In the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey is about to depart for his honeymoon just as the stock market crashes on October 29, 1929, also known as Black Tuesday. The people whose money is invested in his Bailey Bros. Savings & Loan are terrified that they won’t be able to live until banks reopen. Like the town clerk, George keeps a cool head, voices reason to the crowd, and uses his own funds to secure the deposits. His nemesis Mr. Potter even comments later, “Take durin...