JLarson2006

This is a drama of life and death, as many dramas are. Behind the movie lurks the principle of such movies as "It's a Wonderful Life." If you've ever seen it, it's hard to forget the moment Clarence says to George Bailey, "You really have had a wonderful life."

The reason, of course, is the virtue that permeates George Bailey's life. He gives many a person a break, charity, if you will. He has a network of friends that are not on Facebook, that even he doesn't realize he has.

Hannah, the main character, has a dependable friend in Jason, but feels quite isolated, and there are good reasons for her feelings.

Hannah is a walking contradiction, like one who inspired her character, Gianna Jessen. To be an "abortion survivor" is to be caught up in a debate by the nature of one's very existence. She is, as it were, the opposite of George Bailey, she was supposed to not have a wonderful life, or even to be considered a human person at all, and simply vanish from the scene like a character leaving the stage (or some might say a prop).

But, George Bailey's vision of life without him is pure fantasy. Abortion survivors are a reality that makes some people uncomfortable. This movie puts that reality out to an audience in a new way--not with the story of Gianna Jessen, but with a fictional story that is designed to reframe debates about the nature of human life. A powerful moment for me was when Hannah writes in her journal, "The truth will make you free?" We've probably heard the phrase, "What is truth?" but here another famous statement is framed as a question, and the question is a big part of the movie. Inevitably, though, forgiveness is a bigger part. Although I don't think the phrase "divine mercy" occurs in the movie, it is an underlying theme. Truth and mercy meet.

It's possible I watched a rehearsal performance that was put on kinescope, but I'm not sure. The show uses the comedic potential of Bert Lahr and Fred Gwynne fairly well, but there are some serious flubs and they are handled rather casually.

The two are small time crooks, and Bert wants to win the love of a widow who was married to a big time criminal. They plan a big heist, and in fact they get away with a million dollars, but the story takes rather comedic and ironic turns.

At one point, Fred Gwynne is stuck and Bert Lahr tells someone off camera to "throw him a line." Bert Lahr also says "shhhh" to someone off camera in a scene where the only people in the restaurant set are he and Fred Gwynne.

Patty Duke has a small role as a girl the crooks know. I would never have known it is her because she is 10 years old.

Overall, I enjoyed it, despite a number of miscues and obviously incorrect lines. It was enjoyable as a particularly honest performance. There are no retakes and no green screens. What was recorded was what happened.