It's a Wonderful Life

international | arts and media | other press Wednesday December 24, 2014 12:31 by movie buff

Not so wonderful for Ayn Rand , the FBI and Senator Joe McCarthy

It's a Wonderful Life,produced and directed by Frank Capra , has become a television and video staple over the Christmas season. This Rawstory feature tells the little-known story of how Hollywood's evocation of bygone small town America at Christmas time with its Scrooge-like banker , Mr Potter,almost fell foul of Ayn Rand , the FBI and Senator Joe McCarthy's House of Un-American Activities Committee .

"On May 26, 1947, the FBI issued a memo stating "With regard to the picture "It's a Wonderful Life", [redacted] stated in substance that the film represented rather obvious attempts to discredit bankers by casting Lionel Barrymore as a 'scrooge-type' so that he would be the most hated man in the picture.  "

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/12/ayn-rand-helped-the-...anda/