Life Insurance Not Necessary in Old Movies

In the opening scenes of the Christmas classic "It's A Wonderful Life," the main character George Bailey is standing on a suspension bridge high over a cold and turbulent river. A violent snow storm swirls around him. He is lost in a mental haze of self-doubt, fear, and depression, his head filled with thoughts of ending his own life.

However, before George can take that giant leap into oblivion, Angel Second Class Clarence Odbody intervenes. For the remainder of the film Clarence shows George the impact his life has made on his family and the citizens of Bedford Falls and how some people's lives would have been far worse if George had never existed.

If No Guardian Angel Appears, Then What?

What if the guardian angel Clarence had not arrived and George Bailey's life had ended without his being covered with life insurance? His untimely death would have financially devastated his family who loved and depended on him.

Without life insurance, what would have happened to Mary and the children? Would she have been able to get hired as the town librarian, or would she have to settle for a lower-paying service position? Would the survivors' standard of living remain the same? Would they lose to foreclosure the old mansion they had renovated and made their own? Would the family's Savings and Loan business fail the bank auditor's investigation and be taken over by mean old Mr. Potter?

If the American cinema ever creatively captured the essence of the potential value of life insurance, this 1946 film certainly did for all generations.

Back to Reality, Now

Typical survivors of uninsured breadwinners are obliged to accept, as soon as possible, whatever paying work is available. In the twenty-first century, better-paying job options may be limited by how well the survivor is able to perform the technology skill requirements in the workplace. Even librarians today need a variety of computer skills to carry out their duties.

If an alternate source of income is not readily accessible, survivors without life insurance benefits would need to develop other resources to provide life basics of food, shelter, transportation, and clothing. However, chances are good that the quality and quantity of the replacement provisions would be less than customary.

Fantasy and Reality

As might be expected, in the movie George Bailey realizes the value of his life through Clarence's time-warp angel vision. He sees that the efforts of his life are unique and must be sustained for as long as possible. George returns home to Mary and his family, the Bedford Falls community repays George's years of kindness and support by chipping in cash to salvage the Savings and Loan, everyone enjoys a very Merry Christmas, and Clarence earns his First Class Angel wings.

Even without adequate life insurance coverage, wonderful is the way life can turn out . . . in the good old movies.