| Mr. Potter | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Henry F. Potter |
|
First Appearance |
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) |
|
Original Publisher |
RKO Radio Pictures |
|
Created by |
Frank Capra |
Origin[]
Henry F. Potter is the primary antagonist of It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). A wealthy, bitter businessman, Potter owns most of Bedford Falls and aims to control the entire town. Known for his ruthless nature, he prioritizes profit over people, seeing community members as mere assets or liabilities. He despises George Bailey’s altruistic values and repeatedly attempts to undermine him and the Bailey Building and Loan, a small institution that offers residents an alternative to Potter’s high-interest loans and rental properties.
In his quest for power, Potter embodies greed and cynicism, directly opposing George’s compassion and integrity. Potter’s unyielding pursuit of control reflects a world devoid of empathy, and his character serves as a powerful foil to George, highlighting the impact of kindness and selflessness. Though Potter is never explicitly redeemed, his character emphasizes the moral core of the story—showing how one man’s life, guided by generosity, can counter even the darkest forces in his community.
Public Domain Film Appearances[]
- It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Notes[]
- Mr. Potter ranks at #6 on the American Film Institute's list of the 50 Greatest Villains in American film history
- While based on the 1943 short-story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern, which is still under copyright, the 1946 film adaptation fell into the public domain in 1974. Mr. Potter was one of a handful of characters created exclusively for the film, thus making him public domain.
- The Simpsons creator Matt Groening drew inspiration from Mr. Potter for the character Mr. Burns.
- Barrymore's portrayal of Mr. Potter inspired Allen Swift's portrayal of mad scientist Simon Barsinister in the Underdog cartoon series.
- In an interview with Michael Parkinson in 2002, Peter Kay stated that he named the Phoenix Nights character Brian Potter after Mr. Potter.