Henry F. Potter, or just Mr. Potter, is the main antagonist of the 1946 Christmas film, It's a Wonderful Life. He seeks to take over Bedford Falls by destroying George Bailey's company.
What Makes Him a Hate Sink?[]
- Mr. Potter's goal is to bring Bedford Falls under his control.
- Forces several people into poverty by buying out several establishments instead of investing money into the town to help the less fortunate.
- If George Bailey hadn't stepped in on several occasions, Mr. Potter could've easily succeeded in taking control of the town.
- At one point, openly admits that everyone hates him and doesn't feel any shame about this fact.
- When Uncle Billy accidentally gives Mr. Potter the $8,000 he was going to deposit in to Bailey Brother's Building and Loan, he pockets the money.
- Suggests to George that his life is more valuable dead than he is alive. Bare in mind, this takes place during a scene where George goes to Mr. Potter for help.
- Places a warrant out for George's arrest.
- After George wishes he was never born, we get a glimpse of Potterville, where Mr. Potter ends up taking over Bedford Falls.
- Due to the poor conditions of Potterville, the town is rampant with crime and prostitution.
- After George regrets his wish and returns to reality, Mr. Potter wishes him a Merry Christmas in prison.
- He faces no consequences for his actions and gets away with his crimes at the end of the film.
Trivia[]
- Even despite how he's hated by everyone, both in-universe and by the audience, Mr. Potter is currently ranked at #6 on the list of Greatest Villains in American Film History from the American Film Institute's 2003 list.