Yes, -- Too quick, (in film time).
George went through all you describe and then in the course of what three minutes he snaps and contemplates suicide?
It is a weakness in an great movie. I do not buy it. George would have excised those devil's years ago.
It maybe three minutes of film time—but it happens over the course of a day which starts a visit from the Bank Examiner.
That same morning , Georges Uncle misplaces the deposit on the counter (as he is showing Potter the newspaper headline about his nephews Decoration by Pres Truman.) He then tries to retrace the Uncles steps (why HE didn’t remember his encounter AT THE BANK w/Potter has always bugged me). He then goes thru his Uncles house (replete w/a squirrel on the desk and other critters around—showing Uncs “eccentricity.”) I always questioned, given Uncs shortcoming, why the office clerk Eustace was appointed to make the Building and Loan daily deposits.
George then realizes it’s jail for him. Loss of EVERYTHING for Mary and the kids.
I think it’s a very real meltdown of an “Everyman” type character. He sees no way out.
I probably have seen the movie 60 times. And it “gets to me” everytime.