It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Director:

Frank Capra

Writers:

Frances Goodrich (screenplay) and
Albert Hackett (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

7 January 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

They're making memories tonight!

Plot:

An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would had been like if he never existed.

Plot Keywords:

Angel | Business | Christmas | Small Town | Bank

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 4 wins

Cast

James Stewart	...	George Bailey
Donna Reed	...	Mary Hatch
Lionel Barrymore	...	Mr. Potter
Thomas Mitchell	...	Uncle Billy
Henry Travers	...	Clarence
Beulah Bondi	...	Mrs. Bailey
Frank Faylen	...	Ernie
Ward Bond	...	Bert
Gloria Grahame	...	Violet
H.B. Warner	...	Mr. Gower
Frank Albertson	...	Sam Wainwright
Todd Karns	...	Harry Bailey
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Pa Bailey
Mary Treen	...	Cousin Tilly
Virginia Patton	...	Ruth Dakin

Also Known As:

Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life (USA) (complete title)
The Greatest Gift (USA) (working title)
La vie est belle (Belgium: French title) (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Ist das Leben nicht schön? (Austria) (TV title) (West Germany) (TV title) [de]
¡Qué bello es vivir! (Spain) [es]
¡Que bello es vivir! (Uruguay) [es]
A Felicidade Não Se Compra (Brazil) [pt]
Az élet csodaszép (Hungary) [hu]
Det er herligt at leve (Denmark) [da]
Do Céu Caiu Uma Estrela (Portugal) [pt]
Ihmeellinen on elämä (Finland) [fi]
La vita è meravigliosa (Italy) [it]
Livet är underbart (Sweden) [sv]
Mia yperohi zoi (Greece) [el]
Qué bello es vivir (Argentina) [es]
Que bonic és viure! (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Que la vie est belle (Belgium: French title) [fr]
Subarashiki kana, jinsei! (Japan) [ja]
To wspaniale zycie (Poland) [pl]
Wat een mooi leven (Belgium: Flemish title) [un]
Zycie jest cudowne (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

130 min | Spain:118 min (25 fps) (DVD edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | South Korea:12 | Brazil:Livre | Sweden:15 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Germany:6 | Spain:T | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #11656)

Filming Locations:

4587 Viro Road, La Canada Flintridge, California, USA

Company:

Liberty Films (II)

Trivia:

This film is one of five times Beulah Bondi portrayed James Stewart's mother, The others are: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Of Human Hearts (1938) and Vivacious Lady (1938), and once on his television series, "The Jimmy Stewart Show" (1971).

Goofs:

Continuity: When George and Clarence are drying off in the bridge keeper's shack the postcard hanging by the thermometer on the wall, next to the door repeatedly disappears and reappears between shots. When Mr. Potter offers George a job, the chain on the the skull and chain on Mr. Potter's desk changes positions repeatedly between shots.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mr. Emil Gower: I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in SIFF 35th Anniversary Tribute (2009)

Soundtrack:

Adeste Fidelis (O Come All Ye Faithful)

IT'S NOT OFFICIALLY CHRISTMAS SEASON UNTIL I WATCH THIS MOVIE

I am so glad Frank Capra had a vision to make "It's A Wonderful Life". I'm glad he chose Jimmy Stewart to play George Bailey. There are some little gems in life that help make life pleasant. It is not officially the Christmas season without watching this little gem. The supporting cast is perfectly matched. Donna Reed is wonderful as well as all the characters of the town. This would be a great movie, even if it were not in a Christmas setting. The holiday flavor makes it even more charming and memorable. A angel trying to get his wings is a little far-fetched, but Capra pulls it off. The impact of living a good life cannot be underestimated. What would life be like for your family if you had never been born? Our actions do speak loudly. In an age of 9-11, we need this movie more than ever. The values of "It's A Wonderful Life" still hold true today. Yes, I'll say it, it's a wonderful movie.