It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Director:

Frank Capra

Writers:

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

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 have been like if he never existed.

Plot Keywords:

Angel | Business | Christmas | Small Town | Bank

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 4 wins

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Dec. 24

8:00 PM

NBC

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
Charles Williams	...	Cousin Eustace
Sarah Edwards	...	Mrs. Hatch (as Sara Edwards)
William Edmunds	...	Mr. Martini (as Bill Edmunds)
Lillian Randolph	...	Annie
Argentina Brunetti	...	Mrs. Martini
Robert J. Anderson	...	Little George (as Bobbie Anderson)
Ronnie Ralph	...	Little Sam
Jean Gale	...	Little Mary
Jeanine Ann Roose	...	Little Violet
Danny Mummert	...	Little Marty Hatch
Georgie Nokes	...	Little Harry Bailey
Sheldon Leonard	...	Nick
Frank Hagney	...	Potter's Bodyguard
Ray Walker	...	Joe - Luggage Shop
Charles Lane	...	Real Estate Salesman (as Charlie Lane)
Edward Keane	...	Tom - Bldg. & Loan (as Edward Kean)
Carol Coombs	...	Janie Bailey (as Carol Coomes)
Karolyn Grimes	...	Zuzu Bailey
Larry Simms	...	Pete Bailey
Jimmy Hawkins	...	Tommy Bailey
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean Acker	...	(uncredited)
Ernie Adams	...	Ed (uncredited)
Monya Andre	...	(uncredited)
Stanley Andrews	...	Mr. Welch (uncredited)
Sam Ash	...	Nervous Banker (uncredited)
Jack Bailey	...	One of Vi's Suitors (uncredited)
Mary Bayless	...	(uncredited)
Beth Belden	...	(uncredited)
Brooks Benedict	...	Military Officer in Montage (uncredited)
Joseph E. Bernard	...	(uncredited)
Al Bridge	...	Sheriff (uncredited)
Buz Buckley	...	(uncredited)
Marian Carr	...	Mrs. Jane Wainwright (uncredited)
Adriana Caselotti	...	Singer at Martini's (uncredited)
Lane Chandler	...	Man (uncredited)
Michael Chapin	...	Kid (uncredited)
Tom Chatterton	...	(uncredited)
Harry Cheshire	...	Dr. Cavanaugh (uncredited)
Edward Clark	...	(uncredited)
Tom Coleman	...	(uncredited)
Ellen Corby	...	Miss Davis (uncredited)
Jimmy the Crow	...	Crow in Bank (uncredited)
Bryn Davis	...	(uncredited)
Lew Davis	...	High School Teacher at Poolside (uncredited)
Harry Denny	...	(uncredited)
Helen Dickson	...	Woman at Graduation Dance (uncredited)
Dick Elliott	...	Man on Porch (uncredited)
Tom Fadden	...	Tollhouse Keeper (uncredited)
Frank Fenton	...	Violet's Boyfriend (uncredited)
Eddie Fetherston	...	Horace - Bank Teller (uncredited)
Sam Flint	...	Relieved Banker in Potter's Office (uncredited)
Lee Frederick	...	Man (uncredited)
Dick Gordon	...	Man with Sheriff (uncredited)
Herschel Graham	...	(uncredited)
Joseph Granby	...	Joseph - Angel (voice) (uncredited)
Charles Halton	...	Carter - Bank Examiner (uncredited)
Carl Eric Hansen	...	(uncredited)
Herbert Heywood	...	Building & Loan Depositor (uncredited)
Harry Holman	...	Mr. Partridge - High School Principal (uncredited)
Art Howard	...	(uncredited)
Bert Howard	...	(uncredited)
Arthur Stuart Hull	...	Mr. Randall (uncredited)
John Indrisano	...	Extra in Fantasy Sequence (uncredited)
Eddie Kane	...	Building & Loan Depositor (uncredited)
Carl Kent	...	(uncredited)
Milton Kibbee	...	Photographer at George's Home (uncredited)
Effie Laird	...	(uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Building and Loan Customer (uncredited)
Harold Landon	...	Marty Hatch (uncredited)
Meade 'Lux' Lewis	...	Piano Player in Nick's Place (uncredited)
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	House Owner (uncredited)
Irene Mack	...	(uncredited)
Wilbur Mack	...	(uncredited)
Charles Meakin	...	(uncredited)
Priscilla Montgomery	...	Student in Gym (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse	...	Man with Sheriff (uncredited)
Philip Morris	...	(uncredited)
George Noisom	...	Dancer at School Dance (uncredited)
Frank O'Connor	...	Military Officer in Montage (uncredited)
Moroni Olsen	...	Senior Angel (voice) (uncredited)
Garry Owen	...	Bill Poster (uncredited)
Netta Packer	...	(uncredited)
Franklin Parker	...	Photographer / Reporter (uncredited)
Mark Roberts	...	Mickey (uncredited)
Cy Schindell	...	Nick's Bouncer (uncredited)
Almira Sessions	...	Potter's Secretary (uncredited)
Cedric Stevens	...	(uncredited)
Charles Sullivan	...	Bartender at Nick's (uncredited)
Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer	...	Freddie Othello (uncredited)
Max Wagner	...	Cashier / Assistant Bouncer at Nick's (uncredited)
Charles C. Wilson	...	Charlie (uncredited)

Directed by
Frank Capra

Writing credits
Frances Goodrich		(screenplay) and
Albert Hackett		(screenplay) and
Frank Capra		(screenplay)
Jo Swerling		(additional scenes)
Philip Van Doren Stern		(story)
Michael Wilson		contributor to screenplay (uncredited)

Produced by
Frank Capra	....	producer

Original Music by
Dimitri Tiomkin		(musical score written by)

Cinematography by
Joseph F. Biroc		(director of photography) (as Joseph Biroc)
Joseph Walker		(director of photography)
Victor Milner		(director of photography) (uncredited)

Film Editing by
William Hornbeck

Art Direction by
Jack Okey

Set Decoration by
Emile Kuri

Costume Design by
Edward Stevenson		(costumes)

Makeup Department
Gordon Bau	....	makeup supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arthur S. Black Jr.	....	assistant director (as Arthur S. Black)

Sound Department
Clem Portman	....	sound
Richard Van Hessen	....	sound
John Aalberg	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Russell A. Cully	....	special photographic effects
Daniel Hays	....	special effects (uncredited)
Russell Shearman	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Lila Finn	....	stunt double: Donna Reed (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph F. Biroc	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Homer Plannette	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Music Department
Dimitri Tiomkin	....	musical score directed by
Herschel Burke Gilbert	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Leigh Harline	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Paul Marquardt	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Alfred Newman	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Nathan Scott	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Leith Stevens	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
David Tamkin	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Dave Torbett	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Edward Ward	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Roy Webb	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Liberty Films (II)

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1946) (USA) (theatrical)
• M & A Alexander Productions Inc. (1955) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Criterion Collection, The (1987) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (VHS)
• Manga Films (2000) (Spain) (DVD)
• R.B.A. (2000) (Spain) (VHS)
• Suevia Films (2001) (Spain) (DVD)
• Filmax Home Video (2002) (Spain) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
• DeA Planeta Home Entertainment (2003) (Spain) (DVD)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (2003) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (re-issue)
• Park Circus (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• Artisan Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• DNA (2006) (Italy) (DVD) (VHS)
• Hal Roach Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Jornal do Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Kartes Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• LS Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Media Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS) (as Nostalgia Merchant)
• Paramount Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Republic Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Spotlite Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)

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:

Jean Arthur was Frank Capra's first choice for the part of Mary. However, she declined the role since she was already committed to a Broadway play.

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 "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders (#11.3)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

This Is the Army, Mr. Jones

Atop my Top Ten

I am a film lover from 'way back, having even served a stint as a newspaper movie critic. Entries in my personal list of Greatest Films of All Time include "Fantasia," "To Kill A Mockingbird," "Casablanca," "Singin' in the Rain," "North by Northwest," and "The Sound of Music. But sitting atop all of them, as undisputed champ, is "It's a Wonderful Life."

I have seen it hundreds of times (dating back to, oh, when I was a teenager I suppose, and our local PBS station ran it as part of a pledge drive). I drive my wife and family to distraction when we watch it together because I quote all the dialogue along with the actors.

I cry every time--and this is after viewing upon viewing--when Harry Bailey toasts his big brother George as "...the richest man in town." The emotions in that scene are so true and pure that I can't help but be affected by them.

The performances are unparalleled. Stewart is brilliant as a small-town dreamer who loses and finds his way. His superlative acting abilities cause us to identify strongly with him (how many of us have lamented--even to ourselves--that no one seems to notice the sacrifices we've made?), which is, I think, why the movie bears up under so many repeat viewings. Reed is just lovely here, the epitome of sunny girlfriend, caring lover, devoted wife, dedicated mother.

Capra's talent as a screenwriter are all over this script. He knows just how hard to tug the heartstrings without becoming overblown or phony. And his technical wizardry is evident too. I've never seen--before or since--more natural-looking onscreen snow.

Watching IAWL has become a tonic, a pick-me-up when I really need one--whether it's the Christmas season or not. Its message--that each one of us is important and has *something* to contribute to the greater good--is one about which the world could use some reminding from time to time.