It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

User Rating:

8.7/10   

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 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
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:

The raven, named Jimmy, appeared in all of Frank Capra's movies.

Goofs:

Continuity: At one point George calls Violet (Gloria Grahame), Gloria.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Team Knight Rider: Home Away from Home (#1.18)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

This Is the Army, Mr. Jones

Who are you, really?

Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like It's A Wonderful Life.

Does it take me back to that place in my heart, that makes me long for everything that once was great and it could be again? Does it remind me of my childhood, Christmas in my home? No. Maybe it's just simply what I always wanted from life and every man I want to be.

Everything about this film is well for lack of better words, perfect. No question to it any longer, the best performance by an actor I have ever seen. It's more than just beautiful, timeless or fair. All of Stewart is revealed. Everything coming together for Capra. Lionel Barrymore at his best, which seems to be his worst.

Sometimes I think there is a reason why somethings happen. And I'm pretty sure there is some magical reason why this film was made. I'm 27 years old and saw it for the first time Christmas Eve of this year. I've watched it 3 times since. The only movie to ever make me cry. I probably wouldn't have all the answers for you, if you asked me why. I'm still trying to figure Stewart out and just how beautiful was Reed.

What can I say? This movie is a life changing experience.

Makes me feel good to be alive. What a wonderful little world it is. And if I waited my entire life, it would not be a waste of time.