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Argentina Brunetti, Beulah Bondi, Charles Lane

George Bailey is a small-town man whose life seems so desperate he contemplates suicide. He had always wanted to leave Bedford Falls to see the world, but circumstances and his own good heart have led...( read more  read more... ) him to stay. He sacrificed his education for his brother's, kept the family-run savings and loan afloat, protected the town from the avarice of the greedy banker Mr. Potter, and married his childhood sweetheart. As he prepares to jump from a bridge, his guardian angel intercedes; showing him what life would have become for the residents of Bedford Falls is he had never lived.

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Unrated, 2 hrs. 15 min.

Directed by: Frank Capra

Release Date: December 25, 1946

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DVD Release Date: September 19, 1995

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It's a Wonderful Life IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) It's a Wonderful Life It's a Wonderful Life It's a Wonderful Life It's a Wonderful Life it's a wonderful life It's a Wonderful Life The Baileys Beautiful movie, timeless message, amazing actor It's a Wonderful Life It's a Wonderful Life James Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life It's a Wonderful Life It's a Wonderful Life It's a Wonderful Life It's a Wonderful Life
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Flixster Reviews (14,522)

  • hypathio7
    October 8, 2009
    hypathio7
    A classic Christmas movie, but the story isn't really about Christmas. A performance where Jimmy Stewart get to show some range. Through desperation his character considers ending his life, and then through desperation for his family and friends, the life he "lost," he learns a...( read more)n important lesson. Also, before The Graduate, plastics were still the wave of the future. And it looks forward to financial issues still with us today. Mr. Potter represents the bank that controls most of George Bailey's small town. Potter keeps the workers in his slums and tries to ruin the Building and Loan every chance he gets, since the Baileys are too free with giving houses to the poor. The bottom line for Potter is how to make a profit and be a good businessman, meaning a predatory businessman.
  • flutieman07
    September 24, 2009
    flutieman07
    How I made it to this point in my life having never seen this movie, I'll never understand...I'm just glad to finally have taken the plunge and actually watched it.
  • mrpopcorn
    August 5, 2009
    mrpopcorn
    "They're making memories tonight!"

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

    REVIEW

    Perennial Chr...( read more)istmas classic about George Bailey (Stewart's best acting performance, one for the time capsule), an idealistic dreamer whose out-of-reach plans for himself are constantly set aside for his family and the town he helped in more ways than one. One of the best films ever made about a man's universal struggle with what he wants and what he does resulting with the immortal question: What would life be like if I were never born? Stewart's performance depicts every emotion superbly and facing suicide shows just what a complex character interpretation he has. His salvation comes in the form of Clarence, his guardian angel still trying to earn his wings, who shows him exactly how things would be had he not existed. Best scene: after Stewart is refused entrance by his mother he races into an intense wide/close-up and the registering of fear, horror and finally understanding that spreads across his face is ultimately moving, chilling and heart-breaking all at once. My favorite moment; if you're not moved by this, you 're simply not human. Dare not to sing along at the end to "Auld Lang Syne" and dare not to cry. Definitely a film ahead of its time (originally a box-office flop and snubbed royally at the Oscars losing largely to the WWII American classic "The Best Years of Our Lives"). Frank Capra's masterpiece was his and Stewart's personal favorite films.
  • PvtCaboose91
    April 30, 2009
    PvtCaboose91
    "Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?"


    Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life is an endearing masterpiece that remains timeless in its messages and thoughtfulness. This sentiment

    ...( read more)al and honest motion picture conveys a fantastic story of self-realisation and the significance of a single human soul. There's little doubt that Capra's classic fantasy-drama has become practically synonymous with Christmas, and it's one of today's most popular Christmas movies. It's a Wonderful Life has become a seasonal favourite (despite producer-director Capra never intending it as a Christmas film) chiefly due to the crucial scene at the film's dénouement occurring on Christmas Eve, and (of course) because this is a film about giving rather than receiving. For any film buff, cinema connoisseur, or average movie-goer, this film demands to be viewed at the earliest opportunity. This film is magnificent, charming, remarkable, heart-warming and uplifting. Not only is it one of the greatest Christmas films, but it's also one of the greatest films in history - period!


    There's a question surely all of us have pondered at some point in our lives - what if I'd never been born? If I was absent from this world, would it really make a colossal difference? Whilst most of us can do nothing more than merely hypothesise, the answer to this philosophical (and probably alcohol-induced) question is offered to this film's protagonist - George Bailey (Stewart) - who actually witnesses his hometown had he not ever existed to help shape its development.


    "You've been given a great gift, George: A chance to see what the world would be like without you."


    It's a Wonderful Life is based on Philip Van Doren Stern's story The Greatest Gift. Stern was struck with the concept of a suicidal man being confronted by his guardian angel, but his story was rejected by several magazines. He subsequently added the seasonal setting, printed 200 copies and sent them as Christmas "cards". Among the recipients was his agent who then sent it to the studios. At Cary Grant's urging, RKO bought the film rights and hired Dalton Trumbo to adapt the story. Trumbo (never credited) was the first in a long line of screenwriters who contributed. Supposedly his version was too dark, too sophisticated and too political...but it was he who wrote the immortal line: "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings".

    After World War II had concluded, director Frank Capra was yesterday's man. Narcissistic, embittered and cynical, Capra went independent and founded Liberty Pictures. Sensing an affinity with its darker aspects, Capra purchased the film rights for It's a Wonderful Life from RKO, hired his own group of screenwriters and financed the production at the Bank of America.


    At the commencement of It's a Wonderful Life, it's Christmas Eve. Up in heaven, a chorus of prayers are heard coming from the town of Bedford Falls. These prayers plead for those above to assist the despairing George Bailey - the unsung hero of Bedford Falls who begins to contemplate suicide. Clarence Oddbody (Travers) - George's appointed guardian angel who's yet to earn his wings - is sent down from heaven to pay George a visit and heighten his spirits. Roughly the first 100 minutes are dedicated to recapping George's life so far. Initially, George is a young man who's entirely selfless - he courageously saves his brother's life, and forfeits his dreams in order to help his town. Eventually George accomplishes the American Dream; he has a loving family, a great home, and he has inherited his father's business. But as financial and personal troubles mount, George plunges into a tragic abyss of despondency. Enter lovable guardian angel Clarence. Following a nightmarish vision of Bedford Falls without his influence, George ultimately concludes that his life is a wonderful one...and at long last Clarence earns the beloved wings that he has desired for 200 years.


    "Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings."


    It's a Wonderful Life earned its legion of fans because it effectively communicates one basic truth of life: everyone, regardless of how seemingly insignificant a single person may seem, has the capacity to make a difference. It additionally reiterates the values of the WWII generation - patriotism, hard work, and sacrifice - while heralding the values of the Baby Boomer/Eisenhower generation (i.e. the perception of the American Dream which entails family, home ownership, children, and not just tolerable, but wonderful neighbours).


    The underlying themes are obvious: our lives positively affect the world more than we believe, and we touch many more people and than we realise. Until Clarence reveals it to him, George doesn't realise how much good he has done in the world. Furthermore, we're led to believe that no-one who believes in themselves is a failure. George is simply depressed, and just needs his confidence restored. This is the type of experience movies were intended for.


    A common philosophy frequently embraced by cinema enthusiasts claims the non-existence of a perfect movie. It's a Wonderful Life, however, is rock-solid proof that perfect movies exist. Capra's masterwork is a flawless tour de force - an enduring masterpiece of the highest order that entertains, inspires and uplifts. It demonstrates the capability of the indelible power of friendship, and reminds us that a loving family and a bunch of great friends are all that truly matter in the grand scheme of things. This is an enriching experience full of warm characters and edifying, poignant messages about life. It's a Wonderful Life has become a generational favourite, probably because of its sweet, stirring story that merges two time-honoured Hollywood plots: rags-to-riches, and romance.


    Frank Capra and James Stewart always declared that It's a Wonderful Life was their favourite film. It's undoubtedly one of mine as well. After all, how can you not like it? It has an excellent script, it's marvellously acted, and it's resplendent with Capra's proverbial touches in casting and the underlying messages.


    There's little doubt that It's a Wonderful Life could be considered the definitive "feel good" movie. Yet the film stands out due to its sometimes darker tone to counteract the occasional uplifting moment. George's nightmarish odyssey through the garish Pottersville and a community in which he was never born - dubbed by the filmmakers as "the unborn sequence" - is noticeably noir cinema; gloomy and disenchanted. The result is a wistfully realistic movie, yet it also maintains the Capra spirit of belief in the ultimate triumph of right over wrong, and the importance of an ordinary person contributing to that triumph. Anybody who isn't sincerely moved by the film's conclusion should wonder what the heck is wrong with them.


    Technically, It's a Wonderful Life is very impressive indeed. A gigantic construction of Bedford Falls' main street was built, with over eighty stores and buildings, as well as twenty transplanted oak trees. It's virtually impossible to view Bedford Falls as anything but a genuine town. Production transpired during summer, thus a large quantity of snowflakes for the winter scenes had to be artificially created. Through the magic of the movies, every flake of snow looks authentic (in fact I had no idea the snow was artificial until I conducted research!). If anything is be criticised (perhaps that word is too strong), it's the sporadic technical fault - like a wide shot not precisely matching a close-up. That aside, Capra's direction is solid. Each shot is infused with magnificent visual flair. The black & white photography looks stunning.


    It's a Wonderful Life will be primarily recognised as a significant component of popular culture. It's a Christmastime television tradition worldwide. All these decades later, Capra's masterwork is still viewed by its loyal fans annually on Christmas Eve. Movies recurringly pay tribute to this picture as well. Sesame Street even contained two characters named after Bert the cop and Ernie the cabbie. There's even a band called Zuzu's Petals. Even in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (my favourite Christmas movie) the characters are watching It's a Wonderful Life at one point.


    Surprisingly, this wonderful movie was not an immediate hit. It's a Wonderful Life received mixed reviews, ranging from a lionisation in The Hollywood Reporter to a vicious trashing in the New Yorker. Although nominated for five Academy Awards, it was shut out the ceremony. Worse still, the film was a box office bomb...spelling doom for Capra's newly established Liberty Films. It wasn't until the 1970s that It's a Wonderful Life was transformed into a Christmas staple. The expiration of the film's copyright and its descent into the public domain was the cause of this. It could be played ad infinitum by any television station without being charged. TV stations seized it as a time-filler for the Christmas season. Capra's oeuvre was ultimately rediscovered by a new generation of movie-goers, and the reviews were almost unanimously positive. Finally, Capra's masterpiece received the recognition it deserved, albeit several decades after its theatrical release. Now it's a perennial Christmas favourite. This is the ultimate comeback movie!


    While Frank Capra must claim some of the recognition for the brilliance of this masterpiece, it's the phenomenal performance of James Stewart that truly makes an impact. He infuses George Bailey with a deft mixture of innocence and integrity, but also humanity and fallibility, which has the viewer rooting for him from the outset. Stewart fits the role like a glove - he's amiable and convincing, and when plunged into the garish vision of Pottersville his desperation and despair is increasingly apparent.

    As Mary, Donna Reed embodies the independence and sweetness required to capture George's heart. Reed wasn't Capra's first choice, yet it's difficult to visualise any other actress in the role. On the surface the character of Mary may seem straightforward, but Reed is required to display genuine emotional depth during the film's climax and does so ably. Henry Travers appears as the charming Clarence; George's guardian angel. His performance is simply glorious.

    The rest of the supporting cast is memorable and uniformly excellent. Lionel Barrymore provides the character of Potter with the correct degree of cunning and malice, Thomas Mitchell is very watchable as the lovable - albeit incompetent - Uncle Billy, and the duo of Frank Faylen and Ward Bond appear as Ernie the cabbie and Bert the cop. Capra never allows a faulty performance to slip under the radar.


    "A toast to my big brother George: The richest man in town."


    Underpinned by a fascinating philosophical conceit, It's a Wonderful Life remains one of the most watchable and enjoyable movie classics in cinematic history. Capra's commemoration of the power of community and defiant optimism is orchestrated with consummate mastery; flawlessly combining laughs, poignant sentiment and exuberant allure with imagination and a beautifully rendered tone. Critics back in the 1940s may have blasted the film for the sentimentality that characterises a Capra film, but it has grown more beloved over the years.

    Not merely just a Christmas film as it can be viewed anytime throughout the year, It's a Wonderful Life conveys one of the most transcendent and joyful experiences a movie-goer could possibly ask for. It delivers a wonderful message of morality, values, principles, and what's truly important in life. Words fail me when I attempt to describe how brilliant, timeless, inspirational, original, touching and wonderful this masterpiece genuinely is. I defy you to not produce a tear as the film winds down to its uplifting conclusion. It's a Wonderful Life is treasured for good reason, and is particularly noted for its heart-warming insistence that "no man is alone who has friends..."


    If It's a Wonderful Life was never born, the world would truly be worse off for it.


    "You see George, you've really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to just throw it away?"
  • Passenger1986
    February 1, 2009
    Passenger1986
    Often I've made up my mind long before seeing a movie about which to see. It can take a lot to convince me otherwise but usually my mind stays set. A friend recommended this, saying it was her favorite film ever. She's a smart woman as I enjoyed this immensely.

    I think most of ...( read more)the reasoning for not seeing this before was it was all too familiar to me through parodies and constant cultural references. However, it surprised me that things didn't quite happen as I thought. I had assumed George Bailey and Clarence would meet up in the first 20 min or so but most of the movie focuses on George's life and the events leading to his wanting to commit suicide (since the movie is very commonly known, even to those who only vaguely know it, I don't think I'm spoiling anything).

    George Bailey could very well be the most put upon man in the world. All of his plans have to be changed to accommodate others several times, like his plans to further his education or to go on his honeymoon but he always takes it in stride. Jimmy Stewart does a wonderful job here, he won me over quite a bit with this performance.

    It's probably a good thing I was wrong about this movie, I was expecting a darker Christmas Carol where George would be taken back through time, unable to interfere and we'd see the events unfold. Instead, we get to know George before his meeting with Clarence so it gives us a greater empathy for him and his situation.

    I must admit while I thought it was a pretty good film at first, my emotional investment didn't really begin until George is yelling at his family. He's had enough to deal with at that point and the troubles in the lives of his kids wasn't helping. He's yelling at them and I'm watching and feeling it's a bit harsh. This is really where things started getting more emotional so this is what elevated the film.

    But the biggest reason I added this film to my top 100 is the ending and the events leading to it.
    The emotional content here is quite uplifting. After George has seen the difference he has made in the town and its people, he's overjoyed to be back. He runs through the town wishing Merry Christmas to the people and buildings and such. Hell, he's about to be arrested for misplaced money that wasn't his fault but he doesn't care, he's just glad to be there. Then the scene happens that caused my eyes to tear up. His kids are upstairs and they wish him Merry Christmas and the look on George's face is sheer bliss. He runs upstairs to hug them and it's just such a powerful moment. He may have yelled at them earlier but you will never, NEVER doubt for one moment that he loves his children. No matter what happens, even if a sequel had been made, nothing could destroy the power of this scene.

    Following that, members of George's community come to his aid to donate money and help keep his business open. It's so overwhelming, even the authorities join in the celebration and decide to drop the charges.
    And it is here that the movie's theme really shines through: one man really can make a difference. And that true value comes from virtue and being of upstanding nature. As one of the last lines of the film goes "To my brother George, the richest man in town". Money means nothing when you have the faith and support of virtually an entire town. And that's just what this movie is, a triumph of the human spirit over the desire for money and power.

    Normally I don't go in for this light fare but I can be in the mood. And this, I might add, is one of the only 2 films I've ever seen that has made me cry (Schindler's List is the other). And they both have something in common: one man changing things for the better, albeit obviously under very different circumstances. Maybe it just reminds me even I can make a difference, even to just one person. Whatever it may be, this is considered a classic for a reason and for those of you who refuse to see black and white films, you are missing out.
  • huntersmom91503
    November 6, 2009
    huntersmom91503
    I can't believe I am 32, and have NEVER seen this movie.
  • jonathanpalvarez
    November 6, 2009
    jonathanpalvarez
    One of the best holiday movie
  • JasonAH
    November 1, 2009
    JasonAH
    Its not Christmas without this movie.
  • romy861
    October 29, 2009
    romy861
    Heard a lot about this, finally got around to watching it after picking up the dvd in a sale for $2 a year or so ago. This was actually quite good - maybe a little dated (for me) to be a favourite, but still didn't get bored with it, and it runs for about two hours. Has a bit o...( read more)f everything - romance, drama, fantasy (but not too much so) and even a bit Christmassy for this time of year. If you enjoy old movies, and haven't seen this, i would recommend it.
  • roberta242003
    October 28, 2009
    roberta242003
    live wiht it and love it!!

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Critic Reviews

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

What is remarkable about It's a Wonderful Life is how well it holds up over the years; it's one of those ageless movies, like Casablanca or The Third Man, that improves with age. full review

View more It's a Wonderful Life reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • rcnik
    May 31, 2009
    rcnik
    The most inspiring film I've ever seen!
  • colleewollee15
    January 8, 2008
    colleewollee15
    i cry every single time!!!! it's SUCH a great movie!!!!!!
  • boredstupid1
    May 10, 2007
    boredstupid1
    Quite simply the best film ever. If ever you feel down and disheartened, watch this film. it makes you realize that we are all special and that each of us touch so many other lives, be it for better or worse.
  • TheKaitofLin
    December 28, 2006
    TheKaitofLin
    This is the most perfect Christmas movie. Everyone should see this- it's simply a classic. Jimmy Stewart makes this movie great.
  • wick98
    August 17, 2006
    wick98
    This is a masterpiece of film. I can't say enough good things about it. Everything about it is excellent. James Stewart is amazing (as always) and Donna Reed is astounding. Of course, anyone who has seen this film, knows that the rest of the cast also did an excellent job.

    Such a timeless classic.
  • laney3
    August 5, 2006
    laney3
    The most heart warming movie ever!!!!!!
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  • Which movie has the line "Every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings"?  Answer »
  • What movie is this quote from? "Everytime a bell rings, and angel gets its wings."  Answer »
  • "Teacher says, 'Everytime a bell rings an angel gets its wings" is a line from what Donna Reed movie?  Answer »
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