It's a Wonderful Life (1946) | |
| Director(s) | Frank Capra |
| Producer(s) | Frank Capra |
| Top Genres | Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance |
| Top Topics | Angels, Book-Based, Christmas, Holiday, Husband Wife, Integrity, Marriage |
Featured Cast:
It's a Wonderful Life Overview:
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) was a Drama - Family Film directed by Frank Capra and produced by Frank Capra.
The film was based on the short story The Greatest Gift written by Philip Van Doren Stern published in Reader's Scope & Good Housekeeping and as a Novel (1943 (magazine) and 1944 (novel)).
SYNOPSIS
Now the essential Hollywood Christmas movie classic, Capra's fable of finding sustenance in the humdrum of everyday life is a surprisingly dark vision for such a holiday icon. After all, this is a portrait of a man, played with great feeling and emotion by Stewart, driven to despair by potential financial ruin and the loss of his youthful dreams. It also features one of the angriest romantic clinches in all of movie history, as Stewart sees his future in Reed's eyes and knows it doesn't include the foreign adventures that have kept him going day to day in his broken-down savings and loan. But all this loss and compromise is balanced by genuine warmth and joy, as Stewart lassoes the moon for Reed, when she welcomes him to their improvised honeymoon suite, when, finally, all is put right by the community Stewart selflessly served - and by an angel named Clarence. More complex than most holiday fare, and maybe that's why it remains in our hearts.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
.It's a Wonderful Life was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1990.
Academy Awards 1946 --- Ceremony Number 19 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Actor | James Stewart | Nominated |
| Best Director | Frank Capra | Nominated |
| Best Film Editing | William Hornbeck | Nominated |
| Best Picture | Liberty Films | Nominated |
It's a Wonderful Life BlogHub Articles:
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE BLOGATHON - A 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: Ward Bond and Frank Faylen as Bert the cop and Ernie the taxi driver
on Dec 11, 2021 From Caftan WomanAri, The Classic Movie Muse is hosting the It's a Wonderful Life Blogathon, A 75th Anniversary Celebration. Click HERE to access the tributes to Capra's Classic. Assuming you have lost count of the number of times you have watched the movie, spoilers abound.It's a Wonderful Life is a story of dreams... Read full article
The "It's a Wonderful Life" 75th Anniversary Celebration: It's a Wonderful (and Sexy) Kiss
By FlickChick on Dec 10, 2021 From A Person in the DarkThis is my entry in the “It’s a Wonderful Life Blogathon” hosted by The Classic Movie Muse. Click HERE for more great posts celebrating the 75th anniversary of this classic.I hate to be a wet blanket at this party, but I have a bit of an issue both with George Bailey and James Stew... Read full article
It's a Wonderful Life
By Amanda Garrett on Dec 19, 2015 From Old Hollywood FilmsToday, I'm reviewing It's a Wonderful Life (1946), a classic Christmas movie that I think avid cinephiles will love. This article is part of the A Movie Gift to You blogathon hosted by Movie Movie Blog Blog Are you an avid cinephile? Are you a devotee of the works of Ozu, Bergman, and Fellini... Read full article
GlamAmor-ous Holidays--Always Remember IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
on Dec 19, 2013 From GlamAmorThough many point to 1939 as "The Greatest Year in the History of Hollywood," I always remind people to celebrate 1946 as well. For a film noir fan like myself, the quality is virtually unparalleled--Gilda, The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Big Sleep, The Blue Dahlia, The Killers, and Notorious a... Read full article
Who's watching "It's a Wonderful Life"?
By Caftan Woman on Dec 13, 2013 From Caftan WomanChristmas traditions include stories. It starts with the Gospel of Luke and the first Christmas story. From 1843 we have Dickens' immortal tale of redemption and charity in A Christmas Carol. Over the years many movies have added to our emotional connection to the holiday and none more so than 19... Read full article
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Quotes from It's a Wonderful Life
[Mary hands a loaf of bread to Mrs. Martini]
Mary: Salt... that life may always have flavor.
[Mary hands a box of salt to Mrs. Martini]
George Bailey: And wine... that joy and prosperity may reign forever. Enter the Martini Castle.
[George hands Mr. Martini a bottle of wine]
Nick: Hey look, mister. We serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast, and we don't need any characters around to give the joint "atmosphere". Is that clear, or do I have to slip you my left for a convincer?
George Bailey: [intervening] Nick, hold on. Just give him the same as mine. He's no trouble.
Nick: Okay.
[Nick walks away to tend to the bar]
George Bailey: [to Clarence] What's the matter with him? I never saw Nick act like that before.
Clarence: You'll see a lot of strange things from now on.
Ernie Bishop: [as George is trying to find Mary in the abandoned house] Watch this guy, Bert, he's bats!
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Facts about It's a Wonderful Life
In 2004 the BBC TV listings magazine "Radio Times" conducted a poll into the Best Film Never to Have Won an Oscar. It's a Wonderful Life came second (The Shawshank Redemption was first).
Ranked as the #1 Most Powerful Movie of All Time by the American Film Institute (2006).
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