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).

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It's a Wonderful Life was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1990.

Academy Awards 1946 --- Ceremony Number 19 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActorJames StewartNominated
Best DirectorFrank CapraNominated
Best Film EditingWilliam HornbeckNominated
Best PictureLiberty FilmsNominated
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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 Woman

Ari, 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 Dark

This 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 Films

Today, 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 GlamAmor

Though 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 Woman

Christmas 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

George Bailey: [on Mary being caught naked in the bushes after her robe slips off] This is a very interesting situation!
Mary: Please give me my robe.
George Bailey: A man doesn't get in a situation like this every day.
Mary: I'd like to have my robe.
George Bailey: Not in Bedford Falls anyway.
Mary: [after the bushes' thorns starting hurting her] Ouch! Oh!
George Bailey: Gazuntiet.
Mary: George Bailey!
George Bailey: Inspires a little thought!
Mary: Give me my robe.
George Bailey: I've read about things like this.
Mary: Shame on you! I'm going to tell your mother on you.
George Bailey: Well, my mother is way up on the corner.
Mary: I'll call the police!
George Bailey: Well, they're all the way downtown. They'd be on my side.
Mary: Then I'll scream!
George Bailey: Maybe I can sell tickets.
[a car pulls up, and George is told that his father has suffered a stroke]


George Bailey: What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary.
Mary: I'll take it. Then what?
George Bailey: Well, then you can swallow it, and it'll all dissolve, see... and the moonbeams would shoot out of your fingers and your toes and the ends of your hair... am I talking too much?


Violet Bick: [being dragged into a squad car by police] That sailor's a liar!


read more quotes from It's a Wonderful Life...

Facts about

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.
Laraine Day was offered the role of Mary but had to decline because she was already busy working on 'The Locket'.
When Officer Bert shoots at George, the "s", the "v" and the "i" in the electric "Pottersville" sign far away in the distance, go out.
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National Film Registry

It's a Wonderful Life

Released 1946
Inducted 1990
(Sound)




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