It’s a Wonderful Life
They're making memories tonight!Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! How could it be anything else?
It's a wonderful laugh! It's a wonderful love!
They're going steady...straight to your heart!
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George Bailey has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. He has always longed to travel but never had the opportunity in order to prevent rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town. All that prevents him from doing so is George’s modest building and loan company, which was founded by his generous father. But on Christmas Eve, George’s Uncle Billy loses the business’s $8,000 while intending to deposit it in the bank. Potter finds the misplaced money and hides it from Billy. When the bank examiner discovers the shortage later that night, George realizes that he will be held responsible and sent to jail and the company will collapse, finally allowing Potter to take over the town. Thinking of his wife, their young children, and others he loves will be better off with him dead, he contemplates suicide. But the prayers of his loved ones result in a gentle angel named Clarence coming to earth to help George, with the promise of earning his wings. He shows George what things would have been like if he had never been born. In a nightmarish vision in which the Potter-controlled town is sunk in sex and sin, those George loves are either dead, ruined, or miserable. He realizes that he has touched many people in a positive way and that his life has truly been a wonderful one.
George Bailey spends his entire life giving up his big dreams for the good of his town, Bedford Falls, as we see in flashback. But in the present, on Christmas Eve, he is broken and suicidal over the misplacing of an $8000 loan and the machinations of the evil millionaire, Mr. Potter. His guardian angel, Clarence, falls to Earth, literally, and shows him how his town, family, and friends would turn out if he had never been born. George meant so much to so many people; should he really throw it all away?
On the Christmas Eve of Bedford Falls, the guardian angel Clarence is assigned to convince the desperate George Bailey to not commit suicide. George is a good man, that sacrificed his dreams and his youth on behalf of the citizens of his small town. He inherited the loan business of his father and he gave up traveling the world and joining University as scheduled. Later he resisted the proposals of the evil banker Mr. Potter, and never sold his business to protect the poor community of Bedford Falls and offer a means to afford to buy their own house. He married his beloved Mary Hatch Bailey and had four children with her and a tough life with his family. When his uncle Billy loses US$ 8,000.00, found and stolen by Mr. Potter, George decides to commit suicide, since he believes he worth more dead than alive. When Clarence sees that he is not able to persuade George to give up his intention, he decides to show the life in town if George had never existed. George concludes that life is wonderful.
On Christmas eve, all of the citizens of the small town of Bedford Falls pray to the heavens to help George Bailey. It’s then decided that Clarence, an angel who hasn’t earned his wings, is to help George. Before he does, he should know who George Bailey was. George Bailey grew up in Bedford Falls, a small town where he dreams of leaving it and making his mark on the world. His family’s business is the only thing stands between the good citizens and Mr. Potter, a rich miser who takes sick pleasure in taking from everybody, without even caring how it affects them. George was all set to leave when his father died and had to take care of the business. George would forever be hindered by his plans to leave and thinks that he is nothing but a failure, he decides to kill himself. That’s when Clarence comes in and tries to convince him that he has made something with his life, and that he had a “Wonderful Life”.
Director
Frank Capra
Writer
Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra, Jo Swerling, Philip Van Doren Stern, Michael Wilson
Producer
Frank Capra as producer
Casting
James Stewart as George Bailey, Donna Reed as Mary Hatch, Lionel Barrymore as Henry F. Potter, Thomas Mitchell as Uncle Billy Bailey, Henry Travers as Clarence, Beulah Bondi as Ma Bailey, Frank Faylen as Ernie Bishop, Ward Bond as Bert, Gloria Grahame as Violet Bick, H.B. Warner as Mr. Gower, Frank Albertson as Sam Wainwright, Todd Karns as Harry Bailey, Samuel S. Hinds as Peter Bailey, Mary Treen as Cousin Tilly, Virginia Patton as Ruth Dakin Bailey, Charles Williams as Cousin Eustace, Sarah Edwards as Mrs. Hatch (as Sara Edwards), William Edmunds as Giuseppe Martini (as Bill Edmunds), Lillian Randolph as Annie, Argentina Brunetti as Mrs. Martini, Robert J. Anderson as Little George (as Bobbie Anderson), Ronnie Ralph as Little Sam, Jean Gale as Little Mary, Jeanine Ann Roose as Little Violet, Danny Mummert as Little Marty Hatch, Georgie Nokes as Little Harry Bailey, Sheldon Leonard as Nick, Frank Hagney as Potter's Bodyguard, Ray Walker as Joe - Luggage Shop, Charles Lane as Real Estate Salesman (as Charlie Lane), Edward Keane as Tom - Bldg. & Loan (as Edward Kean), Carol Coombs as Bailey Child - Janie (as Carol Coomes), Karolyn Grimes as Bailey Child - Zuzu, Larry Simms as Bailey Child - Pete, Jimmy Hawkins as Bailey Child - Tommy, Jean Acker as Townswoman (uncredited), Ernie Adams as Ed (uncredited), Monya Andre as (uncredited), Stanley Andrews as Mr. Welch (uncredited), Sam Ash as Nervous Banker (uncredited), Jack Bailey as One of Vi's Suitors (uncredited), Mary Bayless as Townswoman (uncredited), Beth Belden as (uncredited), Brooks Benedict as Military Officer in Montage (uncredited), Joseph E. Bernard as Townsman (uncredited), Al Bridge as Sheriff (uncredited), Buz Buckley as (uncredited), Marian Carr as Mrs. Jane Wainwright (uncredited), Adriana Caselotti as Singer at Martini's (uncredited), Lane Chandler as Minor Role (uncredited), Michael Chapin as Young George's Friend (uncredited), Tom Chatterton as Townsman (uncredited), Jack Cheatham as Cop Arresting Violet (uncredited), Harry Cheshire as Dr. Campbell - Building and Loan Board Member (uncredited), Edward Clark as Building & Loan Board Member (uncredited), Tom Coleman as Building & Loan Customer (uncredited), Ellen Corby as Miss Davis (uncredited), Jimmy the Crow as Crow in Bank (uncredited), Bryn Davis as (uncredited), Lew Davis as High School Teacher at Poolside (uncredited), Harry Denny as (uncredited), Helen Dickson as Woman at Graduation Dance (uncredited), Dick Elliott as Man on Porch (uncredited), Tom Fadden as Tollhouse Keeper (uncredited), Frank Fenton as Violet's Boyfriend (uncredited), Eddie Fetherston as Horace - Bank Teller (uncredited), Sam Flint as Relieved Banker in Potter's Office (uncredited), Lee Frederick as Minor Role (uncredited), Dick Gordon as Man with Sheriff (uncredited), Jack Gordon as Bar Patron (uncredited), Herschel Graham as (uncredited), Joseph Granby as Joseph - Angel (voice) (uncredited), Charles Halton as Carter - Bank Examiner (uncredited), Carl Eric Hansen as (uncredited), Herbert Heywood as Building & Loan Depositor (uncredited), Harry Holman as Mr. Partridge - High School Principal (uncredited), Art Howard as Building & Loan Board Member (uncredited), Bert Howard as Building & Loan Board Member (uncredited), Arthur Stuart Hull as Mr. Randall (uncredited), John Indrisano as Man in Fantasy Sequence (uncredited), Eddie Kane as Building & Loan Depositor (uncredited), Carl Kent as (uncredited), Milton Kibbee as Building & Loan Board Member (uncredited), Effie Laird as Townswoman (uncredited), Mike Lally as Building & Loan Customer (uncredited), Harold Landon as Marty Hatch (uncredited), Meade 'Lux' Lewis as Piano Player in Nick's Place (uncredited), J. Farrell MacDonald as Man Whose Grandfather Planted Tree (uncredited), Irene Mack as (uncredited), Wilbur Mack as Building and Loan Customer (uncredited), Charles Meakin as (uncredited), Priscilla Montgomery as Student in Gym (uncredited), Bert Moorhouse as Man with Sheriff (uncredited), Philip Morris as Building & Loan Customer (uncredited), George Noisom as Dancer at School Dance (uncredited), Bob O'Connor as Bar Patron (uncredited), Frank O'Connor as Military Officer in Montage (uncredited), Moroni Olsen as Senior Angel (voice) (uncredited), Garry Owen as Bill Poster (uncredited), Netta Packer as (uncredited), Franklin Parker as Photographer / Reporter (uncredited), Mark Roberts as Mickey (uncredited), Constantine Romanoff as Bar Patron (uncredited), Cy Schindell as Nick's Bouncer (uncredited), Almira Sessions as Potter's Secretary (uncredited), Cedric Stevens as (uncredited), Brick Sullivan as Man in Fantasy Sequence (uncredited), Charles Sullivan as Bartender at Nick's (uncredited), Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer as Freddie Othello (uncredited), Max Wagner as Cashier / Assistant Bouncer at Nick's (uncredited), Larry Wheat as Building & Loan Board Member (uncredited), Charles C. Wilson as Charlie (uncredited)
