The film stars James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, and a number of great character actors. Stewart plays George Bailey, a small-town building-and-loan president who rescues his community from the authoritarianism of a rich and spiteful old man, played by Barrymore. George is nearly brought to bankruptcy, disgrace, and the thought of suicide one Christmas Eve, until an interesting angel named Clarence drops in to show him what Bedford Falls would have been without him.
For me, director Frank Capra made the classic Christmas picture with ``It's A Wonderful Life'' in 1946. Nonetheless there's nothing old-fashioned about the emotion of the movie or its message.
The film stars James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, and a number of great character actors. Stewart plays George Bailey, a small-town building-and-loan president who rescues his community from the authoritarianism of a rich and spiteful old man, played by Barrymore. George is nearly brought to bankruptcy, disgrace, and the thought of suicide one Christmas Eve, until an interesting angel named Clarence drops in to show him what Bedford Falls would have been without him.
Capra made films that would inspire the down in the dumps hopes of the American public. His best films concern the ability of the everyday guy to seek the virtuous in the face of seemingly undefeatable malevolence and to act resourcefully for the advantage of his fellow humans. With the angel's help, Bailey sees how his building-and-loan made possible a decent standard of living for so many people and encouraged small business, and kept citizens productive and happy and contributors to society.
Despite charges of sentimentality leveled at it, ``Wonderful Life'' satisfies now, as much as it ever did, a public starved for meaning. Its schmaltz can be forgiven, partly because the film is so well made and partly because at its core lies the assumption of a common-ground of meaning among us all and the steel-tough realities of selfless affection. ``It's a Wonderful Life'' is one of the very few films that actually improves with age.
It's A Wonderful Life
Places to find it here ...
 | It's a Wonderful Life (Video)
Now perhaps the most beloved American film, It's a Wonderful Life was largely forgotten for years, due to a copyright quirk. Only in the late 1970s did it find its audience throug...more
Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (See the reviews)
List Price: $9.98
Lowest Used Price: $0.01 (as of 7/20/2008@3:35 PM)
Lowest New Price: $0.49 (as of 7/20/2008@3:35 PM) |
 | It's a Wonderful Life (Colorized Version) (Video)
Now perhaps the most beloved American film, It's a Wonderful Life was largely forgotten for years, due to a copyright quirk. Only in the late 1970s did it find its audience throug...more
Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (See the reviews)
List Price: $14.99
Lowest Used Price: $0.39 (as of 7/20/2008@3:35 PM)
Lowest New Price: $1.99 (as of 7/20/2008@3:35 PM) |
 | It's a Wonderful Life (60th Anniversary Edition) (DVD)
George Bailey has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all and it s Christmas! As the angels discuss George we see his life in flashback. As George is about to jump f...more
Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (See the reviews)
List Price: $19.99
Lowest Used Price: $8.67 (as of 7/20/2008@3:35 PM)
Lowest New Price: $10.37 (as of 7/20/2008@3:35 PM) |
 | It's A Wonderful Life (Two-Disc Collector's Set) (B/W & Color) (DVD)
George Bailey has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all and it s Christmas! As the angels discuss George we see his life in flashback. As George is about to jump f...more
Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (See the reviews)
List Price: $24.99
Lowest Used Price: $11.39 (as of 7/20/2008@3:36 PM)
Lowest New Price: $14.98 (as of 7/20/2008@3:36 PM) |
 | Classic Christmas Collection (It's a Wonderful Life / White Christmas) (DVD)
Includes:It's A Wonderful Life: 60th Anniversary EditionWhite ChristmasIt's A Wonderful Life:George Bailey has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all - and it's Chris...more
Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (See the reviews)
List Price: $29.99
Lowest Used Price: $14.48 (as of 7/20/2008@3:36 PM)
Lowest New Price: $20.03 (as of 7/20/2008@3:36 PM) |
It's A Wonderful Life
A wonderful movie for a wonderful time of year ... you can't watch it too much!!