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Film Description
Frank Capra's heartwarming, evergreen Christmas tale sees James Stewart play George Bailey, a man facing bankruptcy who is thinking of ending it all. But his personal angel, Clarence (Henry Travers), will never get his wings if Bailey ends up in the drink, so he shows him the impact he has made on the lives of the people around him to prove that his life, is, in fact, Wonderful. As is the film.
James Stewart is George Bailey, who runs a financial business in the small US town of Bedford Falls. George is a thoroughly good and honest but troubled man, the very ... more >
James Stewart is George Bailey, who runs a financial business in the small US town of Bedford Falls. George is a thoroughly good and honest but troubled man, the very antithesis of emotionless, Scrooge-like local millionaire Mr Potter. On Christmas Eve, Potter engineers the disappearance of a sizeable loan from under George's nose and George reaches his lowest ebb. Whilst contemplating suicide from a bridge, he is interrupted by Clarence, his 'guardian angel', who proceeds to show George how life in his hometown would have panned out without him. To the viewer it becomes clear that George is a man much loved and valued both by his family and the local community. The question is: will he realise this, and how will he react?
You may be mistaken for thinking - even from its title alone - that It's A Wonderful Life is one of those schmaltzy, workaday Hollywood films weighed down by its own sentimentality. If so, you couldn't be more wrong. This is a film with timeless warmth, by which only those with the stoniest of hearts could remain unmoved. It will make you feel by turns happy, sad, angry, thoughtful...it's a film that stirs all of the emotions, yet never stands in judgement, never preaches, never patronises the viewer.
It's the truest, purest embodiment of the term 'classic'. It's a film that everybody should see. Even a hardened cynic like myself finds it impossible to resist. < less
"It's a wonderful life" -
DavidLeanFan on 17th June 2009
It's a wonderful life. Arguably the greatest feel good film ever made. It tells the story of George Baile (James Stewart) and his wife Mary (Donna Reed) as they strive... more >
It's a wonderful life. Arguably the greatest feel good film ever made. It tells the story of George Baile (James Stewart) and his wife Mary (Donna Reed) as they strive to provide the people of Bedford Falls with affordable housing and a successful bank. One Idyllic Christmas, the town Millionaire Mr Potter decides to buy the Baileys out of the bank and when George staunchly refuses, Potter holds a grudge against him. Potter; a cruel and heartless man, is delighted when he stumbles upon a large amount of money from the bank that the hapless Bailey family friend, uncle Billy, has left inside a newspaper. Potter keeps the money and spreads te rumour that the Baileys are bankrupt. Just as George and Mary are about to leave for the delayed hineymoon of their dreams, the townspeople flock to the bank demanding their money. George is forced to stay and try to rekindle the people's faith in the bank, but he fails. On Christmas eve, he loses his temper with his well-meaning family and storms out to try and kill himself. Convinced he is the stem of all their problems. Enter Clarence; more than just a senile old man. An angel trying to earn his wings and an awnser to the prayers of the Bailey's. Clarence offers George the opportunity to see how the lives of those around him would have been, had he not been born. George helplessly watches the harrowing events of his brothers death, the downfall of his friends and the rise of Potter, then narrowly avoids arrest, before being returned to his place in society. Clarence tells George that every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings before dissapearing into the night. When George returns home, his family are overjoyed to see him, as are the townspeople. They have all turned out to offer what they can and allow the Bailey's to remake the money that they have lost. They gain more than enough and as the family put the money in the cash register, the bell rings. The Bailey daughter Zsu Zsu says ' teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings', and we know that Clarence has been rewarded. The happy Bailey's and the people of Bedford falls break into a Christmas carol to conclude the heartwarming film. George's self esteem is restored, as is the town's faith in the Bailey's because ...... it's a wonderful life!
It's a wonderful life is the quintissential Christmas Classic, as moving today as it was over 50 years ago. It is remembered with affection by almost all who have seen it. < less
