It hasnt just become a beloved movie, its a major part of the holiday season. In order to save his fathers business, george gave up his college dreams to run the bailey building and loan. But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, theyre cattle. Potter is only the unseen owner of a photography studio and.
To know that jimmy stewart was suffering from intense emotional stress during the making of such a wonderful film is heartbreaking, hopefully he was able to find the same joy in life fans of the film found in his work. The bulk of the movie is a replaying of georges life, by the senior angels and for clarences benefit, so that clarence will understand george. Every time a bell rings, it seems, we fall in love with another old house. Eventually, due to difficulties in keeping the building and loan solvent, bailey falls into despair so deep that he. Oct 09, 2011 capras first production through his newlyformed liberty films, its a wonderful life lost money in its original run, when it was percieved as a fairly downbeat view of smalltown life. As we stare headlong into the approaching holiday season, the 1946 james stewart classic its a wonderful life is set to make its annual television appearance saturday on nbc. It s a wonderful life premiered over 70 years ago, and since then frank capra s holiday classic has been reigniting the spirit of the season in audiences for generations.
None of that is a criticism of the film it is, in fact, the very reason why this movie is so brilliant. Interesting background of the movie, its a wonderful life. Dec 08, 2016 december is upon us and that means plentiful opportunities to watch the enduring classic, its a wonderful life. Then it was kind of forgotten, until it was rediscovered by a new generation who grew up watching it every december on tv. As the film opens, its christmas eve, 1946, and george, who has long considered himself a failure, faces financial ruin and arrest and is seriously contemplating suicide. Its a wonderful life premiered over 70 years ago, and since then frank capras holiday classic has been reigniting the spirit of the season in audiences for generations. Shes one of the last surviving cast members of the 1946 holiday classic its a wonderful life. George bailey is a fictional character and the protagonist in frank capras 1946 film its a wonderful life. Do you know if we can watch it for free on youtube. It is the third in a series of film musicals following. It hasnt just become a beloved movie, it s a major part of the holiday season. Jimmy stewart gives a great performance in his lead role as adult george bailey. Dec 01, 2016 as we stare headlong into the approaching holiday season, the 1946 james stewart classic its a wonderful life is set to make its annual television appearance saturday on nbc. Its a wonderful life christmas movie film facts its a wonderful life credit.
As the dispirited foil to jimmy stewarts generally caring and pleasant george bailey, potter represents the worst qualities of capitalism. Dec, 2016 the misfortune grimes has personally endured is part of what makes it s a wonderful life so important to her. Real riches are found in living your ordinary life and striking ordinary matches with the people you love. If you love its a wonderful life, you need to buy this. And yet for all that, frank capras its a wonderful life has just been voted the most inspirational film ever. Jun 15, 2006 it is a story about depression and disillusionment, alcoholism and attempted suicide. Reallife tragedy of zuzu bailey actress karolyn grimes. At the board meeting, potter dismisses georges unhinged attack upon him and redirects the discussion to the subject of the meeting. Parents need to know that frank capras bittersweet, heartwarming movie its a wonderful life is a christmas classic. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of viewers completely misinterpret frank capras dystopian nightmare as a heartwarming christmas tale.
But it wasnt until the 1980s, when the long forgotten film was resurrected for. Its a wonderful life, american dramatic film, released in 1946, that is widely considered one of the most inspirational and beloved movies in american cinema. Its a wonderful life is a 1946 american christmas fantasy drama film produced and directed by frank capra, based on the short story and booklet the greatest. The holiday classic its a wonderful life wasnt really a hit when it premiered in 1946. Its a wonderful life, i thoroughly enjoyed, loved it even. The main problem for george is that as a young man, he ends up being. Denison, home of donna reed, to host screening of its a wonderful life with spanish subtitles. I do like old movies like this, makes me imagine a simpler, more convivial and innocent, wellmannered time. The first half of it s a wonderful life is almost an entirely original story, while the second half the final christmas scenes are adapted from the greatest gift by philip van doren stern. S swingers paradise is a 1964 british film made as a vehicle for pop star cliff richard. At age 6, karolyn grimes played the role of zuzu bailey in the holiday film it s a wonderful life 1946. Why its a wonderful life is not a christmas movie fandango. Dec 04, 2018 denison, home of donna reed, to host screening of it s a wonderful life with spanish subtitles.
It may be an iconic christmas movie, but its a wonderful life was actually shot in the summer of 1946in the midst of a heat wave, no less. Tweens and teens will love it as an engaging story that takes on the human condition in all its complexity. Dec 25, 2012 a haters guide to its a wonderful life. But when they find out who i am, believe me, they light up, grimes tells. This is director frank capras classic bittersweet comedydrama about george bailey james stewart, the eternallyindebt guiding force of a bank in the typical american small town of bedford falls. Its not exactly the same place that one was just a set, after all, but this mansion for sale in historical lapeer, michigan might be the closet thing weve ever seen to the greatest movie house of all time in real life. It s a wonderful life is one of the best movies ever made. At age 6, karolyn grimes played the role of zuzu bailey in the holiday film its a wonderful life 1946. Its a wonderful life is a 1946 american christmas fantasy drama film produced and directed by frank capra, based on the short story and booklet the greatest gift, which philip van doren stern began to write in 1939 and published privately in 1943. One of george s life lessons is that there s no magic lighter. An old expression for a person who is stubborn or mean. Its a wonderful life is one of the best movies ever made. Denison, home of donna reed, to host screening of its a.
How jimmy stewarts war service affected its a wonderful. J the next time you watch that christmas season film frank capras its a wonderful life you should try to picture small town life in good old nutley and belleville, new jersey, about one hundred years ago. Jimmy stewart was a wwii veteran and his ptsd affected the. Source of the its a wonderful plot trope, and an annual staple of christmastime viewing, this muchloved 1946 frank capra film tells of one mans life of selfsacrifice and quiet despair, from which he is rescued by a miracle as the film begins on christmas eve 1946, angels are listening to myriad prayers from various residents of the small town of bedford falls, new york, requesting help. Early in the movie, boy george no, not that boy george walks into the drugstore where he works and says, i wish i had a million dollars.
The holiday classic to define all holiday classics, its a wonderful life is one of a handful of films worth an annual viewing. Its a wonderful life was a return to tinseltown for both men, who were both still dealing with the traumas of conflict. And yes, i will admit that its a wonderful life has a lifeaffirming, feelgood ending and the same kind of message about love and selfsacrifice that many holiday films share. The family man 2000, one magic christmas 1985, what dreams may come 1998, seven pounds 2008, prancer 1989. Its a tale not many fans of the 1946 christmas classic its a wonderful life know, but after filming, the actress who played little zuzu bailey experienced a personal tragedy that took her far away from hollywood, and sidetracked her acting career for decades. Its a wonderful life 79 movie clip mary the old maid. Her childhood film career spanned 16 movies, but she is best remembered for playing the daughter of george and mary bailey james stewart and donna reed. As the dispirited foil to jimmy stewarts generally caring and pleasant george bailey. Some words and expressions that you may not know clarence the angel learns about george baileys childhood. Wishing on the lighter represents the romantic, escapist side of george s personality.
Its a wonderful life, american dramatic film, released in 1946, that is widely. George bailey was a young man, living in a small update new york town, but with big dreams. How jimmy stewarts war service affected its a wonderful life. I watched james stewart in destry rides again as i like marlene dietrich, but jimmy stole the spotlight. With great difficulty, clarence is able to slowly convince george that his life is still worth living, and that in fact, the most valuable things in life have little to do with money. Potter owns the bank in the fictitious bedford falls, as well as most of its businesses. Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings its a. It s about how we have to face life with a lot of uncertainty, and even though nobody hears it, most of.
It s a wonderful life, i thoroughly enjoyed, loved it even. Karolyn grimes and james stewart in its a wonderful life, 1946. Jimmy stewart as george bailey with his guardian angel, clarence, in the 1946 classic, its a wonderful life. Its a wonderful life full christmas movies classic. I did not know it was a christmas movie, guess it has been a long time since i saw it. This year, for the first time, the theater is hosting a second screening of the christmas movie. Strange how such a popular movie nowadays was actually. The real hero of its a wonderful life by tom mullen. More than seven decades after its release in us cinemas, frank. The last time the home was sold, in 2003, its connection to the film was part of what appealed about the property to its buyers, according to real estate agent shereen kelly. An angel is sent from heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed. The film, which was produced and directed by frank capra, has become synonymous with christmas, when it is frequently televised. An angel is sent from heaven to help a desperately frustrated.
Directed by frank capra, the film famously follows george, the everyday good guy, as hes pulled back from the brink of taking his own life by. See more ideas about its a wonderful life, wonderful life movie and donna reed. Capras first production through his newlyformed liberty films, its a wonderful life lost money in its original run, when it was percieved as a fairly downbeat view of smalltown life. Its a wonderful life has become a staple of christmas television programming the world over. The character is a building and loan banker who sacrifices his dreams in order to help his community of bedford falls to the point where he feels life has passed him by. Most importantly, though, its a wonderful life is not about christmas. Well in my book, my father died a much richer man than youll ever be. The best 20 holiday films of alltime, ranked indiewire. Its a wonderful life most inspirational film ever film. But so does finding nemo and no one calls that a christmas movie. More than seven decades after its release in us cinemas, frank capras story of a suicidal man james. In the greatest gift, the short story that the movie is based on, mr.
As the film opens, its christmas eve, 1946, and george, who has long. But she grew up cherishing the film and getting the inside scoop on its making from its star, donna reedwho just so happens to be her mom. And there are several other good and well acted characters. With james stewart, donna reed, lionel barrymore, thomas mitchell. In 1945, after a number of rewrites, rko sold the movie rights to frank capra, who quickly recruited jimmy stewart to play george bailey. And yet for all that, frank capra s it s a wonderful life has just been voted the most inspirational film ever. Its a wonderful life film by capra 1946 britannica. In 1998 a fost votat pe locul 11 in lista celor mai bune. See more ideas about its a wonderful life, life and wonderful life movie. Her life made such a drastic turn, in fact, that nearly 35 years after the films debut, when her costar jimmy stewart finally. It s not a christmas movie, not a movie about jesus or bethlehem or anything religious like that, she told the washington post. The holiday classic to define all holiday classics, it s a wonderful life is one of a handful of films worth an annual viewing.
Its a wonderful life 1946 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Merry christmas, you wonderful old building and loan. It is a story about depression and disillusionment, alcoholism and attempted suicide. Home featured in the alltime favorite original movie, its a wonderful life. This entry was posted in faithbased films, filmmaking, personal stories and tagged citizen kane, faithbased films, frank capra, its a wonderful life, old fashioned, rik swartzwelder, the least of these on october 29, 2014 by oldfashusr. J the next time you watch that christmas season film frank capra s it s a wonderful life you should try to picture small town life in good old nutley and belleville, new jersey, about one hundred years ago. Dec 16, 2019 its a wonderful life has become a staple of christmas television programming the world over.
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