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It's a Wonderful Life

"It's a wonderful laugh! It's a wonderful love!"

1946-12-20 Drama 2hr 10m

A holiday favourite for generations... George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George's modest building and loan company. But on Christmas Eve the business's $8,000 is lost and George's troubles begin.

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It's a Wonderful Life
Amazon Prime Video

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Storyline

A holiday favourite for generations... George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George's modest building and loan company. But on Christmas Eve the business's $8,000 is lost and George's troubles begin.

  • Released
    1946-12-20
  • Revenue
    $9,644,124
  • Budget
    $3,180,000
  • Runtime
    2hr 10m
  • Genre
    Drama, Family, Fantasy
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English
  • imdb-logo
    8.6
  • Production
    Liberty Films

Crew

Frank Capra
Director
Frances Goodrich
Screenplay
Frank Capra
Producer
Keywords:
small town angel suicide attempt holiday bank great depression family business nervous breakdown old house newlywed magic realism told in flashback alternative reality guardian angel high school dance christmas sentimental cheerful optimistic xmas xmas eve

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Cast

James Stewart

James Stewart
George Bailey
Donna Reed

Donna Reed
Mary Hatch
Lionel Barrymore

Lionel Barrymore
Mr. Potter
Thomas Mitchell

Thomas Mitchell
Uncle Billy
Henry Travers

Henry Travers
Clarence
Beulah Bondi

Beulah Bondi
Mrs. Bailey
Frank Faylen

Frank Faylen
Ernie
Ward Bond

Ward Bond
Bert
Gloria Grahame

Gloria Grahame
Violet
H.B. Warner

H.B. Warner
Mr. Gower
Frank Albertson

Frank Albertson
Sam Wainwright
Todd Karns

Todd Karns
Harry Bailey
Samuel S. Hinds

Samuel S. Hinds
Pa Bailey
Mary Treen

Mary Treen
Cousin Tilly
Virginia Patton

Virginia Patton
Ruth Dakin
Charles Williams

Charles Williams
Cousin Eustace
Sarah Edwards

Sarah Edwards
Mrs. Hatch
William Edmunds

William Edmunds
Mr. Martini
Lillian Randolph

Lillian Randolph
Annie
Argentina Brunetti

Argentina Brunetti
Mrs. Martini
Robert J. Anderson

Robert J. Anderson
Little George
Ronnie Ralph

Ronnie Ralph
Little Sam
Jeanne Gail

Jeanne Gail
Little Mary
Jeanine Ann Roose

Jeanine Ann Roose
Little Violet
Danny Mummert

Danny Mummert
Little Marty Hatch
Georgie Nokes

Georgie Nokes
Little Harry Bailey
Sheldon Leonard

Sheldon Leonard
Nick
Frank Hagney

Frank Hagney
Potter's Bodyguard
Ray Walker

Ray Walker
Joe (Luggage Shop)
Charles Lane

Charles Lane
Real Estate Salesman
Edward Keane

Edward Keane
Tom (Bldg. & Loan)
Carol Coombs

Carol Coombs
The Bailey Child - Janie
Karolyn Grimes

Karolyn Grimes
The Bailey Child - Zuzu
Larry Simms

Larry Simms
The Bailey Child - Pete
Jimmy Hawkins

Jimmy Hawkins
The Bailey Child - Tommy
Jean Acker

Jean Acker
Townswoman (uncredited)
Ernie Adams

Ernie Adams
Ed (uncredited)
Monya Andre

Monya Andre
Elderly Woman (uncredited)
Stanley Andrews

Stanley Andrews
Mr. Welch (uncredited)
Sam Ash

Sam Ash
Nervous Banker (uncredited)
Jack Bailey

Jack Bailey
One of Vi's Suitors (uncredited)
Louise Bates

Louise Bates
Building & Loan Depositor (uncredited)
Mary Bayless

Mary Bayless
Townswoman (uncredited)
Beth Belden

Beth Belden
Young Girl (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict

Brooks Benedict
Military Officer in Montage (uncredited)
Joseph E. Bernard

Joseph E. Bernard
Townsman (uncredited)
Al Bridge

Al Bridge
Sheriff (uncredited)
Buz Buckley

Buz Buckley
Young Boy (uncredited)
Marian Carr

Marian Carr
Jane Wainwright (uncredited)
Adriana Caselotti

Adriana Caselotti
Singer at Martini's (uncredited)
Lane Chandler

Lane Chandler
Policeman (uncredited)
Michael Chapin

Michael Chapin
Young George's Friend (uncredited)
Tom Chatterton

Tom Chatterton
Townsman (uncredited)
Jack Cheatham

Jack Cheatham
Cop Arresting Violet (uncredited)
Harry Cheshire

Harry Cheshire
Dr. Campbell (uncredited)
Edward Clark

Edward Clark
Building & Loan Board Member (uncredited)
Tom Coleman

Tom Coleman
Building & Loan Customer (uncredited)
Ellen Corby

Ellen Corby
Ms. Davis (uncredited)
Bryn Davis

Bryn Davis
Elderly Woman (uncredited)
Lew Davis

Lew Davis
High School Teacher at Poolside (uncredited)
Harry Denny

Harry Denny
(uncredited)
Helen Dickson

Helen Dickson
Woman at Graduation Dance (uncredited)
Dick Elliott

Dick Elliott
Man on Porch (uncredited)
Tom Fadden

Tom Fadden
Tollhouse Keeper (uncredited)
Frank Fenton

Frank Fenton
Violet's Boyfriend (uncredited)
Eddie Fetherston

Eddie Fetherston
Horace (uncredited)
Sam Flint

Sam Flint
Relieved Banker in Potter's Office (uncredited)
Lee Frederick

Lee Frederick
(uncredited)
Dick Gordon

Dick Gordon
Photographer with Sheriff (uncredited)
Jack Gordon

Jack Gordon
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Herschel Graham

Herschel Graham
Townsman (uncredited)
Joseph Granby

Joseph Granby
Elderly Man (voice) (uncredited)
Charles Halton

Charles Halton
Carter (uncredited)
Carl Eric Hansen

Carl Eric Hansen
(uncredited)
Herbert Heywood

Herbert Heywood
Building & Loan Depositor (uncredited)
Harry Holman

Harry Holman
Mr. Partridge (uncredited)
Art Howard

Art Howard
Building & Loan Board Member (uncredited)
Bert Howard

Bert Howard
Building & Loan Board Member (uncredited)
Arthur Stuart Hull

Arthur Stuart Hull
Mr. Randall (uncredited)
John Indrisano

John Indrisano
Man in Fantasy (uncredited)
Eddie Kane

Eddie Kane
Building & Loan Depositor (uncredited)
Carl Kent

Carl Kent
Townsman (uncredited)
Milton Kibbee

Milton Kibbee
Building & Loan Board Member (uncredited)
Effie Laird

Effie Laird
Townswoman (uncredited)
Mike Lally

Mike Lally
Building & Loan Customer (uncredited)
Harold Landon

Harold Landon
Marty Hatch (uncredited)
Meade 'Lux' Lewis

Meade 'Lux' Lewis
Pianist in Nick's Place (uncredited)
Jack Lomas

Jack Lomas
Bar Patron (uncredited)
J. Farrell MacDonald

J. Farrell MacDonald
Man Whose Grandfather Planted Tree (uncredited)
Irene Mack

Irene Mack
Townswoman (uncredited)
Wilbur Mack

Wilbur Mack
Building & Loan Customer (uncredited)
Charles Meakin

Charles Meakin
Elderly Man (uncredited)
Priscilla Montgomery

Priscilla Montgomery
Student in Gym (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse

Bert Moorhouse
Man with Sheriff (uncredited)
Evelyn Moriarty

Evelyn Moriarty
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Philip Morris

Philip Morris
Building & Loan Customer (uncredited)
George Noisom

George Noisom
School Dancer (uncredited)
Bob O'Connor

Bob O'Connor
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Frank O'Connor

Frank O'Connor
Military Officer in Montage (uncredited)
Lynn O'Leary-Jameson

Lynn O'Leary-Jameson
Infant Janie Bailey (uncredited)
Moroni Olsen

Moroni Olsen
Senior Angel (voice) (uncredited)
Garry Owen

Garry Owen
Bill-Poster (uncredited)
Netta Packer

Netta Packer
Elderly Woman (uncredited)
Franklin Parker

Franklin Parker
Photographer / Reporter (uncredited)
Suzanne Ridgway

Suzanne Ridgway
Nick's Waitress (uncredited)
Mark Roberts

Mark Roberts
Mickey (uncredited)
Constantine Romanoff

Constantine Romanoff
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Cy Schindell

Cy Schindell
Nick's Bouncer (uncredited)
Almira Sessions

Almira Sessions
Potter's Secretary (uncredited)
Cedric Stevens

Cedric Stevens
Townsman (uncredited)
Brick Sullivan

Brick Sullivan
Man in Fantasy (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan

Charles Sullivan
Nick's Bartender (uncredited)
Carl Switzer

Carl Switzer
Freddie Othello
Max Wagner

Max Wagner
Cashier / Nick's Assistant Bouncer (uncredited)
Larry Wheat

Larry Wheat
Building & Loan Board Member (uncredited)
Charles C. Wilson

Charles C. Wilson
Charlie (uncredited)
Finn Zirzow

Finn Zirzow
Bar Patron (uncredited)

Videos and Photos

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It's a Wonderful Life
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It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life

Movie Reviews

Reviews for It's a Wonderful Life
reviewer avatar

A Review by barrymost 10

Written by barrymost on 2019-08-18

It's practically an American tradition to watch this film with family at Christmas time each year. I just saw it for the first time myself ... read more

It's practically an American tradition to watch this film with family at Christmas time each year. I just saw it for the first time myself a couple weeks before last Christmas, and I loved it. It's an uplifting, inspiring, dramatic, and at times laugh-out-loud funny story, with a cast that probably couldn't be improved upon if you tried. And, of course, it's directed by the superb Frank Capra, whose work I greatly admire. James Stewart gives a raw, totally honest performance, as the unforgettable George Bailey, who on Christmas Eve is shown exactly why the world, or at least Bedford Falls, can't do without him. And, there is my favorite line in the whole movie, out of so many memorable quotes, delivered perfectly by Lionel Barrymore, as the evil Mr. Potter: "And a happy new year to you. In jail!"

reviewer avatar

A Review by narrator56 9

Written by narrator56 on 2020-12-24

Oh my goodness, I am not going to spend much time describing this gold standard of Christmas movies. If you have seen it, you know what it i... read more

Oh my goodness, I am not going to spend much time describing this gold standard of Christmas movies. If you have seen it, you know what it is. If you haven’t seen it, stop reading this and watch it now. It is funny, tense, sentimental, romantic and downright Capra-esque. I have liked Jimmy Stewart in everything I have seen him in. Was he that good, or did the camera just plain love him, like I heard said once about Steve McQueen. But it doesn’t stop there. If you notice the ensemble cast, you see represented some of the finest character actors out there. Between them it’s seems like we have seen one of them in every great classic movie. I don’t watch this every year any more - there is just too much to see out there this time of year. But I watch it every two or three years and besides, if I have some time to spare, I can practically review every scene in order in my mind. It is part of my Christmas consciousness. Wait, are you still reading this?

reviewer avatar

A Review by r96sk 8

Written by r96sk on 2020-12-26

Lovely film. <em>'It’s a Wonderful Life'</em> is enjoyable, hearty and well crafted. It takes longer than I would've predicted to get to ... read more

Lovely film. <em>'It’s a Wonderful Life'</em> is enjoyable, hearty and well crafted. It takes longer than I would've predicted to get to 'the event', but it's very much worth seeing the journey that comes before - as we see the arc of James Stewart's George. It all crescendos with an ending that you can't help but smile at. Stewart is excellent in the lead role, you really do see every single emotion that his character goes through. He is, by far, the standout performer, but there are of course good performances from the likes of Donna Reed (Mary), Lionel Barrymore (Henry) and Henry Travers (Clarence). I did notice a few weird cuts in there, not that I hold that against it or did it affect my enjoyment - it's just noticeable. I see, via other reviewers, that there's a colour version - Channel 4 showed the black-and-white version over here in the UK. I can't say I felt the need for colour, which is always a good sign. Wholesome. Not that it, evidently given the average rating, needs to be said by someone like me, but: I'd certainly recommend this.

reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 8

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2022-07-07

Every now and again you come across a film that just makes you think.... This is one of those. Recently upconverted to 4K and back on a big ... read more

Every now and again you come across a film that just makes you think.... This is one of those. Recently upconverted to 4K and back on a big screen, it's quite simply a joy to watch. Jimmy Stewart is "George" - a man who has spent his adult life tirelessly trying to help those less fortunate to make their own way in life - and his savings and loan enterprise is the lifeline for many of them. When that all goes pear-shaped though, he feels a degree of despair that leads him to wish he had never been born. Enter the wonderful Henry Travers as "Clarence" - the visiting angel who grants his wish and demonstrates just how life would have looked had he, indeed, never been around. Lionel Barrymore is superb as his domineering competitor "Mr. Potter" who wants his name on everything in "Pottertown" that he doesn't already own. Donna Reed also shines as his wife, especially towards the end of this Capra masterpiece that uses shadow and the wintry weather to elicit a lovely sense of Christmas, but also of our innate need for warmth and security. It is sentimental, but not in a cloying fashion and the star works his magic, with a wonderful accompaniment from Dimitri Tiomkin, for over two hours that simply flies by. Well worth the restoration - not just of the film, but of our own faith in the human spirit - and watch, too!

reviewer avatar

A Review by GenerationofSwine 10

Written by GenerationofSwine on 2023-12-25

I am not one of those snobs that thinks Black and White is always better... but don't watch the colored version of it, there is something ab... read more

I am not one of those snobs that thinks Black and White is always better... but don't watch the colored version of it, there is something about it that just doesn't look right. Maybe it's because the colors are off, maybe because I'm not as used to it, but something doesn't sit right with it. Anyway, still the best Christmas movie ever made. It's still about redemption. It's still heartwarming and family friendly and... perfect... ... perfect save some of the hard cuts. I don't know why people don't mention those. They are pretty glaring, they are pretty horrible. But... it's still just about the best Christmas movie ever made.

reviewer avatar

A Review by aochin 9

Written by aochin on 2024-06-15

It's a timeless and great film for everyone, straightforwardly telling us that life is worth living and a good deed is never lost. Frank ... read more

It's a timeless and great film for everyone, straightforwardly telling us that life is worth living and a good deed is never lost. Frank Capra's films always remind me the world is not so bad. He shows us there is no need to beat or convince evil people to change. You will still have people helping you not from a sense of obligation but from a genuine willingness as long as you are kind and honest with them. In such a beautiful world, someone will impress you with their kindness and bring out yours, and vice versa. That's enough, isn't it?

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by barrymost

It's practically an American tradition to watch this film with family at Christmas time each year. I just saw it for the first time myself a couple weeks before last Christmas, and I loved it. It's an uplifting, inspiring, dramatic, and a...

reviewer avatar

A Review by barrymost 10

Written by barrymost on 2019-08-18

It's practically an American tradition to watch this film with family at Christmas time each year. I just saw it for the first time myself a couple weeks before last Christmas, and I loved it. It's ...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by narrator56 9

Written by narrator56 on 2020-12-24

Oh my goodness, I am not going to spend much time describing this gold standard of Christmas movies. If you have seen it, you know what it is. If you haven’t seen it, stop reading this and watch it no...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by r96sk 8

Written by r96sk on 2020-12-26

Lovely film. <em>'It’s a Wonderful Life'</em> is enjoyable, hearty and well crafted. It takes longer than I would've predicted to get to 'the event', but it's very much worth seeing the journey tha...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 8

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2022-07-07

Every now and again you come across a film that just makes you think.... This is one of those. Recently upconverted to 4K and back on a big screen, it's quite simply a joy to watch. Jimmy Stewart is "...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by GenerationofSwine 10

Written by GenerationofSwine on 2023-12-25

I am not one of those snobs that thinks Black and White is always better... but don't watch the colored version of it, there is something about it that just doesn't look right. Maybe it's because the...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by aochin 9

Written by aochin on 2024-06-15

It's a timeless and great film for everyone, straightforwardly telling us that life is worth living and a good deed is never lost. Frank Capra's films always remind me the world is not so bad. He s...

read more