1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- It's a Wonderful Life

#199- It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, and Henry Travers
Directed by: Frank Capra


Plot Summary: Angels are watching the town of Bedford Falls, as George Bailey is depressed and suicidal on Christmas Eve. After sacrificing his life and money for numerous people, and feeling little to no recognition for his troubles, George feels that the town would be better off if he had never been born. Clarence, a 2nd Class Angel sent down to prevent George from killing himself, decides to show George what the town would be like without him and show him what his life is really worth.


It took me a very long time to finally watch It's a Wonderful Life. By long time, I mean I only watched it two or three years ago for the first time. Sure, it's a "timeless Christmas classic" that is viewed by millions of people every year, but I never was able to get into it. I'm not sure if it was because there were other Christmas films and specials that appealed to me more when I was a child, or if I was ignorant and didn't want to see an older movie around the holidays. By the time I was done watching it, I understood the appeal this film has on millions of people, the reason those people (including myself) will watch it every year, and the kind of message it can send not only during the holidays, but for every day of life.

James Stewart plays the main protagonist, George Bailey. Stewart commands the screen and is the focal point of the entire film. He is the star, while the rest of the townspeople serve as supporting characters. Because of the importance of his character, the audience identifies with George most. We see that he has hopes and dreams, and when he sacrifices those plans to help those we care about, we see his humility on display but can also empathize with his frustrations. We never look down on George during his downward spiral, as a lot of it isn't his fault, as is evident throughout the film. Even his loved ones acknowledge this in the beginning of the film by praying to God to help George because they know how much of a good man he really is. Subtle moments like that really help build the value of George as a character and set him up to be a character you'll love to follow throughout the film.

George's wife Mary, played by Donna Reed, is not an overly deep character, but I think that has to do with the time of the film's release. She's a loving wife, who stands by her husband throughout the film, and a nurturing mother, having to take care of four kids at home, but other than that, she's not a complex character. She is a good character though, with many scenes and interactions that help her stronger qualities shine through, but she's not the main focus of the film. I will say that if George was never born, Mary's alternate fate was not very politically correct. At the time, I'm sure it was acceptable by society's standards, but today, I think there would be many feminist rallies over the treatment of Mary's character in the alternate existence.

George's guardian angel is named Clarence Odbody, played by Henry Travers. Clarence serves as the embodiment of all things good, as he tries to show George the value his life brings to so many others. He is a charming character, with a humble personality and even has a few good laughs thrown in, but when you're playing a character that is so good, there's not much of a character analysis to give him. Like Mary, Clarence is not a bad character. He's just not an overly complex character. On the other end of the spectrum is Henry F. Potter, played by Lionel Barrymore, the epitome of all evil in Bedford Falls. Potter is a sick, old curmudgeon who is a physical representation of corporate greed that serves as competition for the Bailey family and their building and loan company. There's something about Potter that lets the audience know that he's up to no good, whether it's his smarmy voice, condescending comments, or cheeky smile, nothing about Potter is sincere and his main goal in the film is to put George Bailey out of business for the sake of profit.

One aspect about It's a Wonderful Life that I've been teasing about in my other reviews is that only HALF of the film should be considered a Christmas film (technically speaking of course). In order to fill Clarence in on George's life, he is taken through a retrospective on George's biggest life events, including his early childhood, courtship of Mary, and downward spiral of economic hardships. Through the point of view of Clarence, the first half of the film serves as great exposition for the audience, as well as being a character study of George Bailey. Since life is an important theme in the film, this is an important feature so the audience can appreciate George's life and empathize with him throughout the film.

The second half of the film is the film's most memorable part, the part that takes place on Christmas Eve. The premise of the second half has been parodied and imitated on many other shows and movies, showing the value one person's life can have on those around them. The strongest feeling it offers is in recognition and celebration of a good life, which I feel is something important to have during the holiday season. It's a Wonderful Life demonstrates that as long as you have people in your life that you care about and care about you, you will always be a success. Sure, it's schmaltzy and as clichéd as it can get, but it's the holidays, and it's full of stories like that, and THIS is one of the very best stories to be told this time of year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! :)


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This film is the definition of the term "Christmas classic." If you haven't seen it already, I strongly suggest watching It's a Wonderful Life and owning it in your DVD collection. Also, have tissues on standby, because you WILL cry.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review

It's a Wonderful Life and movie images are copyrighted by Liberty Films