It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas fantasy drama film directed and produced by Frank Capra. It is based on the short story and booklet "The Greatest Gift", self-published by Philip Van Doren Stern in 1943, which itself is loosely based on the 1843 Charles Dickens novella A Christmas Carol.

AI overview

It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 Christmas film directed by Frank Capra that depicts what life would have been like if the main character had never been born. The film is based on Philip Van Doren Stern's 1943 self-published story "The Greatest Gift," which was itself inspired by Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol.

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Film · TMDB

8.3

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: 1946-12-20131 minDir: Frank CapraDrama, Family, FantasyBudget: $3.2MBox office: $9.6M

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Cast

James Stewart as George Bailey
Donna Reed as Mary Hatch
Lionel Barrymore as Mr. Potter
Thomas Mitchell as Uncle Billy
Henry Travers as Clarence
Beulah Bondi as Mrs. Bailey

Themes

~40 min read

Article

The film stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his personal dreams to help others in his community and whose intended suicide on Christmas Eve brings about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody. Clarence shows George all the lives he touched and what the world would be like if he had not existed.