On Christmas Eve 1945, in Bedford Falls, New York, George Bailey (James Stewart) contemplates suicide. The prayers of his loved ones reach Heaven, where the guardian angel second class, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers), is assigned to save George and earn his wings. Clarence is shown flashbacks of George’s life, witnessing 12-year-old George saving his younger brother Harry (Todd Karns) from drowning, an act that leaves George deaf in one ear. George also prevents Mr. Gower (H.B. Warner), the pharmacist, from accidentally poisoning a customer’s prescription.
Life’s Detours and Sacrifices
In 1928, George plans a world tour before college. He reunites with Mary Hatch (Donna Reed), who has been in love with him since childhood. After the sudden death of his father, George postpones his travels to oversee the family business, Bailey Brothers Building and Loan. Henry Potter (Lionel Barrymore), a greedy board member who controls much of the town, aims to dissolve the institution. However, the board votes to keep it open if George runs it. George agrees, working alongside his Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell), and gives his tuition to Harry, expecting Harry to run the business after graduation.
Building a Life and Community
Harry returns from college married and with a promising job offer, leaving George to manage the Building and Loan. George and Mary rekindle their relationship, get married, and use their honeymoon savings to keep the Building and Loan solvent during a bank run. Under George’s leadership, the company establishes Bailey Park, a housing development that outshines Potter’s overpriced slums. Potter attempts to lure George with a lucrative job offer, but George, realizing Potter’s intention to close the Building and Loan, rejects him.
Crisis and Despair
On Christmas Eve 1945, the town prepares a hero’s welcome for Harry, now a U.S. Navy fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient. Uncle Billy heads to Potter’s bank to deposit $8,000 of the Building and Loan’s money, but he unwittingly wraps the cash in Potter’s newspaper. Potter discovers and keeps the money, while Billy can’t remember where he lost it. With a bank examiner reviewing the company’s records, George foresees scandal and criminal charges. After a fruitless search for the money and heated arguments at home, George asks Potter for a loan, offering his life insurance policy as collateral. Potter dismisses him, saying he’s worth more dead than alive, and calls the police.
A Glimpse into a George-less World
Drunk and despondent, George goes to a bridge, contemplating suicide. Before he can jump, Clarence dives into the river, prompting George to rescue him. When George wishes he had never been born, Clarence shows him an alternate reality where he doesn’t exist. Bedford Falls is now Pottersville, a grim town filled with sleazy venues, crime, and heartless people. Without George’s intervention, Mr. Gower was jailed for manslaughter, Uncle Billy was institutionalized, Bailey Park is a cemetery, and Harry drowned in childhood, failing to save the troops he was supposed to in his original life. Mary, now a spinster, doesn’t recognize him, and George flees in horror.
Return to Reality and a Community’s Support
Desperate to return to his life, George begs Clarence to restore reality. Back in his original timeline, George rushes home to face his arrest. Simultaneously, Mary and Billy rally the townspeople, who donate more than enough to cover the missing funds. As Harry toasts George as “the richest man in town,” George finds a copy of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” a gift from Clarence with a heartwarming inscription: “Remember, no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings!” As the family gathers around the Christmas tree, a bell rings. George’s youngest daughter, Zuzu (Karolyn Grimes), explains that “every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” George looks up, smiling, and says, “Atta boy, Clarence!” Thus, the movie closes on a high note, encapsulating the power of community, friendship, and the profound impact of one man’s life on his surroundings.
Movie Review
“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a 1946 American Christmas fantasy drama film directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart and Donna Reed. The movie tells the story of George Bailey, a man who, on the verge of committing suicide on Christmas Eve, is visited by his guardian angel who shows him what life would have been like had he never been born.
The film is a timeless classic of American cinema, with its exploration of the meaning of life and the impact of an individual on the lives of others resonating with audiences for generations. Its use of fantasy elements, heartwarming story, and expertly crafted performances make it a Christmas staple and a must-watch for any fan of classic cinema.
The film’s visual style, from its use of lighting and framing to its use of fantasy sequences and special effects, is masterfully executed, creating a unique and immersive cinematic experience. The use of fantasy elements adds to the film’s sense of wonder and magic, allowing the audience to experience the story in a deeply emotional way.
The movie’s screenplay, written by Capra, Frances Goodrich, and Albert Hackett, is a classic example of the three-act structure. The first act introduces the characters and their situation, the second act involves George’s struggles and the events that lead him to consider suicide, and the third act features the heartwarming resolution to his struggles. This structure serves to keep the story focused and intense, as each act builds upon the previous one, leading to a powerful and emotional conclusion.
George Bailey’s transformation from a frustrated and disillusioned man to a grateful and contented one is a central focus of the story. The film’s exploration of the importance of family, community, and human connection is an example of complex and nuanced character development that adds emotional depth to the story.
The film’s use of music is also noteworthy, with its iconic soundtrack featuring a mix of Christmas music and an original score by Dimitri Tiomkin. The use of music as a storytelling device is particularly effective in the film’s climactic scenes, adding a layer of emotional depth to the already heartwarming visuals and performances.