It’s a wonderful laugh! It’s a wonderful love!|Dec. 20, 1946|United States|130 Min.|TV-G
Genre: Drama;Family;Fantasy;Western
Description: “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a 1946 film, tells the story of George Bailey, a man from Bedford Falls, New York, who contemplates ending his life on Christmas Eve in 1945. His family and friends pray for him, and their prayers reach heaven. Clarence Odbody, a second-class angel, is tasked with saving George to earn his wings. Clarence is shown key moments from George’s life, including his childhood act of saving his brother Harry from drowning, which left George with partial hearing loss. Later, George prevents a local druggist, Mr. Gower, from accidentally poisoning a child’s prescription while grieving his son’s death.
In 1928, George dreams of traveling the world before college and reconnects with Mary Hatch, who has always admired him. Their mutual attraction grows during her high school dance. When George’s father passes away unexpectedly, he postpones his travel plans to manage the family business, Bailey Brothers Building and Loan. The business is under threat from Henry F. Potter, a greedy board member who controls much of the town and seeks to dissolve the company. The board agrees to keep it running if George takes charge. Reluctantly, George accepts, working alongside his uncle Billy and supporting Harry’s education with the expectation that Harry will eventually manage the business.
However, Harry returns from college married and with a promising job offer from his father-in-law, leaving George to continue running the Building and Loan. Shortly after marrying Mary, George and Mary face a bank run and use their $2,000 honeymoon savings to stabilize the bank. Over time, George leads the company to establish Bailey Park, a modern housing development that competes with Potter’s overpriced slums. Potter tries to lure George with a lucrative job offer, but George realizes it’s a ploy to shut down the Building and Loan and rejects the offer.”
Cast director: Frank Capra
Cast actor: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen, Ward Bond, Gloria Grahame, H.B. Warner
Original name: It’s a Wonderful Life