Director: Frank Capra

Writer: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra (Screenplay) Philip Van Doren Stern (Story)

Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi

Plot: An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.

Tagline – They’re going steady…straight to your heart!

Runtime: 2 Hours 10 Minutes

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: One of the Best

Story: It’s a Wonderful Life starts as an angel Clarence (Travers) is chosen to head to Earth to help George Bailey (Stewart), first we learn what left George in the state he needs rescuing from, the hardworking young man that doesn’t want to just have a basic job.

As the years pass George finds himself never leaving the town, marrying the girl of his dreams Mary (Reed), but not everything goes as smoothly as he had planned as he clashes with Mr Potter (Barrymore) on all business dealings.

Thoughts on It’s a Wonderful Life

Characters – George Bailey is a businessman that had always dreamed of getting out of his small town, he was destine for something big, but got overshadowed by his brother while staying and taking care of his family business. He has always been good to the people in the town over the ruthless Mr Potter, but he has reached his final straw, as we see how things lead to this moment of needing a guardian angel. Mary is the wife of George’s that stands by George through the differences they face during the time, knowing he is good man. Mr Potter is the ruthless businessman that has been after George’s family business for decades now, he tries all the tricks in the book to ruin them.

Performances – James Stewart was fantastic in this leading role, where he shows the calmness even with the frustration his character is feeling through the story unfold. Donna Reed is great too in the supporting role, while Lionel Barrymore is great as the villainous role.

Story – The story shows how one man’s good nature can stop him living the life he had planned, but things do go in a good direction, to the level where he doesn’t enjoy. It shows how you could have someone constantly tries to put you down and you can’t give up on your own beliefs. It shows the meaning of doing the right thing in life, because it will reward you in the future.

Family/Fantasy – The family could enjoy this every Christmas, it does take its time before getting into the fantasy elements of the film though, which only happens in the final quarter of the film.

Settings – The town setting shows us the life George has found himself stuck in believing he could have done more. It shows us who knows who and how close the community is.

Scene of the Movie – If he hadn’t been born.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – George does seem to just snap on one night, there doesn’t seem to be a slow enough build up.

Final Thoughts – This is one of the Christmas movies that everyone will have heard of, it is one everyone should see at some point in their life too.

Overall: Must watch Christmas movie.

Rating