1946 Directed by Frank Capra
A holiday favourite for generations... 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.
James Stewart Donna Reed Lionel Barrymore Thomas Mitchell Henry Travers Beulah Bondi Frank Faylen Ward Bond Gloria Grahame H.B. Warner Frank Albertson Todd Karns Samuel S. Hinds Mary Treen Virginia Patton Charles Williams Sarah Edwards William Edmunds Lillian Randolph Argentina Brunetti Robert J. Anderson Ronnie Ralph Jean Gale Jeanine Ann Roose Danny Mummert Georgie Nokes Sheldon Leonard Frank Hagney Ray Walker Show All…
Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, Эта прекрасная жизнь, Tai nuostabus gyvenimas, Це прекрасне життя, Pamatyk kine: Nuostabus gyvenimas, Mens, Durf te Leven, 멋진 인생, A Felicidade Não se Compra, Qué Bello es Vivir
This film is a testament to the hypnotic powers all great classics possess. Every time I watch this I want to call my mum to tell her I love her, call my mate I haven't seen for far too long to grab a beer and it makes me want to go outside to hand out smiles to everyone I meet.
It turns me into the biggest optimistic sap you'll ever see and I love it for that!
Oh right this is the most iconic Christmas movie because it actually IS the best Christmas movie
Part of Buddy the Elf, What's Your Favorite Color?
“Is this the ear you can’t hear out of? George Bailey, I’m going to love you till the day I die.”
George Bailey (James Stewart) was loved, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his affection was signed by the policeman, the taxi driver, the barkeep, and all the other citizens of Bedford Falls. Even the bank examiner signed it; and the bank examiner’s name was good for anything he chose to put his hand to. George Bailey was as loved as...well, as an angel.
It is a hoary old cliché to say that Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life is a sentimental ripoff of…
Things I noticed this time:
The big one I can't believe I never put together before:
The first defining moment of George Bailey's life is diving in the icy water to save his brother; and Clearance has him do it again to save himself.
How good is Samuel Hinds in his two brief scenes as Pa Bailey?
All the portraits that Potter has of himself hanging in his office and his home.
Love the scene where Potter offers George a job. It's been done plenty of times before and since, I suppose, but having the movie's villain be the single person who is able to articulate and sympathize with George's lifelong frustrations like that is such a brilliant stroke.
When…
I don't have the hierarchy completely worked out, but if we're talking romantic gestures in cinema, a young Mary whispering, "George Bailey, I'll love you 'til the day I die," into his deaf ear, is definitely in the top five.
'Twas the week before Christmas, when all though the house
Not a creature was stirring; just me and my mouse
The decorating done; all the lights hung with care
I fancied a Yule film, so rose from my chair
The choices were varied; all classics the lot
The pick must be perfect to start the onslaught
The Trouble With Angels; my sweetheart Miss Hayley?
Oh wait just a minute, it must be George Bailey!
I flew down the stairs; DVD disk in tow
And slotted the plate; turned the lights way down low
The screen it did light with the Liberty marquee
My heart all aflutter with pure Christmas glee
We start in the stars where we hear there is…
beautiful film about the true core of morality, the importance of community care, and being so in love that you dance into a swimming pool! hmmm what is there to say about this classic that hasn’t been said before ... well, here’s something: i wish the title didn’t transport me directly into a mid-2000s trailer for an animated movie. been wriggling around the apartment singing “it’s a wonderful life you gotta take it from me it’s a wonderful life come on and break it on down” and my roommates have to spray me with a water bottle
How can a movie I've watched for 30 years, every year, multiple times some years, how can a movie like that still cause me to tear up at the end? I know what happens, I've seen it before. That, my friends, is quality film making.
