It's a Wonderful Life (1946) First Time Watching! Movie Reaction! 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

Jimmy Stewart is a different breed of actor. Top tier.

The kindness that George and Mary show toward Martini and his family is often overlooked. At this time in American history, Italian immigrants often faced discrimination and prejudice, and the fact that the Building & Loan took a financial risk on helping him buy a modern, well-constructed house when people like Potter would keep him in a slum, is a powerful statement.

I think it's interesting that George had dreams of building great things and making his mark in the world, but never realized he'd built something great in his hometown, built a wonderful life with his wife and community, and was appreciated and loved far beyond anything he could have imagined.

Lionel Barrymores performance as Mr Potter in this great movie is just pure class from the wonderful actor that he was. He was the great uncle of Drew Barrymore.

Don’t worry, Sam. Even watching this edited version for the reaction got me tearing up again. Some movies get you every time. 😂

Great Classic I think Samantha was the first reactor that knew what the strings on the finger were

Been looking forward to this all week! This was James Stewart's first movie since he fought as a bomber pilot in WW2 & he was suffering from PTSD. Whenever he cries it breaks my heart, it feels so real. My mom & I love this movie, thanks for reacting to it!

Everyone remembers “ …an Angel gets his wings.” But to me, it’s the part that says “no man is a failure who has *friends*” That’s gotten me through some low moments in my life. Such an epic film.

The “hotdog!” thing is a lighter people would use for cigars. His little tradition is to make a wish and see if he can get it to light on the first try (Similar to throwing rocks at the old house). He had big dreams and wishes that never came to be, but the angel helped him realize how great his life is.

I read today a story of the little girl that played Zuzu, she's in her 80's now, how Jimmy Stewart tracked her down 46 years after this movie just to check up on her after all that time. She has said he was always the nicest person.

Real talk: George is the protagonist and a good man in difficult situations, but Mary is the hero of his story. He ends up so devoted to helping everyone else that she is the one that comes through for him.

FYI: Charles Dickens wrote "A Christmas Carol" in 1843. By the time "It's a Wonderful Life" was released, there had been at least ten film versions (the first in 1901) of "A Christmas Carol" with more to follow over the next few decades.

Every Frank Capra movie, and I mean every Frank Capra movie, conjures such intense human emotions. He was one of the greatest geniuses to ever grace Hollywood, bar none. The scene at the train station where the camera follows George, as he realizes his brother isn't going to take over at the savings and loan, gets me every time. No words are spoken but we know exactly what he's feeling.

Jimmy Stewart was suffering from PTSD from being a bomber pilot in World War II. Whether he wanted to or not, he applied it to his performance in "It's a Wonderful Life".

Great reactions. I remember the cast of Saturday Night Live did a skit featuring an alternate ending to this movie. Billy remembered that he handed the newspaper with the money to Potter and informed George about it. Everyone left the party, went to Potter's building and beat the crap out of him. LoL.😄

I just want to say first that you two are my favorite "comfort food" reactors. I was in the same boat forever, seeing the commercial on NBC every year and thinking it was just some old shmaltzy film that wouldn't interest me. Then maybe 15 years or so ago I was wrapping the kids' present downstairs in the family room. With all the paper and bags and stuff everywhere, I couldn't find the remote. So it was just on in the background as I kept wrapping. I started sort of watching at the pharmacy scene, and then completely sucked in and weeping like a baby by the end of it. After three hours with commercials, I realized I had only wrapped two presents. 😄 This is a true classic film with a great message that I've watched almost every year since. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Beautiful movie, glad you watched such a classic. I watch it every year, it still hits me when all the people that his life had touched helped him out.

There was a time in 90s when this movie was unavoidable on cable, like A Christmas Story is now.

YES!! This was the very first James Stewart movie I saw in school when I was in the fifth grade and it's one of the best Christmas movies ever made.

I subscribe to a ton of reaction channels and for most I always skip the intro and closing discussion and just watch the reaction itself... Not for your videos. I love watching your intros I love listening to your discussion after the reaction you two seem so genuine and thoughtful.. for me your reactions feel like sitting down to watch a movie with a good friend. This comment isn't really specific to this video but I have the same thought every time I see one of your vids show up in my feed and I thought maybe I'd share today. Merry Christmas 😊

As the old saying goes, "Life is what happens to us while we're busy making other plans." This is exactly what George needed to learn to accept, and also realize that the unplanned life he had led was actually quite a wonderful life.

"To my big brother George . . . the richest man in town." - - gets me every single time. I'm glad you both discovered this classic.

Jimmy Stewart is a treasure, hope you look into more of his movies. He had an interesting role in a western with John Wayne called "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence." Thank you for all your work on this channel, you are spreading joy and affecting people - just like George Bailey! Merry Christmas! 💜

It's not only the greatest Christmas film of all time - it's one of the greatest films of all time. As perfect a film as it gets;)

The run on the bank scene where George and Mary give away all their money for their honeymoon really epitomizes who George really is and why everyone comes together to help him. He's selfless to a fault and it's both sad and joyous. Most other people would have taken the trip but George is a good man who believes that helping others is what he needs to do, even at the expense of his own immediate happiness.. That scene and the ending never fail to get the tears going.

A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, is about 180 years old, so a wee bit older than this. The trope of seeing what the world would be like if you hadn't been born was copied in a lot of stories and I think that comes from this film. This was Jimmy Stewart's first film after coming from serving as a flight leader in WWII and he was by all accounts likely suffering from PTSD when he started filming. Most think that greatly enhanced his performance, and some accounts say that this film reinstilled in him a love of acting...even though this film was not a success at all. It did so poorly, that the copyright was allowed to lapse. That led to it being shown on TV royalty-free every year and so it was rediscovered.

3:25: “Don’t hurt my sore ear again” makes me cry…every. single. time.

This, A Christmas Story and the 1951 Alastair Sim version of Scrooge are my favourite Christmas movies. The animated version from 1971 with Alastair Sim is really underrated. The animation is terrific. When George is losing it at the bar, I really feel it.

Great, I'm sobbing again LOL. Such a gorgeous piece of history. Grew up watching it with my mum and nan every Christmas and it shows us even in real life how many lives we actually impact on a daily basis and how bad it could be if we wereny around. Awesome reaction guys and merry Christmas/happy holidays from Scotland xxxx

There was a deleted scene where Clarence, with his newly-given wings, stopped by Potter's place to say how shameful his behavior was. The mere Supernatural presence alone was enough to scare Potter into a fatal heart attack while he was counting the stolen money. It was even filmed, but it was considered too disturbing and macabre for a film that was supposed to be giving cheer, so it was cut and burned in the trash bin it was disposed in on the cutting room floor, making it a lost deleted scene. However, you can find the script that includes the creepy encounter as it would've been filmed.

The look of love in Samantha’s eyes when TBR is taking his turn to talk at the end of the movie is heartwarming. You two are a wonderful couple to watch, thank you for this channel that allows us to take a tiny peek into a lovely relationship. Happy holidays you two:)

The absolute best Christmas film ever. Hands down. I've watched it countless times. The final message gets me through each year. Did you notice it NEVER snows in Pottersville ? Yes you can see it on the ground but look when George is begging to Clarence that he wants to live again - the moment it starts to snow is when you know he's back in good old Bedford Falls. The snow was a new development for the film too. Capra wanted to use live sound for the close up scenes so the usual Hollywood method - cornflakes bleached or painted in white was out as clearly any walking nearby would create unwanted sound so the special effects team came up with a brand new method. There was actually a record heatwave going on whilst the film was being made ! The Raven that Uncle Billy owns is called 'Jimmy'. He starred in 1000+ films and was quite the star - insured for the equivalent of thousands of dollars today. He's actually the 'crow' that lands on the Scarecrow in 'The Wizard of Oz'. Capra found a part for him in every film he made after 1938. Speaking of Uncle Billy, in the scene where he leaves the frame and there's a crash, a set hand dropped some equipment accidentally and the look of concern from Jimmy Stewart was genuine. Some say 'Uncle Billy' improvised the cry that he was alright, others say it was dubbed on in post. But the crash is genuine and unscripted. Jimmy Stewart was still suffering with PTSD from his WW2 service and credits this movie experience as being therapeutic. In particular, in the prayer scene it wasn't scripted for him to cry and they weren't really setup for a close up to really capture the emotion. Capra knew he couldn't replicate the emotion in a reshoot so he decided to go with the original footage and zoomed in on the negative for the final cut of the film. If you look, it looks grainier because of that but Capra thought it worked in bringing more emotion and it was certainly better than asking Jimmy to go again. Stewart is one of my favourite actors and even more so when you see this performance. So glad new generations are still enjoying this classic - and in black and white as it should be !

There is an old saying that the movie always reminds me of. Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans. -Allen Saunders

Things labeled "poison" back then didn't necessarily mean something like arsenic, it could be an ingredient that if not mixed in small qualities could be fatal and therefore may be labeled "poison", even though it's a safe ingredient in proper dosage.

The woman who plays Mary is Donna Reed! She is popular too! She even got her very own tv show called The Donna Reed Show!!!

The "I wish" thing is a cigar lighter. They didn't always light on the first click.

Hard to believe this flopped when it came out, I can't imagine life without it. I've watched this and Mickey's Christmas Carol every Christmas for about as long as I can remember. Nice to see Mary getting some appreciation for everything she did. Merry Christmas ya filthy animals!

That's it for me with this film. It just feels so real. I cry throughout this film. I think many of us have been there a time or two. We can relate to that pain of knowing your life didn't work out exactly as you had planned and you feel stuck. But when you take stock, you realize you've had a wonderful life. I, for one, am not where I thought I would be, and yet I am exactly where I need to be. I wouldn't change a single thing from my past, all the heartache, all the mistakes and failures, because it would change so much of what I have now. But getting here was so hard. I cry with George the whole way because I know how he is feeling. Man, but Jimmy Stewart can take you along for the ride and pull you right into it. My all time favorite Christmas film. Once a year, it reminds me that it's a wonderful life.

James Stewart was my mom`s favorite actor...Mom used to say that he never made a bad movie and this one is a true classic.

Mr. Potter is played by Lionel Barrymore. The Barrymore's are one of the first families of film and stage. Many members of the family were respected actors. Lionel Barrymore is the granduncle of Drew Barrymore

It's alright if you can't stop crying at the end. Neither can I, even if I have watched it every holiday season for decades. Glad you two enjoyed it. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you both!

Stewart was fresh out of the war when he starred in this film. In the scene in Martini's bar, you can see the depth of anguish that, as an actor, he can call upon from his experiances. Unforgettable. You're at the perfect time of life to see this. Your maturity will lead to a deeper appreciation for the message. Merry Christmas, love you both.

I'm awfully sad current Hollywood (and audiences) would probably think of a story like this to be "schmaltzy". Earnest and feel good media definitely deserve a place in pop culture regardless of the age we're in. We could always use these types of stories to remind us how fortunate we could be. The hit k-drama "Attorney Woo" had this vibe to it which is undoubtedly what made it a surprise success this past summer. Happy holidays to you guys and see you in the new year with more content!

The ending of this movie makes me cry every dang time.

Saw this for the first time last week and was blown away.

As we all journey along in this life, it's very likely that we often don't realize the impact we have on other people. Especially casual friends and coworkers. For example, I worked as a manager for a hotel chain in my twenties and had some close working friendships with a couple of coworkers. After moving we lost touch. 24+ years later, I ran into one of them and sat down and talked a bit. I was astounded that they had really admired my interactions with other employees and had tried to emulate me when they helped their associates. I have always believed that you should treat people they same way you want to be treated. Especially if you are their boss. I never considered, in my twenties, how other people might look up to me. This movie is a perfect example of how you treat others can come back to you in surprising ways. Merry Christmas 🎄 TBR and Samantha.

I watch this alone every Christmas Eve and have for many many years. One of my favorite movies

Every time you watch this movie, it impacts you in different ways. You realize the nuances, like his dad. When his dad is trying to explain how the savings and loan is helping the community, George doesn't get it. The dad is sad because he understands the ramifications of his business on the community. The dad knows that the savings and loan is the solitary thin line fighting Potter. George has to learn that over the course of his life.

"A Christmas Carol" was by Charles Dickens in the 1800's. "It's a Wonderful Life" was written around 1946.

I'm sure many people have already mentioned that Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" was published and became an instant best-seller in 1843. Did you notice the reference to the newel post in "Christmas Vacation"? Clark doesn't deal with it as well as George Bailey, but the reference is there. The original audience for this film were able to identify with George Bailey because they had lived through the same years he had. My parents graduated from high school in 1932. Just in time to look for work as the Depression was at its worst. As my mother said, "Who will hire a kid just out of high school to run the cash register in your dime store when you can get a math teacher?" They both wanted to go to college, but it was not possible. My parents married in 1938 and were just settling down and enjoying themselves when the war came. There were a lot of others besides George Bailey who had had their plans kicked apart over and over by circumstances. In 1946 they were hoping it wouldn't happen again now they were putting their lives together after the war.

Some other great Jimmy Stewart films: "THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER"... and "MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON"... Both brilliant films. Merry Christmas!

Fun...the crash heard when the uncle drunkenly walks off ,was a genuine accident by a stage hand, Stewartstown reaction was genuine and the off camera call out of "I'm OK...I'm OK..." was an ad lib by the stage habd.. that was kept in.

First time I watched this was last Christmas. I cried for almost an hour after it was over and reflecting on it.

For a movie that didn't do really well when it came out, it is now one of the most beloved Christmas films around thanks to it being shown in reruns on tv. Because of that, this movie reached the status that it enjoys today. Was made in the summertime as well. Excellent movie.

Jimmy Stewart was suffering from PTSD and the close-up of his face in the bar when everything was going wrong was real emotion from him. Director Frank Capra wanted him to do it again and Stewart said forget it. So Capra did an extreme close-up of Stewart's face to really show the emotion George was going through.

You hit the nail on the head - life is happy and sad, celebratory and mournful, hilarious and devastating. When you step back and look at it, it’s all a huge part of what makes you wonderful. This movie is just amazing.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays TBR Schmitt Fam !!!

Now you know what an incredible masterpiece this film is. So don't lose any sleep over what you've missed, go forward and enjoy and LIVE the film and its message. There's plenty to read about it, too...to get some idea of how Capra was able to accomplish this cinematic miracle. Your reaction more than 75 years after the film's creation only validates its greatness and profound beauty (and "re-awakens" me to it, too).

this movie has always been a must-watch for me every year. they used to play it on NBC every Christmas Eve and my family and I would watch it as we decorated our tree, baked cookies and listened to Christmas music. such an amazing movie with a beautiful message, perfect for the holiday season. and it always makes me cry, even through reaction videos. Happy Holidays guys! ❤

I just took part in a stage production of It's A Wonderful Life. I played George Bailey. It was my first play. I'm hoping one day to make it as an actor and I'm so happy this was my first performance.

First of all, "MERRY CHRISTMAS" TBR and SAM. I've watched this movie every year since I was 8 years old. I'm in my 60s now. It's such a wonderful movie. I'm glad you both liked it.

29:50 A Christmas Carol was written well before movies even existed.

A Christmas Carol was written by Charles Dickens and came out in 1843. It's A Wonderful Life was adapted by from a short story written in 1943.

Grew up watching this with my dad it was a family Tradition to Watch this film James Stewart was a great guy.

I've seen this movie since I was a kid in the mid 80's, and have always loved it. It means more as I grow older and tends to get more tears out of me as the years go on. Thanks for watching this one.

There is a sign on the wall in the Bailey Building & Loan under his father's photo which is considered to be the company's motto and it says this: "All you can take with you is that which you've given away".

“Burt an’ Ernie??” Yes, that Burt and Ernie. Jim Henson named the two muppets after these characters bc “It’s A Wonderful Life” was his favorite movie. Great reaction.

I loved watching this with you!!! It’s my first Christmas with no family (well apart from my 2 girls, cats!), so this was much needed. My hope for you 2, and everybody on here, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hopefully 2023 Is going to be epic (hopefully) ❤️❤️❤️❤️

You guys are the best! Merry Christmas to you Both!! Jeff

Fun fact: the bit where Uncle Billy walks off camera followed by a crash and him saying "I'm alright! I'm ALLLLLright!" was actually ad libbed. Somebody on set broke/dropped something, and so the actor (and actors and crew) just went along with it.

There’s a great rabbit hole of classics like this you can fall into. I hope you react to more classics from the 40’s!

Loved seeing you two fall in love with this classic. It remains in my top 10 favorite films of all time and my favorite Christmas film of all time.

There is an old SNL sketch from the 80s with the "other" ending of It's A Wonderful Life". Let's just say that Potter really gets it.

I have seen this film numerous times and that final scene still brings a tear to corner of my old, jaded eyes. Wonderful film. And a wonderful performance from Jimmy Stewart, who as others have said, was suffering from his own demons when making this movie. I might even go so far as to say that it is a perfect movie.

The story, the characters and the acting are all top tier. A true movie classic.

Never fails to make me cry.

Just a beautiful movie in every way. It shows how our life touches others that sometimes we don’t even know. And to appreciate what you have. I’m 62 and still LOVE this movie. I watch it every Christmas 🎄 ❤

Mary's date for the dance was played by Carl Switzer, best known for playing Alfalfa in the "Our Gang" or "Little Rascals" shorts.

Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, and Gloria Grahame all in one movie makes this a classic. Great review 👍

This movie has meant so much to me over the years.

Always loved both this movie & James Stewart but it's the film 'Harvey' that I will always remember him for... Nice reaction & review as always, Happy Christmas...

Another cool bit of trivia … When Uncle Billy was at the party, inebriated, he leaves George on the front porch and walks off screen … when he walks off, you hear a crash … that was actually unscripted … a stage hand accidentally dropped a trash can … but the crash fit perfectly into Uncle Billy leaving in that condition so it was left in the movie.

Merry Christmas to both of you ❤️

I just finished watching this movie, what a classic.

I was raised before cable TV, this movie was played by the big 3 networks, every Christmas, for decades. "A Christmas Carol" was written by Charles Dickens and published on December 19th, 1843.

The one thing always struck when I'd watch this movie at Christmas, was the realization that even the most ordinary life touches every other life they come into contact with. We really don't think about it most of the time, but we are all threads in a large tapestry. Beautiful movie. I love Clarence!!

Now need to watch the SNL lost ending skit where George and the townspeople beat the hell out of Potter.

The guy who opened the gym dance floor over the pool was Alfalfa of Little Rascals fame.

One of the greatest movies ever made. Not just greatest Christmas movies, but greatest MOVIES. Starring one of the greatest movie stars ever born. A man who was also apparently quite the war hero, too. Whether I'm watching the movie itself, or 'just' a reaction video, it gets me teary every time. Fin fact: the cop, Bert, and the cabbie, Ernie, are the namesakes of Bert & Ernie from Sesame Street.

I wrote a book years ago (1992) called "Working Without A Net" on entrepreneurship and small business startups. During my writing from experience, I kept thinking of this movie, and ended the last chapter with a reference to this movie: "No man is a failure who has friends". It is so true.

If you want to see Potter get what's coming to him check out the S.N.L. skit "It's a Wonderful Life the lost ending". It's hilarious. Oh, and by the way Bert and Ernie in this movie were the inspiration for the Sesame Street characters names.

This is a classic! A Christmas Carol was first published in 1843, BTW.

A cool fact about this movie … The raven inside the Building and Loan was actually known as Jimmy the crow … Jimmy was in his first movie for director Frank Capra in 1938, that’s 8 years before this movie … Jimmy the Crow was in every movie Frank Capra directed from 1938 forward … in total, Jimmy was in over 1,000 feature films … he could actually understand several hundred words … Jimmy Stewart made the comment that Jimmy the Crow was the smartest actor on the set.

"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens was published in 1843 as a short story. The short story that this movie is based on, "The Greatest Gift" was self-published by Phillip V Stern in 1943 when he sent a few copies of it to friends with his Christmas cards because he couldn't get a publisher interested in it. One copy made it to Hollywood where Frank Capra decided to write, produce & direct it...he got some help on the writing.

One of my favorite movies

One of the greatest movies of all time IMO. personal fav.

Fun fact: when Uncle Billy wanders off-screen drunkenly, a stage-hand dropped a bunch of film canisters irl. Uncle Billy capitalizes on this chance occurrence, the stage-hand gets a $20 bonus (which in 1946 was a huge amount) and cinema history is born

A Christmas Carol is much older. It was written by Charles Dickens and published in 1843. Both Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra, the director, had served in WWII. The experience changed them and this was the first Hollywood movie for them since their return.

When I was a kid we had a color tv in the living room and a black & white portable that we had to watch when my parents were watching something boring. Watching something in black & white was just so common. Lots of the reruns they played were in B&W like The Little Rascals. Had you grown up in my era you would have instantly recognized Alfalpha at the high school dance.