It's a Wonderful Life (1946) Got Me Clapping and Crying at the End - First Time Watching 

At the end, the culmination of the movie, is that George realized and accepted what his father told him at the dinner table in 1928-they weren't just working in a "shabby little office" scraping a few pennies together, they were having a profound impact on people's lives. This is shown by the outpouring of love and support at the end. This is also seen during the bank panic scene in 1932 when George looks at the framed saying his father loved. In the end it's not what you have, but what you give. So, George didn't get to be a great architect and builder, but he gave completely of himself and had a massive impact. The director of the film, Frank Capra, was a penniless Italian immigrant when he arrived in America as a child, he made this movie to show that the contributions of all lives are important, and their true impact is never fully known to us.

Mary Bailey is probably the greatest wife in cinema.

That is point of the movie. If George had done what he wanted in life, all those other people would not have a better life. Sometimes we sacrifice our own happiness and desires for others.

Wonderful, Amanda. Such a sweet story! Thanks for sharing this one. 🙂

Sure, George didn't choose his circumstances, but he chose his response. He could have gone to college. He could have gone off to his honeymoon. At each turn he put the needs of others before his own. His conflict only makes his choices that much more noble. We make similar sacrifices when we have children and put their needa before our desires.

In his song "Beautiful Boy", John Lennon wrote "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." We don't all get to fulfill our childhood fantasies (there'd be a lot more rock stars and astronauts if we did.) George was bitter that he didn't get the life he'd dreamed about. But the life he got was a good one. He just needed to be able to see that.

"Was George responsible for her eyesight???" 😆 Good point 💕

George Bailey can't go into the service because of his hearing what is brother did and became a hero

Great movie! This is also a Frank Capra movie perfect for the new year as it ends on New Year’s Eve! Super relevant for today’s political/media driven culture and the toil it takes on the common people. Meet John Doe - Gary Cooper and Barbra Stanwyck ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3ZOV4YhquXI.htmlsi=6JYpTKPW_1nmnP41

This will be the third reaction to this movie I've watched today and the 3rd time I've cried to it today.

Virginia Patton who played Ruth Baily (Harry's wife) died on August 18, 2022, at age 97. She was the last surviving adult cast member of It's a Wonderful Life

George's prayer on the bridge was "I don't care what happens to me just get me back to my wife and kids." He thought it was wonderful that he was going to jail. You said nothing changed. Oh yes it did. His perspective abd he was overjoyed before he knew the town gave him money.

Great movie. Jimmy Stewart's acting was terrific. His breakdown after Uncle Billy lost the money was amazing. In the bar when he breaks down was powerful .

29:16 Potter is shocked that George claims that HE lost the money, knowing full well it was the uncle. He clearly can't grasp taking accountability for other's mistakes.

Yes, when he came in to see Mary he had a weird attitude. He was traumatized because he had just had his big dreams dashed by Harry's marriage and new job.

George Bailey's actor, James Stewart, also had his character's integrity in real-life. He enlisted in the US Army in February of 1941. That was a full 10 months before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. During a time when half of the US were isolationists who didn't want to get involved in World War II, James Stewart joined up knowing it would take a lot of good men to help save the world.

George Bailey though his life was hopelessly ruined. A angel came and showed him live was worth it and he had a wonderful life. Everyone he helped came to his rescue and the angel got his wings. My mother loved this movie. She would cry Everytime the bell rang giving Clarence his wings. She passed away in 2011. I still can't watch it without tearing up. She was the best.

She put on a special dress after George's mother told her he was on the way over.

Hearing Jimmy Stewart say 'Bert and Ernie' makes me smile.

"Life is what happens while you're busy making plans." It's something everyone needs to be reminded of from time to time.

Donna Reed (Mary) was the goat wife . Cast was exceptional 👏. Thanks for reaction

Jimmy Stewart was dealing with PTSD from ww2 when he made this film, he really channeled it in his performance.

The movie begins in 1919. The pharmacist son died in the worldwide Spanish flu epidemic. The bank panic was during the great depression. And, of course, the end of the movie is during World War II.

Merry Christmas Amanda, and thank you for all your wonderful content throughout the year. Also, please don't feel embarrassed to sing in the future, your voice is beautiful.

At the end, you worry that George is living a life he didn't choose, in that he has been unable to travel the world and build grand structures the way he'd first planned. However, you're forgetting that he _did_ choose this life. Every step of the way when he was about to leave town he was faced with a decision and he _chose_ to help his community or family rather than to begin his voyage. Every step, his childhood dream was less important to him than the dream that had essentially been handed down to him from his father. And, through Clarence's miracle, he now knows that those choices weren't a foolish waste, but rather had a powerful positive impact. And I _do_ think George was able to travel places after the events of this film. With all the donations -- including the $25k Sam gave! -- the Savings & Loan is on quite stable financial footing. George and Mary are certain to be able to save and, with the loving support of their community, to travel a bit if they still want to -- maybe even with their children!

It's a wonderful reaction. The Rolling Stones song said it best ' You Can't Always Get What You Want, but if you try some time, you just might find you get what you need.' Being an important person to so many people is more valuable than fulflling your desires that might not be what you need. You might say he has learned this valuable lesson that beause he has been valuable to people, he should finally appreciate that makes a more fulfilling life than travelling to exotic places, and then what? For me, the wonderful ending is earned because the darkness is real and authentic. Being made just after the end of the second world war, it was a deeply moving message of moving out of the darkness and appreciating that life is indeed wonderful.

Life was hard a century ago, kids worked young, and getting slapped around if you misbehaved was normal and acceptable.

Yes Lionel Barrymore's portrayal of Potter was evil but in another Frank Capra movie called You Cant Take It With You also with Jimmy Stewart he absolutely nails that role as the lovable Grandfather.... A testament to his skill and the reason why him and his siblings as well as their parents and grandparents were called the Royal Family of the American Stage.... also he is the great uncle of Drew Barrymore....

Growing up in the USA in the 1960s and 1970s, the two biggest things (at 16, for working class and lower middle class children) were: getting your driver's permit and your "working papers", so you could get a part time job. I had a part time job right when I turned 16. I worked 20 hours a week through the school year and 40 hours in the summers. In 1919 child labor laws had been passed but still allowed some restricted child labor. The banking panic happened in the years between 1930 to 1933 (part of the Great Depression) in the US. Many banks closed and "bank holidays" were declared. During those years legislation was passed to stabilize the banking crisis and the situation finally settled down after 1933. George's building and loan was hit probably in 1932. Potter was able to save his bank by calling in outstanding loans. He was clever enough to still be able to try and take over the building & loan by offering 50% for shares.

He realized that he didn't need his dreams to make him happy. He found true happiness in his family and friends.

• This was Jimmy Stewart’s (George Bailey) first film after returning from service in World War 2. He was suffering from PTSD having served as a distinguished bomber pilot in Europe. His tears in Martini’s bar and holding his son are deeper knowing he was thinking of his friends who never returned from the war. Stewart was convinced to take the part to help him by none other than the man who plays Mr. Potter, Lionel Barrymore. • Barrymore is in a wheelchair because he actually needed one. Barrymore came from a famous acting family, and actress Drew Barrymore is his grandniece (granddaughter of the legendary John Barrymore, Lionel’s brother). • Director Frank Capra modeled Martini, the bar owner, on his own family. As Italian immigrants, they suffered slurs like the one Potter uses (garlic-eaters). When Martini’s large family moves into their new home, the goat is a representation of the director’s surname: Capra. • The young man who opens the dance floor because George took Mary to dance is Carl Switzer. He was a big child actor in the 1930s playing Alfalfa in the Our Gang/Little Rascal comedy films. • Nick the Bartender is played by Sheldon Leonard who became a big TV producer (The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show and more). His name is used for two characters in the show Big Bang Theory: Sheldon and Leonard. • This film was not successful at the box office. It eventually fell into public domain and could be played regularly during the Christmas holiday. This is where it gained popularity as viewers began seeing the beauty of the film. It’s now considered one of the greatest movies ever made.

Giving is always better the receiving, George had a wonderful life❤

If you watch the scene again where George says “I don’t want to mary anyone!” they are both becoming intensely close, literally smelling eachother’s hair, etc. It’s all done without words. I won’t tell you what you should think, but it is key to understanding this scene. If you carefully watch it again I don’t think you’ll be confused by it. I say this because I sensed you weren’t noticing it, especially since you seemed so confused by it.

Many people seem to struggle to understand George during the scene with the telephone. In his mind, he WANTS to leave town and travel, but he can't resist the attraction of Mary. All the time he's trying to persuade himself that he WILL leave town, and is fighting angrily against giving in to his true feelings; but in the end he can't resist his affection for Mary, and she wins the struggle.

Two things 1.) The crow was actually a Raven (a trained bird that appeared in almost every Director Frank Capra film (it is also the same "crow" that landed on the Scarecrow's shoulder in the Wizard of Oz. 2.) James Stewart (George Bailey) was a real war hero as he piloted B-24 Bimbers over Germany and commanded entire bomber squadrons. He remained in the Air Force Reserves after the war attaining the rank of General.

If you like this one, do check out an earlier, awesome Jimmy Stewart Christmas film called The Shop Around The Corner (1940). It's very different in tone (being more like a Shakespeare comedy, including very dark elements not only laughs) but is so powerful.

A great film. BTW-The pool they fell into? That's the Swim Gym at Beverly Hills High School. Graduated there in '81 and used it every day. It's still there!"

The point of the story is he had a wonderful life he just could not realize it but when it was taken away from him then he realized it was a wonderful life in the end he wanted his wife and children back he wasn't praying to go on a trip or an adventure he was praying for his wife and kids to come back

t's a Wonderful Life is more than a Christmas movie I am not christen and I love it. It is a feel good movie and one of the first time travel element movies. It is so much about time travel or alternative realities that Back to the future 2 allude to it :). Fun fact the movie was not a financial success when it came out and was forgotten. Only because of a copyright registration error ( Which was fixed decades later) the movie was considered public domain for years and because of the that the Tv Networks aired over and over every Christmas till it became a cult classic. Another fun fact the scene with the uncle that was drunk and fell down was adlib because one of the stage worker dropped something in the middle of filming. I love George speech to Mr Potter about the working class. The actor who plays Mr Potter is by the way Drew Barrymore great uncle. If you want another great Jimmy Stewart movie you should watch Mr Smith goes to Washington and Harvey.

This film always makes me tear up. Thanks for the great reaction and for pointing out Venezuela was mentioned! I never caught that before, my cousin-in-law is from Venezuela. He married my Colombian cousin. Merry Christmas Amanda!

Hi Amanda -- and Merry Christmas!!! George was living his best life -- he just needed to realize it :-)

Being "an old maid" WAS a bad thing at that time. A woman's quality of life and even survival depended upon her family. Being unable to secure a husband could very well mean not being able to secure a future and security and happiness.

No, that was not Lionel Barrymore’s real head. He’s wearing a bald cap. Did you know the actor was Drew Barrymore’s grand uncle?

Reactor reversed the image. English as a second language speaker so sometimes she doesn't understand dialogue, and she didn't put it up on the screen, which would have solved both problems. Merry Christmas!

It was quite normal for children to have jobs decades ago. I got my first job in 1968 at the age of 13.

I love that Sam Wainright was willing to send him all that money even though he didn't get the girl.

And thus GoFundMe was born. 🎄🎅☃

You also must watch "The sound of music". You wont regret!

The pool scene: "OH no, the make-up, the dresses, the hair....that's a "no" for me!" I would push you in.

Self. The Original sin. Every sin we commit is when we think of Ourselves! Christ never thought of Himself and died for us. Merry Christmas everyone!

The 1918, 1919 flu pandemic killed millions of people around the world. The Oct 1929 stock market crash; millions of people lost all their savings, businesses went bankrupt and millions of people lost their jobs; known as the great depression which lasted through the 1930s.

The scene where George comes out of his mom's halfway house,Clarence telling him he's gone, the extreme closeup on his face, is a very dark, almost scary scene DiCapra did! Can u even believe, this movie saved his life? From WW2? The mean guy here is the original Lionel Barrymore, Drew Barrymore's great great grandfather. Jimmy was so ate up with PTSD, he didn't want to do movies ever again. Lionel convinced him, to be in this. Can u believe how many movies came from this? Jimmy started out as a ww2 pilot, became an ace, squadron commander, wing commander, and an entire flight operations officer! He had horrible PTSD, until he did this movie. And the biggest crime? The banker....shoulda went to jail! He is the original family royalty, Barrymore! But he belongs in jail!!! Black and white Reese Witherspoon movie? Groundhog Day? Scrooged? Four Christmases? Click? And in some places, very dark!! And his girl, went on to massive acclaim. Movies and the Donna Reed show!! The jim Carrey 50s movie, plus Bruce Almighty, plus beautiful sunlight...plus the Truman show? The impact of this movie, ....u can't count that high! Also watch his incredible movie, Mr Smith goes to Washington! U will never hear references to Clarence, ever again, during Christmas, Angels, miracles, without thinking of this movie!! Pro tip.... SNL did a skit where several of the townspeople confronted Potter, whip his butt, then send him to jail for theft and bank fraud! Pro tip...the ginger snap cookie, was made from this movie, when George called Zuzu, gingersnap!!

18:00 “Is he angry? I’m struggling to understand” In the 1920s there was no birth control (except condoms), and no daycare for children. So when a man got married children and responsibilities came quickly. George cant travel with Mary, he must have a steady job to support her and the kids. George loves Mary, but he knows that marrying her means giving up his dream forever.

It's movie with so much " corazón " we created the term " corazónovi " to feel overwhelmed. . .

It's not the galaxy....it's heaven!

Merry Christmas Amanda!

I was born in 1983. I had a paper route in 6, 7 and 8th grades. Then worked at a restaurant as a dishwasher all through highschool. I did so cause i did not like to or feel comfortable asking for things. I felt better working, earning money and buying what i wanted myself. And now i am completely disgusted with the younger lazy and spoiled generations.

It's not a "gated community" -- there are no fortress-like walls or gates or guards -- but it probably _is_ what we'd call a "housing development." It's a large plot of land that the Building & Loan owns and on which they build houses to sell to their members.

George Bailey wasn't still living a life he didn't choose. That's entirely missing the point. He made the choice, every single time, to put the needs of others ahead of his own dreams. No one ever forced anything on him, he simply made the hard choice in every situation. His selfless choices are what defined him and gained him so much love, and in the end, they're what saved him. Those choices had a payoff that let him know he had a wonderful life of meaning after all, one that just traveling and building things probably wouldn't have given him. He realized how much he loved his current life, even happily embracing the flaws like the drafty old house with the loose post on the stair rails.

4:54 - Mr. Gower's telegram is dated 1919 - the year of the great influenza pandemic. Tens of millions died world wide. I think movie audiences in 1946 would have been very familiar, seeing that telegram.

Funny you should refer to Scrooge. Lionel Barrymore used to do Scrooge on the radio every Christmas for around 20 years or so. I bet you could find a recording on line. He has *two* stars on the Walk of Fame, one for radio and one for films.

I honestly did not think his life was bad at all. See this is what happens when people priorities are not in line with nature. We should not be career driven. In love with our jobs. The true thing that matters in life is creating family. And he had that. For on your death bed, thats all that will be there. Your work wont.

Does anyone recognize Alfalfa from the original Little Rascals. He's one of the teenagers opening the floor of the gym to the pool.

He was conflicted because he loved Mary but he knew marrying her would mean being stuck in Bedford Falls. So that’s why he was hard to read in that scene where they’re on the phone and he shakes her angry and kisses her.

Merry Christmas..... Great Reaction..... This is a Christmas Staple (Must Watch)...... This was the First Movie Jimmy Stewart did after serving in WW2, Acting in this Movie helped Jimmy Combat his PTSD from the War.... When George and Mary threw rocks at the "Ole Granville House" the director had someone off camera ready to throw a rock, but Donna Reed, who had played softball in school, made the throw and broke a window on her own. When Drunk Uncle Billy staggers down the sidewalk and you hear a crash.... The actor actually knocked over stuff/items off camera, and Apoligized and they left it in the movie.... Great Movie that shows the "Butterfly Effect" of how the smallest things can have ripple effects that have large effects.... Yes, George's friends, Ernie (Taxi-Driver) and Bert (Cop) were the inspiration for Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street......

Annie stole every scene in which she was involved! Merry Christmas!

"She could kill him...and no one would know". That's dark! 😂😂😇 LOL

Heck yeah, one of my all time favorites

You disapprove of the them jumping in the pool?😂 You approved of Potter's way of bussiness of Mr. Bailey died😄 You talk over the movie many times. You just fail to inderstand the things sometimes. You think of many scenes to be cringy, while you too were repeatedly. Thumbs Down

you skipped a reaction of a romantic moment with george and mary

I love the ending, her emotions from the song resonated with me as well. ❤😊

that pool in the High School is still in use and so is the floor

$5000 in 1919 is worth about $90000 today.

See film päästis kord minu elu,see andis mulle minu usu tagasi.

That is amazing, Amanda. Your tears are so magical, it made the black and white film suddenly turn to color! Ha ha ha!

How did you not get the point that GEORGE REALLY HAD A WONDERFUL LIFE? Is it a language barrier thing, or what?

I'm pausing this before I start watching, as I have a feeling... that I'm going to be left in a mess of emotion and tears by the end. Soooo, I'm taking this opportunity to say this now; Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and sincere joy in this Winter solstice. If I've missed anything... my apologies! BUT. All the best Amanda. I might edit this comment at the end to confirm or deny what I said about being left in a mess of emotion and tears.

Hi Amanda ... This is my favorite movie of all time (or at least it has been for over 40 years since I first saw it), and I never tire of watching it. It also provides wonderful and MUCH NEEDED lessons for today's world. Life isn't about being "entitled" to "get" (or even necessarily to be able to pursue) whatever you "want;" it's about doing your DUTY, being a good and decent person to serve and help others, and always doing "the right thing." THAT is our truest, best destiny on our path to Heaven. As for the actors, the male lead (adult George Bailey) was played by Jimmy Stewart -- a true hero in real life. Jimmy Stewart gave up his successful Hollywood career to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps (the precursor to what would later in 1947 become the newly independent separate U.S. Air Force) upon the U.S. entry into WW II, even though he was older and "did NOT "have" to serve. Jimmy served as a B-24 pilot and flew many bombing missions against the Nazis and their allies. When the war ended, he had risen to the rank of full Colonel, but the war aged him terribly and psychologically damaged him with PTSD and depression from losing so many men under his command who had been shot down and killed. This movie was Jimmy's first after returning to Hollywood after the war, and you can clearly see how he tapped into his PTSD during the scenes showing his broken desperation and near mental crack-up (i.e., when he "snaps" in his family parlor and kicks over/destroys the model suspension bridge he had built, and when he's "at the end of his rope" praying to God in Martini's Bar). Jimmy Stewart remained in the Air Force Reserves and retired as a Brigadier General (1-star), and then years later President Ronald Reagan gave him an honorary promotion to Major General (2-star).

Amanda, in 1919 $5000 was probably in the form of Gold Certificates which represented 250 $20 dollar gold pieces. So converting 1919 dollars to 2023 dollars you take the current price of gold and multiply it times 250 $20 dollar gold pieces ($5000÷$20= 250). $2000 X 250= $500,000.

Amanda, you're so beautiful, inside & out. 🩵 First Class Angel, with invisible wings 🪽 So, in 1945, $8,000 USD is worth about $133,000 in 2023. Which means the $25,000 that Sam sent to George is worth about $415,000 today. So now George, Mary & the kids can take a nice vacation, then maybe George can go to college, after they clear up the embezzlement charge against him, of course.

You need to watch this again, because you completely missed the point. Because he lost that which was most valuable to him, he was allowed to come to the realization that it is truly what he wanted. After all, nobody held a gun to his head and said, "Marry Mary!" He loved her and married her and HE chose to have kids and he loved them too. And, because of his epiphany he came to realize that money was without meaning, he was happy to go to jail, because that which was truly important to him was given back to him. His faith in people, in the end, was his reward and savd his life. He regrets nothing.

Merry Christmas Amanda to you and your family. 🎄 🎅 You are a joy, but your dark sense of humor sometimes freaks me out. 😅 This is a fabulous, heartwarming movie. Amanda George's weird behavior at Mary's home was because he was in denial about his feelings for her. He didn't want to admit loving her because of his fear of being trapped in Bedford Falls. The ending is emotionally moving. I shed a few tears. The $8000 missing in 1945 would be equivalent to 💰 $136,467.11 in 2023 It's frustrating that horrible Mr Potter kept that money and no one found out. Fortunately George triumphs over cruel, plotting Mr Potter. Thanks to many nice people of Bedford Falls rallying together to help George with the money. They love and respect George and his family so much. It's WONDERFUL There are unfortunately too many people like greedy, morally bankrupt, evil Mr Potter around today. Profits before people is sadly extremely common. Sorry that got depressing. Have a happy new year. Looking forward to 2024. Take care from Vancouver BC Canada 🇨🇦

14:07 "That Potter guy should have three angels visiting him on Christmas night." 👏 Good Dickens reference -- but don't forget Marley! (Marley was dead, to begin with.)

It was "normal" for kids to have jobs even in the 1950s and 60s. My brother had a paper route (delivering morning papers to homes) and also cut lawns. I helped him with the lawns sometimes. It is GOOD and healthy for kids to work and understand HOW money is earned. To learn responsibility, and to learn how to save and manage money. Kids now know almost NOTHING about hard work and responsibility. Not good.

Don't kill him. You worried me a little.😂 Merry Christmas

The actor that played George, Jimmy Stewart, was already a well known actor yet he left the fame and fortune of Hollywood to fly bombers over Europe during WW2. This was extremely hazardous duty. Other actors who left Hollywood for the battlefields of the Pacific, Africa, and Europe were Clark Gable, Eddie Albert, Tyrone Power, David Niven, just to name a few. They exchanged guaranteed fame and fortune for the possibilty of death or being horribly disfigured. How many of today's Hollywood crowd would do the same? It's the difference in the generation mindset. The WW2 generation actors knew there were things bigger - more important than themselves.

All right, one big mental hug for you💕🙏🏼🎄❄️God Bless you and have a wonderful and very Nice Christmas ✝️❣️

No idea about the squirrel, but I do know that Capra was fond of Jimmy the raven and used him in all his movies from 1938 on. You may have seen him already. He played the crow in “The Wizard of Oz”.

Clarence is wearing men's underwear of the 18th century: a long shirt. George is wearing men's long underwear of the first half of the 20th century-long underwear (instead of just something to cover the area that we usually think of when we think of underwear) because it's winter.

The historical context of this story is so important. Most of the story happens during the Great Depression and prior to and during WW2. Young reactors miss the history, and thus fail to really understand George - a good man of a specific era. Let's face it, most Millennials and Gen Zs would rather be Mr. Potter or Sam Wainwright, not generous and unselfish like George.

It’s very distracting to me when many of the images are reversed. Writing is backward, righties become lefties, etc… and people switch places with each other. A successful businessman doesn’t have to be evil and greedy. George was successful while staying true to his generous nature. Both Harry and Clarence said it, George was rich because he had friends, a wife, and children. He was loved, something that Potter with all his money never can never have.

18:09 "I'm struggling to read this guy." In _George's_ mind, his last chance to travel has just died, what with his brother returning with a job offer which, if he takes it (which George knows would be a good opportunity for him), will mean that there's no one to run the Savings & Loan unless George gives up his dream and stays to keep doing it himself. He's angry and frustrated and feels like he's being tied down to this town. And now his heart is telling him he should further tie himself to Mary, but that's yet one more bond that would bind him to Bedford Falls. Needless to say, he's conflicted.

George lived as we must at times, we don't always get our desires, our dreams, often our obligations come first. George was a man who had a deep sense of duty, while he did not want his father's work, he saw that his father's work would not be done unless he did that work. If he did not do that duty, the town would have gone the way of Pottersville, a place which the poor just exist, renting their homes, scraping together a life, and drinking their troubles away at clubs and burlesque houses. Leaving nothing but broken families, possibly deep drug problems, and that little town would slowly die out. Thankfully George saw his duty to serve his family, by continuing what his father started, to his community, by keeping as many as he could out of Potter's slums, and ultimately as the story shows, he served God. I doubt George would have been truly happy, had he gone off exploring the world, building skyscrapers, instead of running the building and loan. The guilt of leaving his father's work behind, surrendering to Potter, would have eaten at his duty-bound conscience till he could not stand it anymore, and he might have jumped off one of his own great skyscrapers. Had he taken Potter's offer, he would have traded all the people he helped for $20,000 a year, Mary would have been ashamed that he had done that, she would have still loved him, but she loved George's willingness to put others before him. Ultimately George's conscience would have tormented him constantly, in the same way had he gone to school in 1928 after his father died. So while he did not get what he wanted as a boy, he got what he really needed, a beautiful wife, four beautiful children, and a town forever grateful for George's sacrifices. His brother did get the life George would have wanted, but his brother never forgot him, and left a party in his honor to be there for his brother in his time of need. So while George like most of us, never got his dream, he got the life that he needed, and did what we all must do, our duties. We have obligations beyond us, and as difficult as it may be, they tend to keep us on the right path. Merry Christmas miss, and have a happy New Year!

22:28 "So he never took the job that Sam offered him?" Sam didn't offer George a job with him, he gave George the chance to invest in Sam's dad's plastics company -- but whenever George had any extra money, he always planned to use it to travel but then eventually used it to keep the Savings & Loan running instead. He never did invest any with Sam.

It was not in the script for George Bailey to cry in the “prayer scene” at the bar director Frank Capra was surprised when Stewart broke down. This is what J. Stewart said about that scene… I remember when I read the first draft of the script, and that scene, the little prayer, affected me. When I did it in the movie it did, and it did the same to me right now. This is a theory that I’ve always had; creating moments in movies, this I think is the important thing. Nobody knows exactly how it happens. What you should do is to prepare yourself as best as you can to make these moments happen. Because in a movie is really not so much the performance, there are moments.”

When went to the house of the Mary and you said he looks disturbed, is because the he just met the wife of his younger brother and now his brother have offered a job which means he needs to stay and he won't be able to do what he dreamed of because nobody will take over their business. Didn't you get that?

They said that his job at the drugstore was his "after school job". Lots of kids still have part-time after school jobs. He was 12 at the time, which wouldn't be an uncommon age for someone to get a paper route or something.

Actually the water was probably warm. The movie was shot during a Summer heatwave.

The way Potter smears virtue in others and can steal the $8000 alone mark him as a malignant narcissist. So much is written about that mental disorder, he deserves to be ignored. It's the worst thing you do to him. Mary was present for the poison pills incident. She was already crushing on George after that must have felt a secret bond with him. She never talked it either.

To understand the phone scene you need to remember George was looking forward to his brother taking over for the past 4 years. Now he sees Harry should take the job at the glass factory with his new wife's family. This is extremely disturbing to George's plans to leave. He does like Mary but he sees her as one more thing that would keep him in Bedford Falls. So as he feels the attraction to Mary while on the phone he becomes frustrated and attempts to push away Mary. But looking at her while saying that he sees her hurt by it. Well that's too much for him and at that moment he gives into the love he has and kisses and embraces her. They jump forward to them being married.