It's a Wonderful Life REACTION | One of the Sweetest, Funniest, Most Wonderful Movies 

Love the line -"Why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death. Oh, youth is wasted on the wrong people".

A wholesome, family Christmas classic for sure. 😎 🎄 Fun Fact: As Uncle Billy drunkenly leaves the Bailey home, it sounds as if he stumbles into some trash cans on the sidewalk. In fact, a crew member dropped a large tray of props right after Thomas Mitchell went off-screen. James Stewart began laughing, and Mitchell quickly improvised, "I'm alright, I'm okay!" Director Frank Capra decided to use this take in the final cut and gave the stagehand a $10 bonus for "improving the sound."

Jimmy Stewart was a bomber pilot in World War Two and was suffering from PTSD when he returned to make this film. The emotional scenes, especially those in the bar, were very real. Nice reaction. ❤

Strings tied around your finger was an old timey way to remind yourself of something. So he had a lot of strings, which means that he had a lot of things that he meant to remember.

For Mary being an old maid would be a tragedy. It is the opposite of her wish. Her heart’s desire was to marry George, live in that house and have his children(that looked like him). It might not be a tragedy for someone else, but given her desires it would be a tragedy for her.

So.. this is the colorized version.. I HIGHLY reccomend going back and watching the original black and white version of this... the tone, the feeling... completley different than the artifically tinted one.

Great reaction, Michal! Hanukkah Sameach! Interestingly, Jimmy Stewart was a veteran. He had just returned home from service in the Second World War when he filmed this movie. In this film, his brother ("Harry") was the war hero. Yet, during the war, Jimmy Stewart was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, French Croix de Guerre with palm and the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters for his service in Europe as a U.S. Army pilot. He didn't retire from the military until 1968 (when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 60) and finally achieved the rank of Brigadier General (promoted to Major General in 1985 during his retirement).

Both Frank Capra and James Stewart were outspoken about how much they disliked the colorized versions of Its A Wonderful Life. I kind of see where they're coming from. Capra actually shot the film TO BE in black and white, and you can see that the images "pop" more in high contrast b&w than in color.

Michal, I think that seeing how the world would be without him is actually quite impactful. It is just the realization that the reach of his life is foundational to his community and had impact that reached out into the world that he needed to see. Knowing that your mother and wife, two of the closest people in a person's life have never met you would be rather devastating. I think that the reason that the focus is on the first part of the movie is to show that he lived a life of sacrificial love. He did so even to the point of experiencing grief at the loss of his dreams at times. The message is that giving sacrificial love to your wife, family and community has greater impact than any dream of greatness and adventure. The sacrifice of love is worthwhile. That is what I have taken away anyway. Thanks for your reaction to what is my favorite film.

Back in the day there were "strike anywhere" matches" They would strike on your tooth, wood,a zipper....Now almost all matches are "strike on box" matches to keep kids from burning down the house..........Mr Potter is a Barrymore....A line of actors spanning generations....Linoel Barrymore, John Barrymore and the most current is Drew Barrymore she has a lifetime of great movies.......Also, as of 2020 the Gym with the hidden swimming pool underneath was still able of being used....

Clarence: "Your brother, Harry Bailey, broke through the ice and was drowned at the age of nine." George Bailey: "That's a lie! Harry Bailey went to war! He got the Congressional Medal of Honor! He saved the lives of every man on that transport!" Clarence: "Every man on that transport died. Harry wasn't there to save them, because you weren't there to save Harry.” I get a lump in my throat every time I see that scene.

The mother didn't want Mary to be with George because the mother favored Sam because Sam was rich. But, Mary only had eyes for George.

This is my #1 Christmas movie but to echo others' sentiments, it should be watched in the original black & white. How you don't cry at the end of this movie is beyond me. It gets me every time.

@ 17:30 That was the Great Depression beginning, likely late 1929 just after the US stock market crash. A "run" on the bank is when everyone in a panic tried to get all their money out, and it wasn't possible. That happen all over and soon spread around the world. My grandparents told me stories about it as they lived thru it. @ 23:13 They make an okay living off the B & L. Not much, but it's really all he has. @ 34:23 Translated it reads, "Dear George, Remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings! Love, Clarence". Another nice Christmas movie you would enjoy and usually on TV during the season here "Miracle On 34th Street" (1947) and it's about Santa Claus! One other usually shown is "A Christmas Carol" (1938) considered the original Scrooge movie and based on the Charles Dickens classic novel of 1843. It's A Wonderful Life was one of Frank Capra's finest movies and if you want to see more of his do "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" (1939) also with Jimmy Stewart, and "Meet John Doe" (1941) with Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck, both good movies. ✌️😎

I knew a girl from S. Africa who was in the US for the first time. We had a big blizzard and she cheered about about how beautiful and wonderful it was. 3 days later she was walking through the grey and black slush in the streets saying "I hate this sh*t!". Lol

Frank Capra, who directed that film, got LOTS of angry letters about letting Potter get away scot-free with keeping that money. Typically, in movie storylines, the bad guy was always supposed to get his comeuppance.

1. Cursive: George - Remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings! Love, Clarence. 2. We would miss you.

Annie is my favorite supporting character in this film. Her relationship with George and Harry is priceless and she is hilarious.

If you want to see Mr Potter get what's coming to him then watch the parody that 'Saturday Night Live' did back in the early 1990's 'It's a Wonderful Life the lost ending'

Hi, I'm an American Jew and have always loved this movie! It makes me cry every time I watch it.

Thanks for your reaction! It's great seeing people discovering these old films. 14:13 We have what's called kitchen matches in The States and you can strike them on any rough surface and they'll light. Don't know if they have them where you live. 22:50 In 1947 there was no way to tell the sex of a baby until it was born. That technology didn't come around until the 1980s and it was pretty painful on the mother to do the procedure, not like today.

The cursive writing says Dear George, Remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings! Love, Clarence.

When the young George cries out: "Please don't hit my sore ear again." Is the most heart wrenching line I had ever heard in a movie.

That contract of 20K per is nearly nine times what George was earning at the time.

Lionel Barrymore (Mr. Potter) was actually in a wheelchair, and had been on and off since 1936) because he was crippled with arthritis. Barrymore convinced Jimmy Stewart to play George Bailey. Stewart suffered from PTSD because he commanded a bomber squadron and felt responsible for the men under his command who were killed. He was no longer interested in acting. Barrymore convinced him that movies were important to help the nation heal. You can see the effect of the PTSD in his emotional acting when George and Mary first kiss and especially after his mother doesn't know him. There is a close-up when he realizes he doesn't exist and never did.

14:15 That bit was actually improvised; while they were shooting the scene, a crew member knocked some things over and Uncle Billy’s actor handled it like a pro and said the line

The story isn't about justice. The $8,000 that Gower kept is nothing compared to the wealth of community that George helped to form, a wealth that isn't measured in dollars, but is measured in mutual concern for each other.

The cursive lettering at the end said "dear George, remember no man is a failure who has friends; P.S. thanks for the wings. Clarence."

The note in the book in cursive.... Dear George, Remember, no man is a failure who has friends! Love, Clarence

I think George failed to realise he had a Guardian Angel before he even met Clarence. :) His wife was there for him every time things went wrong, buying the house for them, making it a superb honeymoon and giving up the honeymoon money to help the people who desperately needed money to live on for the week. She worked hard to turn the dilapidated house into a welcoming home and gave him four wonderful, happy kids. Women are the real magic in the world and sometimes we men forget this or take it for granted.

This is the greatest Christmas film ever made. My father is a pastor and when over 75% of the budget of a church comes towards the end of December, this ending is a dream come true. As for those who don't like that Potter is not really punished for his actions and we don't see what becomes of him, I would say that we don't need to think much about it, for Charles Dickens did it for us. Mr. Potter is the unredeemed Ebenezar Scrooge, so the vision of Christmas Yet to Come that caused Scrooge to change his ways is the fate of Mr. Potter - to die alone, without any family or friends, and to be buried and forgotten in the local cemetery. The note in the book reads, "Dear George:- Remember no man is a failure who had friends. Thanks for the wings! Love Clarence."

16:33 Mary's mother was anti-George because Sam Wainwright was rich, and she wrongly believes Mary would be willing to marry Sam, if she wasn't stuck on George.

Good reaction. I think this is an absolute masterpiece of a film. So many ways and depths to analyze it. The juxtaposition of Violet/Mary and how they manifest the schism inside George (one seeking superficial and the illusion of the spectacular/great, while the other is humble but truly spectacular/great). The juxtaposition between Potter and George. The juxtaposition and martyrdom of George's dream in sacrifice so Mary can have her dream (and everyone else in the town, for that matter). And on and on. Let's of depth that could be discussed in such a "simple" movie. wonderful, indeed.

Jimmy Stewart actually studied Architecture, so George's dreams of building great things was really his own.

It say's:" Dear George: Remember NO man is a failure who has friend's. Thanks for the wings! Love Clarence"

You used to be able to strike wooden matches on rough surfaces, but in recent years, for safety reasons, they modified the chemicals in them so you couldn't do that anymore.

Hi. Great reaction. I found out that Zuzu was the name of a brand of ginger snap cookies that were sold in the 1940s. I remember that George refers to her as his ginger snap in the movie. Also I wonder why we librarians are drawn as matronly spinsters in tv and movies. I don’t think I’m that way. My husband doesn’t think so. Happy Hanukkah.

Really enjoyed this reaction, it’s one of my favorite Christmas movies. 😄 Also have to commend you for two things - your comment about people waiting until they’re married, which I totally agree with and wish more people understood it. Also Mary’s being an old maid not being that terrible of a fate. Marriage isn’t for everyone and it’s certainly not a bad thing if a woman never marries. You have some rare wisdom! 😊❤️

The cursive in the Tom Sawyer book reads: Dear George: - Remember, no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings! Love, Clarence

Hi, Michal :) I just found your video while looking for Christmas reactions. I like your way of looking and examining what's goingon... Some reactors don't bother asking questions, just flatly accepting what's going on. Thank you for the video. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year :)

Mr. Potter never got caught or repented for keeping the $8,000, which was usually not allowed in movies at the time due to the "Hays Code".

Sam's telegram = tear burst. Every time I watch this movie

Yes please watch it again in black and white it really gives it a timeless quality to it.

Back then being an Old Maid was a bad thing. Great edit and reaction Michal!

Absolutely delightful reaction😀😀😀

Frank Capra was a genius director and James Stewart is a Hollywood legend. Another Christmas time movie to do with James Stewart is the 1940 movie The Shop Around the Corner. It's supposed to take place in Budapest. This classic was directed by Ernst Lubitsch. It was given a more modern makeover in 1998, You've Got Mail with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

When Mary (Donna Reed) was supposed to throw a rock through the window, Capra had hired a man to do it for her. However Reed had grown up playing softball and got the rock through the window on the first try.

When this movie would play on TV in the '70's, we would always laugh at Mary being an old maid librarian being portrayed as a fate worse than death, because, although not an old maid, my mother was a librarian. Although women had many options about whether or not to marry in the 20th Century (Influential magazines such as, Ladies' Home Journal, had many articles saying, that women didn't necessarily need to marry even in the very early 1900's), until the 1960's, many women still thought of themselves as a failure, if they ended up being an old maid.

For Anyone Who Hasn't Seen This Absolute Classic Before,, I Would Highly Recommend That You Do,, It Is Also A Frank Capra Movie,, "POCKET FULL OF MIRACLES" (1961) It Is A Great Story That Is Loaded With Legendary Stars & Some Who Would Become Legendary..A True Must See Movie.

Jimmy Stewart: The Philadelphia Story, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Naked Spur, Harvey Donna Reed: From Here to Eternity, Scandal Sheet Lionel Barrymore: Key Largo, You Can't Take it With You, Captains Courageous

Not sure where they got Zuzu, but there was a boxed ginger snap cookie called Zuzu that was being sold back then.

I love your reaction. You focused on the things other reviews haven't. Great reaction video!

I would guess that what you're seeing as "odd" editing is more likely just a function of the very different moviemaking style of the time. The script, the acting, the editing, the mise en scene....all very of its time and much more theatrical than we're used to.

Ms Zisman, there is another charming movie from the 80’s that is not a holiday movie but equally as romantic as this movie. It’s called Crossing Delaney. It’s about a couple in the Jewish community of New York and how a matchmaker brings 2 people together. I’ve loved this one for a long time.

Re: Mary becoming an "old maid" -- In the original story, she became a battered housewife, but the filmmakers decided it was too dark for a Xmas movie. Besides, she deeply loved George and her kids, and if my soulmate suddenly didn't recognize me, I would agonize about it like George did. All in all, I think it was an understandable production decision even if viewers find it strange.

This was one of my families favorite Christmas Movies growing up, it didn't do too good when it was first released & I believe it went into public domain so no worrying about copyright problems. It really points out the true meaning of selflessly giving to others., the perfect good vs evil movie.

34:24 "Dear George: Remember *no* man is a failure who has *friends*. Thanks for the wings! Love, Clarence"

Once it starts snowing again you know George is back.

Best Christmas movie ever. James Stewart brilliant

Nobody told you what the writing in the book said? Dear George Remember no man is a failure who has friends! Thanks for the wings ! Love Clarence

Oh, no. A colorized version. That was a mistake. If you ever watch it again look for the glorious original black and white presentation.

Perfect reaction. Your insights are wonderful.

Really Enjoyed You Reaction/Review.

This movie is good any time of the year. I'm so glad you decided to watch it!

U have given me a smile and if u weren’t here I’d miss that u make a big difference by bringing us all together u have no idea what u bring to us thank u and have a happy Hanukkah

"Remember, no man is a faliure who has friends"

Frank Capra had d man Potter die of a heart attack and the towns people cheering but he said it didn't fit the feel of the movie so he cut it! Also, Jimmy Stewart was a bomber pilot during ww2 and was suffering deep ptsd, do the dark side he brought out in George were really his own desperation, very, very well done job!!!!

If you notice the cop (Bert) and the cab driver ( Ernie) look just like the Muppets that share the same names years later

Merry Christmas ⛄🎄

Mr. Potter is "Scrooge." And we all know, what would've happened if Scrooge, didn't redeem himself. Potter will get his, in the afterlife.

Wonderful sweet heart warming reaction thank You

Last year I watched both the colorized and the B&W versions just to compare them, since my Blu-ray has both. Color gives it an entirely different mood, for me at least.

I loved your reaction to this classic film. It's a Wonderful Life was not a box office success when originally released in 1946. The movie is now considered one of the greatest films of all time.

Favorite CHRISTMAS movies 1) It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 2) The Man who Invented Christmas (2017) 3) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) 4) Tokyo Godfathers (2004) 5) Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (1935) 6) The Star (2017) 7) Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1964) 8) The Holiday (2006) 9) Die Hard (1988) 10) Miracle on 34th Street (1947) TOP 10 FAVORITE MOVIES 1) The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982) 2) It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 3) The Prince who was a Thief (1951) 4) Narnia: the Lion, the witch, and the wardrobe (2005) 5) Let the Right One In (2008) - Swedish with English caption 6) A Silent Voice (2016) - Japanese with English caption 7) My Rainy Days (2009) - Japanese with English caption 8) A Brilliant Young Mind (originally known as "X+Y") (2014) 9) Silence (2016) 10) Spiderman: No Way Home (2021)

The Simpsons did a parody of this and Homer was proven to have ruined so many lives it was far better he was never born😂

I agree, waiting to be with your spouse and saving that intimacy so it will something only you two share… it’s just so romantic .

Pretty smile! Do it often!! (and I'm not talking about Jimmy Stewart) lol

Mary is that rare breed... She only wanted her dream guy, and wouldn't settle for less. That's why she was like that, because George, who is her "dream guy" never existed in that timeline.

Back in those days, being an old maid had a negative stigma about it.

19:34 . . . Amen to that. I totally agree.

I can’t watch this movie without crying

It was black and white, but coloured digitally very recently.

I don't know if you are familiar with Sesame Street but two of it's more famous residents were named after characters in this movie Bert the cop and Ernie the cab driver

You might be interested in a small indie comedy called “The Hebrew Hammer”. It’s about a Jewish private detective and it uses “It’s a Wonderful Life” as a recurring joke.

I watched this movie every Christmas that's my tradition

It’s so weird watching this in color! 😂

This is the "colorized" version...the original was beautifully filmed in Black & White.

Another beautiful and fun old (1955) Christmas movie is White Christmas.

The $8,000 situation was resolved on SNL about 50 years later. But you might not want to see how. It sort of throws a wrench into the spirit of the community.

I can’t imagine you would check comments to this video 6 months after posting, however I’m happy to comment anyway. I’m old enough to remember anywhere strike kitchen wooden matches which would have been the kind of match George was using in the scene when you were inquiring about it. In fact in addition to being usable against most any hard course surface one could also dip them in wax to make the water proof!

Sulfur tipped matches, which you can’t buy anymore. You could strike then anywhere!

Strike anywhere matches. You can buy them... anywhere.

You have to at least try eggnog. If homemade eggnog isn't your jam then try a quart of store bought. Just a sweet treat at Christmas. I first saw this movie with my brother as a kid and we both still love it. It only became such a loved movie in the mid 1980's here in the states.

Lady this is the 1920s. Thinks we’re not like they are today.

At 24:03 "Isn't the movie supposed to be in black + white?" LOL. umm, yeah. You're watching the colorized version.

If you like the acting ability of Jimmy Stewart I suggest you watch one of his best American westerns, " The Man who Shot Liberty Valance".

colorized versions are so bizarre to me - the original B&W version is superior IMO

Michal, before your reaction started you made a comment about whether or not you would be missed. I refer you to Psalm 40:7,G-d has written a scroll for you, so there are blessed and significant things for you and those in your path. You are an exquisite part of G-d’s creation and love.

Great film. Thanks for the reaction. Hate when they "improve" classics by colorizing them...

Michal, if you're looking for a Hanukkah movie, Adam Sandler did an animated one a while back called Eight Crazy Nights.