This is the way movies should be made,wholesome, clean, and with a message that makes the viewer see something good he hadn’t seen before. It’s not Christmas without watching Its a Wonderful Life. Poor kids today will never know how wonderful and simple life was back then, hard, but happy. What a shame.
I have spoken about this on fb and pointed out what a lack of talent Hollywood has these days, but I was mocked and ridiculed to no end for it. The society of today has no appreciation for these things.
"I think I'll go out and find a girl and do a little passionate necking." "He's making violent love to me, mother!" Yeah, there's plenty more randy sass, vim and vigor than people remember in this film. 😉
Please the good old days weren't so good for many. Life was never simple for my grandparents they struggled against racism and poverty. The idea things were sweeter and kinder in the 40s is myth there was unchecked racism and sexism and many other not so wholesome from that time.
I remember one year, maybe 1978 or 1979, PBS started showing this a few times a day for a week. I must have watched it 10 times over Christmas vacation and absolutely fell in love with this movie. I must have watched this 50 times by now - it never gets old.
Such a fantastic film! From Frank Capra’s genius, to the incomparable Jimmy Stewart and the talented Donna Reed and the top notch acting of Henry Travers, Thomas Mitchell, Lionel Barrymore, Beulah Bondi, H. B. Warner and everyone else, this is one of my favorites. Love every second of this film.
I can honestly say that that movie changed the way I looked at my life and at other people..and .it was only by chance that I even watched it. I happened to be grounded ( again) and had already seen all of the other movies my dad had in the house...i believe I was about 16 years old at the time. The movie changed me for the better.. it truly opened my eyes about just how valuable each of us really are. It became my daddy's and my most favorite movie and we watched it together every Christmas ...my daddy passed four years ago and watching now is bittersweet, but I will always watch it and now my own daughter loves it and we watch it together in keeping with dad's Christmas tradition. Thank you Mr. Capra for this wonderful story ,and Jimmy Stewart for bringing George Bailey to life. What a gift to the world you gave us. P.S. I named one of my cats George Bailey a few years ago. My next pet will probably be Zsu Zsu , or Clarence.. or Mary
Okay, that's it. Tonight, party going, cookie baking, trimming the tree, wrapping, and watching this! Greatest movie ever made, and other than the Gospels, the greatest testament to the human spirit ever told. God bless you, Mr. Capra. RIP
The greatest film ever made! Took my teenage sons and wife to see it two years ago at the Kinema in the woods Woodhall Spa Lincolnshire a unique 1920s cinema in UK village as it projects films from behind screen. They were all deeply moved as we're the whole audience. Amazing after all those years that it still touches peoples hearts. Thanks Mr Capra.
@@davidlionheart2438 no one never gets away with anything, we may not find out about it or know about but "we reap what we sow". "Whatever we do in the dark comes to light".
Hollywood DID have special people! Not many anymore. Capra & Stewart were a wonderful calibration. Thanks for posting this video w/ F.C. Jr. narrating.
I was born in 1978. I first saw Its a wonderful life in 1988 and, since that moment, it has always been my favourite movie of all time. I have watched it twice a week, every week, for the last thirty years. It has the perfect Director, the perfect story, the perfect film title and the perfect cast. It has true beauty throughout it, from beginning to end. As i say, in my humble opinion, "Its a wonderful life" is, without a doubt, the most beautiful film of all time.
When you watch IAWL again, note how many emotions Jimmy Stewart delivers all in one movie (anger, envy, kindness, fear, joy, jealousy, lust, disbelief, despair, triumph, humor, courage, and taking responsibility for errors not your own). If timing had been different, he should have gotten a Best Actor Oscar here. The movie was not a box office bust as has long been suggested...but it was no smash hit either. I think that immediately post-war was simply unfortunate timing for its release. It is FAR BETTER than Capra's earlier, "You Can't Take It With You," which had won best picture for 1937 and also featured Jimmy Stewart, H.B. Warner, and Lionel Barrymore. Another all-time top 5 movie came out at the same time as IAWL: "Best Years Of Our Lives." That timing was unfortunate for IAWL to get noticed at the time. "Best Years" deserved the recognition it got-- it was a wonderful movie all-around. But the coincidental timing of these two movies demonstrates once again that awards and recognition depend greatly on the TIMING of a movie's release and what it is up against.
A great story carefully crafted and one that touches its audience a rare quality ,due partly to the very best casting and James Stewart skill set portraying the ordinary American guy who infact has extraordinary qualities
i didn’t see until on Christmas break from college when i was about 19. My girl friend fell asleep and it came about 1:am. Never even heard of it before. Movie blew me away.
I remember in the summer of 1971 first seeing the last 20 minutes of It's A Wonderful Life.(Chuckle!) Five years later I finally saw the whole movie in December,1976. For a long time every channel was playing that movie more than once during the Christmas season. :-)
The best movie of all, It's A Wonderful Life...right along with Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. Both with the late Mr. Jimmy Stewart ! Also love Ms Donna Reed as Mary ! They just DON'T make such wonderful movies like this today which is so sad. Mostly junk today with some good ones but NOTHING as good as It's A Wonderful Life.Thanks for the trivia.
I just looked imdb top rated movies ever and in almost every top 30 movies there are violence, guns and murders. In this film there are not those things and I really enjoy watching it all over again.
There is a third gemstone called You Can't Take It with You It's' A Wonderful Life Mr Smith Goes To Washington an.you can't take it with you Are three Frank Capra phenomenal films that are gemstones for generations to have because of the amazing people who made them for us!
I even watch IAWL in the middle of Summer when I'm wishing for Christmas and cooler weather each year! Frank Capra left a wonderful legacy for mankind in all of his films.
I Really Love this Movie . with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed Its a wonderful Life No Man is a Failure if he has friends . Times are rough Now Days too But Its a Teacher . and it Teaches you a lot
I love this movie and what is so wonderful you can find this movie in VHS for as low as 10¢ at a thrift store. I'll pop it in today. The copy wright expiration probably saved many lives. 🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔
I agree with Frank Capra 100%. This is the best movie of all times. The story, the actors, the scenery, the range of emotions, and the value of life make it iconic. ❤ 🌟 🤩 💙
Thank you so much for this document! I love It's a Wonderful Life and rewatch it every Christmas. My novels are also optimistic and hopeful, and I resent the fact that novels or movies that don't have a "bad ending" are regarded as "sappy" and stories lesd worthy of being told. To the contrary: it takes courage to live a happy life, keep your head up high, take the high road and be happy, instead of falling into the easy path or misery and failure. Bravo Mr Capra!
Donna Reed was a TRUE beauty! WOW! I put her right up there with Mary Tyler Moore or Elizabeth Montgomery as the typical girl next door unadulterated American beauty. As for the movie itself what can I say? Who else but Capra could manage to direct such a sensitive subject? Capra was a genius, he had amazing actors & the material he used (the book itself) was amazing. It's A Wonderful Life is a masterpiece, its my 2nd favorite movie after Citizen Kane.
And she could play different roles, her role in "From here to eternity" is opposite of her role in "It's a wonderful life". I think Mary Tyler Moore was attractive and very pretty, Donna Reed is in the category of Ingrid Bergman, Audrey Hepburn and Deborah Kerr.
Just an amazing film. I remember watching it as a kid when it was one 20 times a year. Now I watch it with my kids. It turned me on to classic films from the 1930's and 40's.
And Jimmie Stewart could pull off positive, wholesome, & sentimental ... without descending to the mawkish and maudlin. The characters he played were the same as the character Stewart was!
If y'all are interested in knowing about Frank Capra Sr's life and careers, read the autobiographical book "The Name Above the Title." An instructive, entertaining, enlightening read. I had the pleasure to be with Mr. Capra for a week in 1974 at Florida State University in one of my Mass Communication classes. There were only 10 students and we had Mr. C all to ourselves for days.
"The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to see to your part, in the sea of humanity." "I am not, the product of myself. I am the sum total of all that l’ve encountered. Honor our Creator, plus all our creators, & give back to life, for what life has given to us." "All that happens.. gives understanding -- of and beyond myself." "Angels.. know the chords of our instrument. And, may you play your part - in the unfolding of their wings." "Life's ugliness can put us on our knees. But when we stand up, and make it beautiful -- God is it ever beautiful!" ~ Paul Jung
One year we watched this movie 19x!!! Like WOW--- I think it was on just a couple of times this past Christmas (2018). It's a good thing I have my own copy! We can watch it any time!
Pity a very good friend of mine Larry Simms, who played the oldest child in the film didn't get a mention. Larry died a few years back in Thailand where he lived and is survived by his wife Malie. He had no children with that marriage. I had the honour of assisting to fold the American Flag and present it to his wife at his cremation. RIP Larry.
Hi Eric Weissenborn - Some more information on Larry Simms. Larry Simms was born October 1, 1934. He worked as a child model from the age of two and was discovered by a Hollywood talent scout when he appeared in a 1937 Saturday Evening Post advertisement.[1] His first film was The Last Gangster (1937), where he played Edward G. Robinson's young son. Simms became known for his appearances as Alexander "Baby Dumpling" Bumstead in the popular Blondie film series starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake. Between 1938 and the end of the series in 1950, Simms appeared as Alexander in 28 films earning at one point $750 a week.[2] In 1946, Simms joined the cast of the Blondie radio program, portraying Alexander there as he had in movies. Simms occasionally acted outside of the Blondie series, most notably in two Frank Capra films. He played one of the sons of Governor Hopper (Guy Kibbee) in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington(1939) and Pete Bailey, the oldest son of James Stewart's George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life (1946). He retiredfrom show business to join the Navy (he appeared in uniform as himself in the Columbia Screen Snaphots short Hollywood Grows Up), then studied aeronautical engineering at California Polytech. He later worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California and then moved on to the Saudi Aramco Oil Company with Flour Daniels. He moved from there to Thailand again with Fluor Daniels on the Construction of the Shell Refinery at Rayong after which he finally retired in Thailand with his Mali. Simms and his wife resided in Thailand prior to his death (on June 17th at age 74) in 2009. The Last Gangster (1937) - Joe Krozac Jr. as a Baby (uncredited)Blondie (1938) - Baby DumplingBlondie Meets the Boss (1939) - Baby Dumpling Blondie Takes a Vacation (1939) - Baby Dumpling Bumstead Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) - Hopper Boy #4 Blondie Brings Up Baby (1939) - Alexander 'Baby Dumpling' BumsteadBlondie on a Budget (1940) -Baby Dumpling BumsteadBlondie Has Servant Trouble (1940) - Baby Dumpling Blondie Plays Cupid (1940) - Baby DumplingBlondie Goes Latin (1941) - Baby Dumpling BumsteadBlondie in Society (1941) - Baby DumplingBlondie Goes to College (1942) - Alexander 'Baby Dumpling' BumsteadBlondie's Blessed Event (1942) - Baby Dumpling (Alexander) Bumstead The Gay Sisters (1942) - AustinBlondie for Victory (1942) - Baby DumplingIt's a Great Life (1943) - Alexander Bumstead / Baby Dumpling Footlight Glamour (1943) - Alexander Bumstead. Leave It to Blondie (1945) - Alexander BumsteadLife with Blondie (1945) - Alexander BumsteadBlondie's Lucky Day (1946) - Alexander Bumstead Blondie Knows Best (1946) - Alexander BumsteadIt's a Wonderful Life (1946) - Pete BaileyBlondie's Big Moment (1947) - Alexander BumsteadBlondie's Holiday (1947) - Alexander BumsteadGolden Earrings (1947) - Horace - Pageboy (uncredited) Song of Love (1947) - Prince Albert (uncredited) Blondie in the Dough (1947) - Alexander Bumstead Blondie's Anniversary (1947) - Alexander BumsteadBlondie's Reward (1948) - Alexander BumsteadBlondie's Secret (1948) - Alexander BumsteadBlondie's Big Deal (1949) - Alexander BumsteadMadame Bovary (1949) - JustinBlondie Hits the Jackpot (1949) - Alexander BumsteadBlondie's Hero (1950) - Alexander BumsteadBeware of Blondie (1950) - Alexander BumsteadHer First Romance (1951) - Military Boy (uncredited) (final film role)
@@williamcoyle4022 To have played a part in such a masterpiece of a film, serve in the navy, and engineer with NASA JPL, that is a wonderful life indeed.
@@donnaleach8119 agree christmas is an american holiday since 1870 and it's a holy day .......but there are sinister individuals that are trying to make other things in december holidays instead of christmas .....and christmas is the only holiday in december !
I love this film.......but HTF is all this "information" given about the screenplay, including that Capra himself wrote it......with not a single mention of the excellent screenwriter, Jo Swerling.......who gets screen credit for writing the screenplay???????
Jimmy Stewat did not like the colorized verison of "It's a Wonderful Life". Liked it the way it was in black and white. Wish we could see more family orientated movies today.
I tend to stick with black/white version as it just to seem to have a feel of a timeless tale. That being said, those that helped create the colorized version seemed to do a phenomenal job. There seemed to be much care put into the work there, for a masterpiece of a film.
I had never heard of the movie until at about age 15, 1969, I happened upon it about 3/4 through on a very poor reception Public Television Station showing a poor print. Within a few years it had taken off in popularity.
ТThis movie is nоw available to watch hеееerе => twitter.com/5a27b6812d13495d6/status/795841523124346884 Mаaaaking Of Its A Wоndеrful Life Frank Capra Jr
I first saw "It's a Wonderful Life" on Finnish TV in the late 1980's--with Finnish subtitles that covered half the screen. :) I'd never heard of it before, but now it's my second favorite Capra film--second only to "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," also starring Jimmy Stewart.
What happened to Jeane Gale the girl who played young Mary? (And don't tell me she died in 1974 because that's a different Jean Gale who would have been 34ish at the time the movie was made.)
Hey, Frank Jr., did good old dad ever chuckle over how he let the actor who played Mr. Gower shoot the scene with the boy who played the young George Bailey truly drunk and the boy looked and acted hurt and scared because the older actor wasn't pulling those slaps and actually drew blood, so he really WAS hurt and scared? What a hoot! And how funny was it that, unlike the original story, Mary was consigned to being a spinster rather than marrying - she married an abusive drunk in the story, but at least she married. Not "everyone" loves "It's A Wonderful Life". And it wasn't a legal loophole, it was a clerical error that allowed cheapskate broadcasters to capitalize on perfectly legal copyright law, and THAT'S what saved it from oblivion - its being free holiday programming for over 20 years.
I don't remember the DAY THE MUSIC DIED or the DAY JFK jr died but I remember the DAY DEMOCRACY DIED 11/22/1963 and it's sequel STORMY THE CAPITOL BUILDING....
"Maybe my tragedy is a test, I want to be taught, for me to be true, to allow me to transcend, for me to treasure." "When struggling be undaunted. With perseverance comes all manners of all possibilities." "No mind is all-knowing, all-seeing. Every negative thought or perspective is short-sighted. They only exist in the mind, & not in the reality of change & beyond." "Persist upon your pain, that it not be in vain. In uncovering meaning & value, comes comfort and elevation." "My God is a faith & understanding that strength, guidance & appreciation, can be found from within oneself, & from outside oneself." "It is the heart & touch behind our transactions, that defines value, and a measure beyond any currency." "Relationship is everything... from beginning, to in between, and to more than... beyond." "Love's fulfillment.. it is gut & grace, coming into place." ~ Paul Jung