It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

The story of would-be world traveler George Bailey, constrained to his home town by circumstance, has few equals. Filled with humor and pathos, Frank Capra’s holiday staple makes for an exceptional film. It’s a Wonderful Life fires on all cylinders—writing, acting, directing—and deserves its reputation as an all-time classic.

***** (out of *****)

©2023 David R. George III

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1946 • 2 HOURS, 10 MINUTES
LIBERTY FILMS

STARRING
• JAMES STEWART, DONNA REED

ALSO STARRING
• LIONEL BARRYMORE, THOMAS MITCHELL, HENRY TRAVERS, BEULAH BONDI, WARD BOND, FRANK FAYLEN, GLORIA GRAHAME

WRITTEN BY
• FRANCES GOODRICH & ALBERT HACKETT AND FRANK CAPRA (SCREENPLAY BY)
• JO SWERLING (ADDITIONAL SCENES BY)
• PHILIP VAN DOREN STERN (BASED ON THE STORY “THE GREATEST GIFT” BY)

DIRECTED BY
• FRANK CAPRA

1946 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS (5)
• BEST PICTURE (LOST TO THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES)
• BEST ACTOR: JAMES STEWART (LOST TO FREDERIC MARCH FOR THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES)
• BEST DIRECTOR: FRANK CAPRA (LOST TO WILLIAM WYLER FOR THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES)
• BEST FILM EDITING (LOST TO THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES)
• BEST SOUND (LOST TO THE JOLSON STORY)