It's a Wonderful Life Poster
MOVIEmeter
Top 5000
Down 80 this week

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

UNRATED 130 min  -  Drama | Family | Fantasy  -   7 January 1947 (USA)
8.7
Your rating:
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  
Ratings: 8.7/10 from 139,067 users  
Reviews: 555 user | 160 critic

An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed.

Director:

Frank Capra

Writers:

Frances Goodrich (screenplay), Albert Hackett (screenplay), and 4 more credits »
Watch Trailer
 Loading+Watchlist

Watch now

Buy it from Amazon »

Related Lists

image of title
a list of 382 titles by mhar_ced created 4 months ago
 
image of title
a list of 250 titles by whitethomas61 created 20 Mar 2011
 
image of title
a list of 1,171 titles by dev_leo created 4 months ago
 
image of title
a list of 933 titles by aarondf2003 created 2 months ago
 
image of title
a list of 501 titles by Terry Gorman created 06 May 2011
 

Connect with IMDb


Pre-Order the Kindle Fire
Top 250 #30 | Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 5 wins See more awards »

Related Videos

It's a Wonderful Life -- An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would had been like if he never existed. It's a Wonderful Life -- Clip: I don't want to get married (colorized) It's a Wonderful Life -- Clip: You want the moon?
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Stewart ...
Donna Reed ...
Lionel Barrymore ...
Thomas Mitchell Thomas Mitchell ...
Henry Travers Henry Travers ...
Beulah Bondi Beulah Bondi ...
Frank Faylen ...
Ward Bond ...
Gloria Grahame ...
H.B. Warner H.B. Warner ...
Frank Albertson Frank Albertson ...
Todd Karns Todd Karns ...
Samuel S. Hinds Samuel S. Hinds ...
Mary Treen Mary Treen ...
Virginia Patton Virginia Patton ...
Edit

Storyline

George Bailey has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. He has always longed to travel but never had the opportunity in order to prevent rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town. All that prevents him from doing so is George's modest building and loan company, which was founded by his generous father. But on Christmas Eve, George's Uncle Billy loses the business's $8,000 while intending to deposit it in the bank. Potter finds the misplaced money and hides it from Billy. When the bank examiner discovers the shortage later that night, George realizes that he will be held responsible and sent to jail and the company will collapse, finally allowing Potter to take over the town. Thinking of his wife, their young children, and others he loves will be better off with him dead, he contemplates suicide. But the prayers of his loved ones result in a gentle angel named Clarence coming to earth to help George... Written by alfiehitchie  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Angel | Christmas Eve | Christmas | Business | Small Town  | See more »

Taglines:

It's a wonderful laugh! It's a wonderful love! See more »

Genres:

Drama | Family | Fantasy

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
Edit

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$3,180,000 (estimated)

Gross:

£682,222 (UK) (26 December 2010)
See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Liberty Films (II) See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

 | Spain: (25 fps) (DVD edition)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ginger Rogers was offered the role of Mary, but turned it down. See more »

Goofs

Anachronisms: When George is showing Clarence where Bailey Park is and it is a cemetery instead: George's company would not have developed the land until about the mid thirties. In the alternate reality, brother Harry died in 1919 and was buried in a then-existing cemetery. Therefore, the Bailey Park in the primary reality would have had to have been constructed on an active cemetery. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Mr. Emil Gower: I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.
Giuseppe Martini: Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend, Mr. Bailey.
Ma Bailey: Help my son, George, tonight.
Ernie Bishop: He never thinks about himself, God, that's why he's in trouble.
Bert: George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.
Mary: I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.
Janie Bailey: Please, God, something's the matter with Daddy.
Zuzu Bailey: Please bring Daddy back.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in "The Practice: Choirboys (#7.15)" (2003) See more »

Soundtracks

"Wedding March"
(1843) (uncredited)
from "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
Written by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Played after the wedding See more »