IMDb > It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
It's a Wonderful Life
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It's a Wonderful Life (1946) More at IMDbPro »

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It's a Wonderful Life (1946) -- 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 (1946) -- Clip: You want the moon?
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) -- MyMovies.Net - Exclusive interview with Karolyn Grimes

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Frank Capra
Writers:
Frances Goodrich (screenplay) and
Albert Hackett (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for It's a Wonderful Life on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 January 1947 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Family | Fantasy | Romance more
Tagline:
They're making memories tonight! more
Plot:
An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would had been like if he never existed. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 4 wins more
NewsDesk:
(45 articles)
MovieWeb's 2009 DVD Holiday Gift Guide
 (From MovieWeb. 20 November 2009, 12:55 PM, PST)
Review: Lyceum Theatre Closes Their 2009 Season with Charming Presentation of It's A Wonderful Life - A Live Radio Play
 (From BroadwayWorld.com. 16 November 2009, 4:11 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Best feel good movie ever? Quite possibly. more (504 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

James Stewart ... George Bailey

Donna Reed ... Mary Hatch

Lionel Barrymore ... Mr. Potter
Thomas Mitchell ... Uncle Billy
Henry Travers ... Clarence
Beulah Bondi ... Mrs. Bailey

Frank Faylen ... Ernie
Ward Bond ... Bert

Gloria Grahame ... Violet
H.B. Warner ... Mr. Gower
Frank Albertson ... Sam Wainwright
Todd Karns ... Harry Bailey
Samuel S. Hinds ... Pa Bailey
Mary Treen ... Cousin Tilly
Virginia Patton ... Ruth Dakin
Charles Williams ... Cousin Eustace
Sarah Edwards ... Mrs. Hatch (as Sara Edwards)
William Edmunds ... Mr. Martini (as Bill Edmunds)
Lillian Randolph ... Annie

Argentina Brunetti ... Mrs. Martini
Robert J. Anderson ... Little George (as Bobbie Anderson)
Ronnie Ralph ... Little Sam
Jean Gale ... Little Mary
Jeanine Ann Roose ... Little Violet
Danny Mummert ... Little Marty Hatch
Georgie Nokes ... Little Harry Bailey
Sheldon Leonard ... Nick
Frank Hagney ... Potter's Bodyguard
Ray Walker ... Joe - Luggage Shop

Charles Lane ... Real Estate Salesman (as Charlie Lane)
Edward Keane ... Tom - Bldg. & Loan (as Edward Kean)
Carol Coombs ... Janie Bailey (as Carol Coomes)
Karolyn Grimes ... Zuzu Bailey
Larry Simms ... Pete Bailey

Jimmy Hawkins ... Tommy Bailey
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean Acker ... (uncredited)
Ernie Adams ... Ed (uncredited)
Monya Andre ... (uncredited)
Stanley Andrews ... Mr. Welch (uncredited)
Sam Ash ... Nervous Banker (uncredited)
Jack Bailey ... One of Vi's Suitors (uncredited)
Mary Bayless ... (uncredited)
Beth Belden ... (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict ... Military Officer in Montage (uncredited)
Joseph E. Bernard ... (uncredited)
Al Bridge ... Sheriff (uncredited)
Buz Buckley ... (uncredited)
Marian Carr ... Mrs. Jane Wainwright (uncredited)
Adriana Caselotti ... Singer at Martini's (uncredited)
Lane Chandler ... Man (uncredited)

Michael Chapin ... Kid (uncredited)
Tom Chatterton ... (uncredited)
Harry Cheshire ... Dr. Cavanaugh (uncredited)
Edward Clark ... (uncredited)
Tom Coleman ... (uncredited)
Ellen Corby ... Miss Davis (uncredited)
Jimmy the Crow ... Crow in Bank (uncredited)
Bryn Davis ... (uncredited)
Lew Davis ... High School Teacher at Poolside (uncredited)
Harry Denny ... (uncredited)
Helen Dickson ... Woman at Graduation Dance (uncredited)
Dick Elliott ... Man on Porch (uncredited)
Tom Fadden ... Tollhouse Keeper (uncredited)
Frank Fenton ... Violet's Boyfriend (uncredited)
Eddie Fetherston ... Horace - Bank Teller (uncredited)
Sam Flint ... Relieved Banker in Potter's Office (uncredited)
Lee Frederick ... Man (uncredited)
Dick Gordon ... Man with Sheriff (uncredited)
Herschel Graham ... (uncredited)
Joseph Granby ... Joseph - Angel (voice) (uncredited)
Charles Halton ... Carter - Bank Examiner (uncredited)
Carl Eric Hansen ... (uncredited)
Herbert Heywood ... Building & Loan Depositor (uncredited)
Harry Holman ... Mr. Partridge - High School Principal (uncredited)
Art Howard ... (uncredited)
Bert Howard ... (uncredited)
Arthur Stuart Hull ... Mr. Randall (uncredited)
John Indrisano ... Extra in Fantasy Sequence (uncredited)
Eddie Kane ... Building & Loan Depositor (uncredited)
Carl Kent ... (uncredited)
Milton Kibbee ... Photographer at George's Home (uncredited)
Effie Laird ... (uncredited)
Mike Lally ... Building and Loan Customer (uncredited)
Harold Landon ... Marty Hatch (uncredited)
Meade 'Lux' Lewis ... Piano Player in Nick's Place (uncredited)
J. Farrell MacDonald ... House Owner (uncredited)
Irene Mack ... (uncredited)
Wilbur Mack ... (uncredited)
Charles Meakin ... (uncredited)
Priscilla Montgomery ... Student in Gym (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse ... Man with Sheriff (uncredited)
Philip Morris ... (uncredited)
George Noisom ... Dancer at School Dance (uncredited)
Frank O'Connor ... Military Officer in Montage (uncredited)
Moroni Olsen ... Senior Angel (voice) (uncredited)
Garry Owen ... Bill Poster (uncredited)
Netta Packer ... (uncredited)
Franklin Parker ... Photographer / Reporter (uncredited)
Mark Roberts ... Mickey (uncredited)
Cy Schindell ... Nick's Bouncer (uncredited)
Almira Sessions ... Potter's Secretary (uncredited)
Cedric Stevens ... (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan ... Bartender at Nick's (uncredited)
Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer ... Freddie Othello (uncredited)
Max Wagner ... Cashier / Assistant Bouncer at Nick's (uncredited)
Charles C. Wilson ... Charlie (uncredited)
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Directed by
Frank Capra 
 
Writing credits
Frances Goodrich (screenplay) and
Albert Hackett (screenplay) and
Frank Capra (screenplay)

Jo Swerling (additional scenes)

Philip Van Doren Stern (story)

Michael Wilson  contributor to screenplay (uncredited)

Produced by
Frank Capra .... producer
 
Original Music by
Dimitri Tiomkin (musical score written by)
 
Cinematography by
Joseph F. Biroc (director of photography) (as Joseph Biroc)
Joseph Walker (director of photography)
Victor Milner (director of photography) (uncredited)
 
Film Editing by
William Hornbeck 
 
Art Direction by
Jack Okey 
 
Set Decoration by
Emile Kuri 
 
Costume Design by
Edward Stevenson (costumes)
 
Makeup Department
Gordon Bau .... makeup supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arthur S. Black Jr. .... assistant director (as Arthur S. Black)
 
Sound Department
Clem Portman .... sound
Richard Van Hessen .... sound
John Aalberg .... sound (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Russell A. Cully .... special photographic effects
Daniel Hays .... special effects (uncredited)
Russell Shearman .... special effects supervisor (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Lila Finn .... stunt double: Donna Reed (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph F. Biroc .... camera operator (uncredited)
Homer Plannette .... gaffer (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Dimitri Tiomkin .... musical score directed by
Herschel Burke Gilbert .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Leigh Harline .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
Paul Marquardt .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Alfred Newman .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
Nathan Scott .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Leith Stevens .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
David Tamkin .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Dave Torbett .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
Edward Ward .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
Roy Webb .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life (USA) (complete title)
The Greatest Gift (USA) (working title)
more
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
130 min | Spain:118 min (25 fps) (DVD edition)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | South Korea:12 | Brazil:Livre | Sweden:15 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Germany:6 | Spain:T | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #11656)
Filming Locations:
4587 Viro Road, La Canada Flintridge, California, USA more
Company:
Liberty Films (II) more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
As Uncle Billy is leaving George's house drunk, it sounds as if he stumbles over some trash cans on the sidewalk. In fact, a crew member dropped some equipment right after Uncle Billy left the screen. Both actors continued with the scene ("I'm all right, I'm all right!") and director Frank Capra decided to use it in the final cut. He gave the clumsy stagehand a $10 bonus for "improving the sound." more
Goofs:
Continuity: During the run inside the Building & Loan, the hat changes position on the coat stand outside George's office. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Mr. Emil Gower: I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in "The Facts of Life: It's a Wonderful Christmas (#9.10)" (1987) more
Soundtrack:
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star more

FAQ

What are the names of George and Mary's four children?
Are Bert and Ernie from "Sesame Street" named after Bert, the cop, and Ernie, the taxi driver, from "It's a Wonderful Life"?
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
55 out of 69 people found the following comment useful.
Best feel good movie ever? Quite possibly., 11 February 2002
9/10
Author: Aidan McGuinness from Dublin, Ireland

Here's a new definition of cold-hearted: a man or woman who remains completely untouched by the 1946 Capra classic "It's a Wonderful Life". You can't not be moved by this wonderful little gem.

The acting is all great. One of the film's greatest strengths for me is making George Bailey - the star of the movie played by James Stewart - a nice normal man. He's not perfect and that's pretty much essential to the film's success because Bailey could be *any* man. The lesson of the movie is fairly simple - we all have our role to play in the world and we are all important. Most movies would make this into a schmaltzy affair but Capra delivered a touching, heart warming tale. Bailey consistently denies himself to allow others to live as he sacrifices his life to make sure people can have enough money to avoid having to sell-their-soul in debt to the evil H. Potter (alas not a Harry Potter...). His complete and utter humility is great - he doesn't see how much he accomplished until his guardian angel Clarence shows him. Again Clarence isn't played in the usual clichéd manner but more as a believable character who honestly loves Bailey for his strengths.

The movie is a success because you can't but want Bailey to succeed. The manner in which he does could be classified as corny but, because it's so deserved, that doesn't matter. The music, the set pieces, all the touches add to a wonderful movie and give you hope that life can indeed also be wonderful. A lovely mood-lifter. 8.8/10.

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