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, with the promise of earning his ...Written by
alfiehitchie
The only person shown smoking in the entire movie is George Bailey. He lights a cigarette outside the party for brother Harry and his new bride Ruth. In two scenes set years later, he is briefly shown with a pipe (but not seen actually smoking it). His father is briefly shown with a pipe at the dinner table the night of the 1928 graduation party, but it also is not lit. See more »
Goofs
When George is at the train station waiting for Harry to arrive, he shows Uncle Billy several brochures from around the world. Then he says, "Here, Venzuela oil fields" (mispronouncing Venezuela). See more »
Quotes
[first lines]
Mr. Emil Gower:
[voice-over]
I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.
Giuseppe Martini:
[voice-over]
Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend, Mr. Bailey.
Ma Bailey:
[voice-over]
Help my son, George, tonight.
Bert:
[voice-over]
He never thinks about himself, God, that's why he's in trouble.
Ernie Bishop:
[voice-over]
George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.
Mary:
[voice-over]
I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.
Janie Bailey:
[voice-over]
Please, God, something's the matter with Daddy.
Zuzu Bailey:
[voice-over]
Please bring Daddy back.
See more »
Crazy Credits
A ringing facsimile of the Liberty Bell (without the crack) forms the backdrop for the studio logo, which is Liberty Films, and the opening credits are in a scrapbook with Christmas decorations. The bell reappears before the end credits, and the end credits have a Christmas card picture as a backdrop. See more »
Alternate Versions
The film was colorized three times. The first colorized version of the film was produced by Hal Roach Studios (now Sonar Entertainment), the second by Republic Pictures. A third colorization of the film was produced by Legend Films for Paramount, the film's current copyright holder, in 2007. See more »
No movie ever made has influenced me more than this classic. I had the honor of doing a play version of it about 5 years ago. I had seen the film thousands of times, had loved it, but I never really knew what it meant. During the course of the production, I suddenly felt alive. I felt that I wasn't having enough fun. I felt that I wasn't doing enough in my life. Crazy things, like kissing my mother or my father. I hadn't really hugged one of them in a while. It makes you think. It's more of a thinking person's film than a mere Christmas film. If you think it's just a Christmas film, I insist you watch it again and again, until you get the message.
Stewart gives the finest performance of his career, in one of the most difficult characters ever portrayed. A character all of us are familiar with...a person looking to find himself/herself. It's the great struggle for finding what it is in life you really want to do. George Bailey teaches us so lessons throughout the film and in the end he teaches us the most important lesson of all, that life, although a long and winding road, truly is (for lack of a better word) wonderful...
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No movie ever made has influenced me more than this classic. I had the honor of doing a play version of it about 5 years ago. I had seen the film thousands of times, had loved it, but I never really knew what it meant. During the course of the production, I suddenly felt alive. I felt that I wasn't having enough fun. I felt that I wasn't doing enough in my life. Crazy things, like kissing my mother or my father. I hadn't really hugged one of them in a while. It makes you think. It's more of a thinking person's film than a mere Christmas film. If you think it's just a Christmas film, I insist you watch it again and again, until you get the message.
Stewart gives the finest performance of his career, in one of the most difficult characters ever portrayed. A character all of us are familiar with...a person looking to find himself/herself. It's the great struggle for finding what it is in life you really want to do. George Bailey teaches us so lessons throughout the film and in the end he teaches us the most important lesson of all, that life, although a long and winding road, truly is (for lack of a better word) wonderful...