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Merry Christmas, George Bailey

  • TV Movie
  • 1997
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
146
YOUR RATING
Merry Christmas, George Bailey (1997)
Fantasy

Performance of the 1947 Lux Radio version of "It's a Wonderful Life", taped live in the historic Pasadena Playhouse as a benefit for the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.Performance of the 1947 Lux Radio version of "It's a Wonderful Life", taped live in the historic Pasadena Playhouse as a benefit for the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.Performance of the 1947 Lux Radio version of "It's a Wonderful Life", taped live in the historic Pasadena Playhouse as a benefit for the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

  • Director
    • Matthew Diamond
  • Stars
    • Casey Kasem
    • Bill Pullman
    • Penelope Ann Miller
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    146
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Matthew Diamond
    • Stars
      • Casey Kasem
      • Bill Pullman
      • Penelope Ann Miller
    • 5User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Merry Christmas, George Bailey (1997)
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    Top cast

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    Casey Kasem
    Casey Kasem
    • Radio Announcer
    Bill Pullman
    Bill Pullman
    • George Bailey
    Penelope Ann Miller
    Penelope Ann Miller
    • Mary Hatch Bailey
    Nathan Lane
    Nathan Lane
    • Clarence
    Martin Landau
    Martin Landau
    • Pa Bailey…
    Sally Field
    Sally Field
    • Mrs. Bailey…
    Joe Mantegna
    Joe Mantegna
    • Joseph…
    Christian Slater
    Christian Slater
    • Harry Bailey
    Jerry Van Dyke
    Jerry Van Dyke
    • Uncle Billy
    Robert Guillaume
    Robert Guillaume
    • Mr. Gower
    Carol Kane
    Carol Kane
    • Cousin Tilly…
    Bronson Pinchot
    Bronson Pinchot
    • Mr. Carter
    Dan Lauria
    Dan Lauria
    • Bert
    Craig Sheffer
    Craig Sheffer
    • Ernie Bishop…
    Armelia McQueen
    Armelia McQueen
    • Mrs. Thompson
    Ryan Slater
    Ryan Slater
    • Young George Bailey…
    Tina Majorino
    Tina Majorino
    • Janie Bailey
    Myles Jeffrey
    Myles Jeffrey
    • Tommy Bailey
    • Director
      • Matthew Diamond
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      nm0000597 plays George Bailey, and Mae Whitman plays Zuzu Bailey, one of his daughters. This is the second time that they have played the roles of father and daughter. In Independence Day (1996), Bill was President Whitmore and Mae was his daughter, Patricia Whitmore.
    • Connections
      Version of It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
    • Soundtracks
      It's a Wonderful Life
      (It's a Wonderful Life (1946))

      Music by Dimitri Tiomkin

    User reviews5

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Not that wonderful
    This was a great idea, a recreation of the 1947 Lux radio Theater version of the film classic, It's A Wonderful Life, with an all-star cast of the late-90s. Almost all of the actors are excellent. People who think Hollywood movie stars can only play themselves, or are unable to give theatrical performances in front of an audience, should see this.

    The one exception for me was Bill Pullman, who doesn't seem to connect to the role of George Bailey with even a small fraction of the emotion or concentration of James Stewart. From what I've been told (not sure if it's accurate), Tom Hanks was supposed to play George, but had to drop out, and Pullman stepped in at the last minute. He seems under-rehearsed, and, at times, confused. Since George is in almost every scene, well, it's unfortunate. Because he's likable and seems like the right type.

    It's a good recreation of an old-time radio show in almost every particular, from sound effects men to a full band. The only way it differs significantly is that on shows like Lux, the actors wore street clothes, they didn't dress up as the characters they were playing, the way some seem to here (Craig Sheffer, for ex).

    Anyhow, take a look - it's something offbeat for the Christmas season. And listen to the original broadcast with Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, and Victor Moore (as Clarence).
    helpful•1
    0
    • jhkp
    • May 31, 2018

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • December 25, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Production companies
      • KCET
      • Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
      • The Jimmy Hawkins Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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