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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 52% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
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
Tagline:
They're making memories tonight! more
Plot:
An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 4 wins more
User Comments:
Who are you, really? more (503 total)
US TV Schedule:

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
Runtime:
130 min | Spain:118 min (25 fps) (DVD edition)
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
After the war Frank Capra set up Liberty Films with George Stevens and William Wyler to make more serious, soul-searching films. This and State of the Union (1948) were Liberty's only productions. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Alignment of George's car when it hits the tree more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Mr. Emil Gower: I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 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
118 out of 131 people found the following comment useful.
Who are you, really?, 27 January 2007
10/10
Author: JFHunt from Manhattan

Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like It's A Wonderful Life.

Does it take me back to that place in my heart, that makes me long for everything that once was great and it could be again? Does it remind me of my childhood, Christmas in my home? No. Maybe it's just simply what I always wanted from life and every man I want to be.

Everything about this film is well for lack of better words, perfect. No question to it any longer, the best performance by an actor I have ever seen. It's more than just beautiful, timeless or fair. All of Stewart is revealed. Everything coming together for Capra. Lionel Barrymore at his best, which seems to be his worst.

Sometimes I think there is a reason why somethings happen. And I'm pretty sure there is some magical reason why this film was made. I'm 27 years old and saw it for the first time Christmas Eve of this year. I've watched it 3 times since. The only movie to ever make me cry. I probably wouldn't have all the answers for you, if you asked me why. I'm still trying to figure Stewart out and just how beautiful was Reed.

What can I say? This movie is a life changing experience.

Makes me feel good to be alive. What a wonderful little world it is. And if I waited my entire life, it would not be a waste of time.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
I Miss The Days of When It Was On All The Time holly-rock
Why don't girls like this movie? rmn139
The MST3K guys must've LOVED this movie. jschillig
It's A Wonderful Life circa 2009 DairyQueen
when is it on? phoebegirl2
Anyone watched this in Colour + 3D ! GrrMeister
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