It's a Wonderful Life

1946
U
2h 10m

IMDb RATING

8.6/10

525K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

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Feel-Good Romance Holiday Family Holiday Romance Psychological Drama Supernatural Fantasy Drama Family Fantasy Holiday Romance

An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.6/10

525K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

1,420

117

See production info at IMDbPro

Top rated movie #21

Nominated for 5 Oscars
- 11 wins & 7 nominations total

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Trailer 1:00

It's a Wonderful Life

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
For the scene that required Donna Reed to throw a rock through the window of the Granville house, director Frank Capra hired a marksman to shoot it out on cue. To everyone's amazement, Reed broke the window by herself. She had played baseball in high school and had a strong throwing arm.

Goofs
At one point George (James Stewart) calls Violet (Gloria Grahame), Gloria.

Quotes
Clarence: Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?

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.

Alternate versions
Pre-2006 home entertainment releases and NBC broadcasts had the 1994 version of Republic Pictures logo (in color) at the start.

Connections
Edited into Have Rocket -- Will Travel (1959)

Soundtracks
Buffalo Gal (Won't You Come Out Tonight)
(uncredited)
Written by William Cool White

User reviews1.3K

Featured review

10/10

IT'S NOT OFFICIALLY CHRISTMAS SEASON UNTIL I WATCH THIS MOVIE

I am so glad Frank Capra had a vision to make "It's A Wonderful Life". I'm glad he chose Jimmy Stewart to play George Bailey. There are some little gems in life that help make life pleasant. It is not officially the Christmas season without watching this little gem. The supporting cast is perfectly matched. Donna Reed is wonderful as well as all the characters of the town. This would be a great movie, even if it were not in a Christmas setting. The holiday flavor makes it even more charming and memorable. A angel trying to get his wings is a little far-fetched, but Capra pulls it off. The impact of living a good life cannot be underestimated. What would life be like for your family if you had never been born? Our actions do speak loudly. In an age of 9-11, we need this movie more than ever. The values of "It's A Wonderful Life" still hold true today. Yes, I'll say it, it's a wonderful movie.