Not since old man Potter stole $8000 from Uncle Billy and the Savings & Loan has poor George Bailey had to deal with so much misfortune on Christmas Eve. At least, that’s what I thought when I was skimming PlutoTV last night and discovered, to my horror, that the version of It’s a Wonderful Life streaming on the service’s 24-hour channel dedicated solely to that movie has an alternate score. Indeed, Dimitri Tiomkin’s classic score has been replaced by a new score that sounds like it was lifted out of a Hallmark holiday movie. No, scratch that. That’s not fair to Hallmark movies. It sounds like the kind of score you’d hear in a Canadian Hallmark rip-off or something on the Great American Family Network. And that’s not it. The movie also has a new title, A Wonderful Life, and the credits claim it’s...
- 12/24/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
“I’m stuck here in this mudhole for life, doing the same full work day after day,” George tells a stranger he meets while leaning over a bridge. George has come to the bridge on a frigid winter night with the intention of throwing himself off and ending it all. “Other men are leading exciting lives, but I – well, I’m just a small-town bank clerk,” he vents. “I never did anything really useful or interesting, and it looks as if I never will. I might just as well be dead. Sometimes I wish I were. In fact, I wish I’d never been born!”
You probably know the above exchange as a scene from It’s a Wonderful Life, the 1946 classic starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey and Henry Travers as the lovable, doddering angel second-class Clarence Odbody. But the above quotation actually comes from the short story “The Greatest Gift,...
You probably know the above exchange as a scene from It’s a Wonderful Life, the 1946 classic starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey and Henry Travers as the lovable, doddering angel second-class Clarence Odbody. But the above quotation actually comes from the short story “The Greatest Gift,...
- 11/30/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Before James Stewart was sent off to fight in the Second World War, he was one of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars. He’d appeared in 28 films, had been nominated for an Oscar for Mr Smith Goes to Washington, and even won one for Best Actor a year later for The Philadelphia Story. He was riding high.
But after spending three years fighting the Nazis in the US Air Force, the 37-year-old returned home in 1945 to find that everything had changed. His contract with MGM had run out, his agent had left the movie business, and he was suffering from what would later be recognised as post-traumatic stress disorder. “I was just a little bit scared,” he later recollected of his newfound circumstance. Then Frank Capra called.
Capra – who had directed Stewart twice before, including on Mr Smith Goes to Washington – wanted to pitch a film called It’s a Wonderful Life.
But after spending three years fighting the Nazis in the US Air Force, the 37-year-old returned home in 1945 to find that everything had changed. His contract with MGM had run out, his agent had left the movie business, and he was suffering from what would later be recognised as post-traumatic stress disorder. “I was just a little bit scared,” he later recollected of his newfound circumstance. Then Frank Capra called.
Capra – who had directed Stewart twice before, including on Mr Smith Goes to Washington – wanted to pitch a film called It’s a Wonderful Life.
- 12/24/2022
- by Alexandra Pollard
- The Independent - Film
Before James Stewart was sent off to fight in the Second World War, he was one of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars. He’d appeared in 28 films, had been nominated for an Oscar for Mr Smith Goes to Washington, and even won one for Best Actor a year later for The Philadelphia Story. He was riding high.
But after spending three years fighting the Nazis in the US Air Force, the 37-year-old returned home in 1945 to find that everything had changed. His contract with MGM had run out, his agent had left the movie business, and he was suffering from what would later be recognised as post-traumatic stress disorder. “I was just a little bit scared,” he later recollected of his newfound circumstance. Then Frank Capra called.
Capra – who had directed Stewart twice before, including on Mr Smith Goes to Washington – wanted to pitch a film called It’s a Wonderful Life.
But after spending three years fighting the Nazis in the US Air Force, the 37-year-old returned home in 1945 to find that everything had changed. His contract with MGM had run out, his agent had left the movie business, and he was suffering from what would later be recognised as post-traumatic stress disorder. “I was just a little bit scared,” he later recollected of his newfound circumstance. Then Frank Capra called.
Capra – who had directed Stewart twice before, including on Mr Smith Goes to Washington – wanted to pitch a film called It’s a Wonderful Life.
- 12/24/2022
- by Alexandra Pollard
- The Independent - Film
Hee-haw! Frank Capra's classic "It's a Wonderful Life" is a holiday viewing staple for many Christmas-celebrating households. Nothing promotes Yuletide cheer like the sound of Jimmy Stewart screaming, "Merry Christmas, you old Building & Loan!" throughout the streets of Bedford Falls.
After all, it's a story in the spirit of the season. James Stewart's idealistic George Bailey is a man for whom helping others comes reflexively, to the point of putting his own ambitions on the back burner. Dreams of seeing the world are constantly delayed as life happens, and one terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day is all it takes to break poor George. His suicidal thoughts are interrupted by a literal guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers), who takes George on a scenic tour of the lives he impacted and teaches him the film's lesson, summed up in the final lines, "No man is a failure who has friends.
After all, it's a story in the spirit of the season. James Stewart's idealistic George Bailey is a man for whom helping others comes reflexively, to the point of putting his own ambitions on the back burner. Dreams of seeing the world are constantly delayed as life happens, and one terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day is all it takes to break poor George. His suicidal thoughts are interrupted by a literal guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers), who takes George on a scenic tour of the lives he impacted and teaches him the film's lesson, summed up in the final lines, "No man is a failure who has friends.
- 12/23/2022
- by Anya Stanley
- Slash Film
It’s the week of Christmas, which means it’s a time for presents, love, friendship, and lots and lots of movies. And beyond the endless streaming originals and Hallmark films set during the holiday seasons are a few bonafide classics of the genre — chief among them “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the beloved 1946 Frank Capra picture and a perennial topper of any “Top Christmas Movie” list.
Online, “It’s a Wonderful Life” is free to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Plex. The movie can also be purchased via multiple VOD platforms, including Redbox, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, and Apple TV, with prices ranging from 1.99 to 3.99.
Linear TV will also be carrying multiple showings of the beloved film. On Christmas Eve, NBC will air the film in its entirety starting at 8 p.m. Et. E! will also air the film on loop on Christmas Day, starting at 6 a.m. Et for a total of seven showings.
Online, “It’s a Wonderful Life” is free to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Plex. The movie can also be purchased via multiple VOD platforms, including Redbox, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, and Apple TV, with prices ranging from 1.99 to 3.99.
Linear TV will also be carrying multiple showings of the beloved film. On Christmas Eve, NBC will air the film in its entirety starting at 8 p.m. Et. E! will also air the film on loop on Christmas Day, starting at 6 a.m. Et for a total of seven showings.
- 12/21/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
"It's a Wonderful Life" is well-regarded in popular culture as a holiday classic, and its reputation as such typically conjures up an image of the hard-luck George Bailey (James Stewart) standing in front of a Christmas tree next to his wife (Donna Reed) and holding his daughter in his arms, his eyes filled with grateful, joyous tears.
Yet that image is, of course, from the finale of the film, and it's a well-earned emotional catharsis indeed when one considers the 129 prior minutes that led up to it. Watching the film brings with it an undeniable sense of desperation, as poor George tries throughout the course of his life to achieve his dreams and escape his hometown to no avail. When the angel second-class Clarence (Henry Travers) gives George the gift of proof that his life has actually made a difference, George is finally able to find happiness and peace, hence...
Yet that image is, of course, from the finale of the film, and it's a well-earned emotional catharsis indeed when one considers the 129 prior minutes that led up to it. Watching the film brings with it an undeniable sense of desperation, as poor George tries throughout the course of his life to achieve his dreams and escape his hometown to no avail. When the angel second-class Clarence (Henry Travers) gives George the gift of proof that his life has actually made a difference, George is finally able to find happiness and peace, hence...
- 12/8/2022
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
Had author Philip Van Doren Stern not self-published his short story, "The Greatest Gift," and sent it out to his friends and family as his Christmas card, we may never have got "It's a Wonderful Life." The irony is not lost considering the story's plot.
The author spent months trying to hunt down a publisher willing to take a chance on his story about a man encountering a guardian angel that shows him what the world would have been like if he'd never been born. That's when he took the route to publish 200 copies of the story to send out to his loved ones.
His daughter Marguerite Stern Robinson recalled (via Independent) being in the third grade and delivering a few of the cards off to her teachers and friends. Back then, her father explained to her the importance of the story: "My father, who was himself from a mixed religious background,...
The author spent months trying to hunt down a publisher willing to take a chance on his story about a man encountering a guardian angel that shows him what the world would have been like if he'd never been born. That's when he took the route to publish 200 copies of the story to send out to his loved ones.
His daughter Marguerite Stern Robinson recalled (via Independent) being in the third grade and delivering a few of the cards off to her teachers and friends. Back then, her father explained to her the importance of the story: "My father, who was himself from a mixed religious background,...
- 11/28/2022
- by Sarah Musnicky
- Slash Film
It’s the Gold Standard of Christmas movies and likely the oldest feature still broadcast on network TV during the holidays: Frank Capra’s sentimental favorite is his most human movie, the kind of show that convinced people that raising a family is a great idea. Although we’re now a full three generations removed from the world events that surround the story of George Bailey, his problems haven’t dated. Paramount’s anniversary disc gives us a new encoding from a 4K scan, a repressing of the older colorized version, a good making-of piece by Craig Barron and Ben Burtt, a reel of home movies from the film’s wrap picnic in the summer of ’46. . . and a set of ‘Bailey Family Recipe Cards.’
It’s a Wonderful Life 75th Anniversary
Blu-ray
Paramount
1946 / B&w + Colorized / 1:37 Academy / 130 min. / Street Date November 16, 2021 / Available from /
Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore,...
It’s a Wonderful Life 75th Anniversary
Blu-ray
Paramount
1946 / B&w + Colorized / 1:37 Academy / 130 min. / Street Date November 16, 2021 / Available from /
Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore,...
- 11/30/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ sequel could get killed by Paramount (photo: James Stewart and Donna Reed in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’) What would the world be like if any one individual human being had never been born? In most cases, the world would quite possibly be an infinitely better place, but the overwhelming majority of (delusional) humans want to feel good about themselves and their place on our overpopulated, fast-rotting planet. Hence movies such as Frank Capra’s 1946 sentimental fantasy drama It’s a Wonderful Life, released the year after the end of World War II — which reportedly left about 60 million human beings dead (plus countless other non-humans), in addition to millions more maimed, homeless, and/or psychologically destroyed. Starring James Stewart as Small Town America family man George Bailey, who almost kills himself but is prevented from doing so by an angel with way too much time in his hands,...
- 11/22/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Last night Syfy began their much-anticipated Countdown to Christmas, with holiday-themed episodes of Eureka, Haven and Warehouse 13, a tradition they started last year, and hopefully will continue with other shows and other holidays.
For instance, Valentine's Day with Being Human (abnormal blood moon causes Josh to become deathly infected, and only having sex with Aidan can cure it), and Sanctuary (abnormal abnormal attacks Will, causing him to become deathly infected, and only having sex with Henry can cure it).
That's just an example. They can work out the details later.
Last night's episodes were sweet stocking stuffers for fans of each show, and played on each series' strengths.
Warehouse 13
All of these episodes take place outside of their regular space/time continuims, and that was definitely the case with the Christmas Warehouse 13. When we last saw the show, Steve Jinks was killed to a melancholy version of "Running Up That Hill,...
For instance, Valentine's Day with Being Human (abnormal blood moon causes Josh to become deathly infected, and only having sex with Aidan can cure it), and Sanctuary (abnormal abnormal attacks Will, causing him to become deathly infected, and only having sex with Henry can cure it).
That's just an example. They can work out the details later.
Last night's episodes were sweet stocking stuffers for fans of each show, and played on each series' strengths.
Warehouse 13
All of these episodes take place outside of their regular space/time continuims, and that was definitely the case with the Christmas Warehouse 13. When we last saw the show, Steve Jinks was killed to a melancholy version of "Running Up That Hill,...
- 12/7/2011
- by snicks
- The Backlot
One cold February night in 1938, Philip Van Doren Stern had a dream. In it, a family man at the end of his tether encountered a guardian angel who showed him what the world would be like if he had never been born. Sounds familiar? Of course it does. It's the plot of It's a Wonderful Life. Frank Capra's 1946 film was nominated for five Oscars, is frequently voted one of the best of all time and is now as much a part of Christmas as mince pies and Doctor Who. Stern's contribution has been largely forgotten. Now, the original short story that grew out of his dream is to be republished for the first time in decades.
- 11/22/2011
- The Independent - Film
It Happened One Night. You Can’t Take It With You. Mr Smith Goes To Washington. By all accounts the ’30s were a pretty decent decade for Frank Capra. By the next decade, however, the man was making government-financed propaganda films. Whilst they were considered the best of their type, Capra itched to return to his populist roots. So, as World War Two drew to its close and he was sent The Greatest Gift – a 1943 story by Civil War historian Philip Van Doren Stern – Capra leapt at the... .
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- 12/24/2008
- by chicks
- TotalFilm
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