It’s a Wonderful Life

Iconic screen shot from the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Director: Frank Capra
Cast: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Henry Travers
Language : English

It’s a Wonderful Life, directed by Frank Capra, after watching it one can realise how precisely the title has been given for this movie. It shows how a persons positive attitude towards life can change him forever leading healthy and happier life.

The film opens on a Christmas Eve. Friends and family members prayers George Bailey’s(James Stewart) well-being reaches heaven.An second class angel Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers) been appointed to save George and to earn his wings. George’s life been explained to Clarence  by two other head angels.George as he was younger saves his brother Harry from drowning when his brother was just nine years old.George also saves a druggist where he works in a pharmacy by finding that druggist accidental preparation of a medicine using poison for a childs medical prescription.

Now George became a grownup man  whom wish to travel around the world and willing to graduate.On his brother Harry’s (Todd Karns) high school graduation day party celebration he met with Mary Hatch (Donna Reed) and fell in love with her.Mary too admires and loves George from her childhood.George lives happily with his family with his father,mother,younger brother and house maid nanny.George took up his father’s land and loan business after his death.George wishes Harry to get graduated and he sends him out for the same.

Poster for IAWL (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mr. Henry F. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) being a wealthy landlord in the town, wants George to be out of the town.He dosent like Georges growing popularity in the business.Later Harry returns family with his wife and party celebrations been arranged at home.Georges mother asks George to get marry and hints him about Mary.George and Mary get married and while they drives out they see more share holders crowded in front of his office asking for their money to return back.George explains them not to worry and returns them their crucially needed amount , from the amount they planned for their honeymoon.Due to this George saves his bussiness from a collapse.George raises his four children’s and all goes fine until his uncle Billy loses eight thousand dollars in a bank while he plans to go for the deposit of companies amount.

Potter hides the money missed by Billy and plans for police to get arrest George for the loss of company money.George and Billy searches all the corners of the town for the lost money.Being highly disappointed and frustrated George shows his anger towards his children and wife when he reaches home.He drunks, drives the car speedily and hits on a tree.While George tries to attempt for suicide , Clarence  the appointed angel for George jumps before George from a bridge.Suddenly George jumps in and saves Clarence.Clarence then explains George that he alone saved George by jumping first.

Disagreed with Clarence words and his angel status George wishes he had never been born.
Clarence consoles George and makes his wish true for a while as if George was not born.Clarence shows George the same town and people how it will be without him.George’s  brother died at the age of nine, the druggist jailed for twenty years for poisoning a baby,his children’s were never born and his wife an unmarried woman and goes on.George now realises the importance of life and the reason why he was born.

George pledges Clarence to return back to his own life and which happens so.George greets all on the streets with merry christmas including Potter.Befor the bank examiner along with the police whom waited for George’s return to get arrested been saved by all his friends and share holders whom gives George with the amount needed from their own pocket.One of Georges best friend telegrams him as he sends twenty fife thousand dollars for him.The bank examiner and the police leaves the spot and the film ends happily with inscription “Dear George: Remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings! Love, Clarence.” Clarence gains his wings.

Released in 1946 ,This movie after watching gives the audience with positive energy and attitude towards life.Films with entertainment ,joy and happiness along with some nice attitude based story lines makes the audience feel more interested while watching a movie. It’s amazing that these kind of films been made in the 40’s. It’s a wonderful Life for sure makes you feel so.

Academy Awards:
1946

Best Picture for Frank Capra
Best Director for Frank Capra
Best Actor for James Stewart
Best Editing for William Hornbeck
Best Sound Recording for John Aalberg