It's a Wonderful Life

1946
PG
2h 10m

IMDb RATING

8.6/10

510K

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POPULARITY

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Feel-Good Romance Holiday Family Holiday Romance Psychological Drama 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

510K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

233

193

See production info at IMDbPro

Top rated movie #21

Nominated for 5 Oscars
- 7 wins & 6 nominations total

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Trailer 1:00

It's a Wonderful Life

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Storyline

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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

Review

Featured review

10/10

One of the greatest movie ever made in cinema history!!

When I heard about this movie for the first time, I thought it was just a forgettable and funny movie. But I was wrong. I saw this movie last Christmas and I did not find it funny, but I loved it, though! Everything is so great in this movie. The story is amazing. The characters are great, and the character's development is fantastic! the cinematography is grea, and the acting is fantastic. James Stewart was mind blowing. The whole movie is amazing,touching and encouraging. You cannot describe how good this movie is. Nor can you describe how good the message is.

This is the best feel-good movie ever. It's a life changing movie, actually. It makes you feel good to be alive. Do me a favor and watch this movie as soon as possible! When you're sad, think about the message this movie delivers, because you will get a smile on your face! I'm 14 years old. My English is not very good, but I hope this review was useful!