Stacy Conradt
The Quick 10: It’s a Wonderful Life
by Stacy Conradt - December 16, 2009 - 4:50 PM

q10

I’m going to have to watch this on the sly at some point in the next week, because every time my husband walks in the room and sees it on TV, he starts making fun of me. And he likes Jimmy Stewart. But I digress. For those of you who love this classic as much as I do, here are a few bits of trivia about It’s a Wonderful Life.

donna reed1. This was Donna Reed’s first starring role, and she made quite the impression on her co-stars, especially during the scene where she throws a rock at the old house and makes a wish on the resulting broken window. The crew had a sure-shot thrower standing nearby so he could shatter the window on cue as Donna “threw” her rock. She asked to take a crack at it first and was graciously obliged. To everyone’s surprise but her own, she took the window out on her first try.

2. The swimming pool under the gymnasium floor really exists –- it’s at Beverly Hills High School and was still being used as of last year.

3. Mr. Potter’s full name is Henry F. Potter. He’s only referred to as “Potter” or “Mr. Potter” during the movie and credits, but if you have eagle eyes you’ll notice his name written on the door to his office. [Correction from reader Melody: "Joseph says his name the first time he’s introduced: 'That’s Henry F. Potter. The richest and meanest man in the county.'] Potter was played by Drew Barrymore’s great-uncle Lionel, by the way. Her grandfather was Lionel’s brother John.

4. Uncle Billy’s pet raven, Jimmy, can be found in every Frank Capra production since 1938’s You Can’t Take It With You.

5. Speaking of Uncle Billy, one of the funniest parts of the movie was an ad-lib from Billy’s portrayer, Thomas Mitchell. After Uncle Billy ties one on at the engagement party and George points him home, there’s a loud crash off-screen. In actuality, someone accidentally knocked some props over while filming was going on. Mitchell saved the scene by quipping, “I’m all right! I’m all right!” Capra found it so funny that he kept it in the film.

6. The movie received the “honor” of getting its own FBI file in 1947, when an analyst submitted the idea that the film was an obvious attempt to discredit bankers, a “common trick used by Communists.”

7. Among other people, the notoriously cynical Dorothy Parker contributed some rewrites to the script. Maybe she had a soft spot for Christmas (or maybe the money was just good).

8. Beulah Bondi, AKA Mrs. Bailey, played Jimmy Stewart’s mother five times throughout her career. There’s this movie, of course, and also Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Of Human Hearts, Vivacious Lady and once on The Jimmy Stewart Show.

snow9. Does George look strangely sweaty to you when he and Clarence are on the bridge? That’s because it was 90 degrees out the day that scene was filmed. But I think it works –- I always assumed he looked damp because of the snow and because he was in the middle of his nervous breakdown.

10. You may have noticed that when George is running down Main Street, the movie marquee proclaims that it’s showing The Bells of St. Mary. Coincidentally (or maybe not), the star of that film was Henry Travers –- Clarence in It’s a Wonderful Life.

I’m not a particularly sappy person, but I adore this movie. Like I said, my husband detests it. Which side are you on??

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Comments (75)

  1. I love it! I watch it every year!!!

    posted by AJ on 12-16-2009 at 4:57 pm

  2. I’ll never admit this to my mother who makes me watch it every year, but I secretly love this movie! :) I just rib her every time just to keep up tradition!

    posted by Drina on 12-16-2009 at 5:10 pm

  3. I’m 25 and I never watched the movie until last year. I loved it. Could have something to do with the old-movie-star crush I have on Jimmy (he’ll never replace Gene Kelly, but he has his own charm), but I think the story stands on its own as well.

    posted by riverstone on 12-16-2009 at 5:14 pm

  4. Used to love it, now I hate it. The more I see it (yes, I still watch it every 3rd or 4th year, just for grins) the more I see that George Bailey isn’t that nice a guy to begin with…

    posted by Dixon on 12-16-2009 at 5:16 pm

  5. I, too, have a crush on Jimmy. Love this movie, and so does everyone but my husband.

    Merry Christmas, Bedford Falls!!

    posted by Tracie on 12-16-2009 at 5:33 pm

  6. I love this film. I think it just shows what it is to be human. We are all a little selfish, but we do what needs to be done. And sometimes, we can’t take it. But if we stop and look around everyone once and a while, we realize we have it pretty good. (at least that’s what I get when I watch this film)

    Plus, Jimmy Stewart is *amazing* (they do not make actors the way they use to!)

    Also, didn’t the film makers get some kind of props for using something new as snow instead of cornflakes? (cornflakes were too loud I think)

    @riverstone, I love Gene Kelly too! I always swoon when he is on the screen

    posted by Kristine on 12-16-2009 at 5:37 pm

  7. Meh, I could take it or leave it. I haven’t seen it in a long while but am usually bored long before it ends…

    posted by JLee on 12-16-2009 at 5:48 pm

  8. I love Jimmy Stewart, therefore I love It’s a Wonderful Life.

    posted by Todd on 12-16-2009 at 6:02 pm

  9. I love the movie, and I miss the days when different stations would start the movie at different times on Christmas Eve, which let you flip around the movie almost like a DVD before there were DVDs.

    posted by Rich on 12-16-2009 at 6:06 pm

  10. I love this movie so much! My son used to love to watch it with me but now he is almost 18 and will not watch ANYTHING that might make him cry.

    posted by Cynthia on 12-16-2009 at 6:17 pm

  11. Certainly one of my top favorite films. It actually gets deeper and more complex with each viewing. The gray shades stand out more and more, but the message is timeless.

    posted by Ken on 12-16-2009 at 6:25 pm

  12. LOVE. It just makes me happy, it is from a more innocent time and Jimmy Stewart… yowza!

    posted by BorgQueen on 12-16-2009 at 6:48 pm

  13. I’m not a fan of this movie, but I do have a set of George and Mary action figures that I bring out each holiday season.
    Those two really get into some rude positions over the course of the holiday!

    posted by bradley547 on 12-16-2009 at 6:57 pm

  14. The first year my husband and I were married, I would make sure I knew when it was coming on and turn to that channel when he came home from work. It gave the impression that I watched it all the time. :-)
    I love this movie and always cry when Clarence gets his wings.

    posted by veete on 12-16-2009 at 7:28 pm

  15. Love it, and have seen it many times. But now i kind of love it from a distance. It’s like: I’ve seen it enough, don’t really want to see it for awhile yet. But it is a great, great movie.

    I’m weird about movies though ;)

    posted by Lidian on 12-16-2009 at 7:35 pm

  16. OK OK OK
    I’ll be the one.
    I don’t like it.
    Don’t like The Wizard of Oz either.
    For that matter I don’t care too much for Gone with the Wind.
    All of them are films that have ‘spots’ that are good, then the rest I can scrap. Kind of like a film you see because the commercial was good…but once you were in the theatre and saw the whole thing…not so much.
    (I’m sure there will be responses,)

    posted by M. Forrest on 12-16-2009 at 8:00 pm

  17. M. Forrest….Not a big gone with the Wind fan either, Oz…eh…I can take it or leave it. I understand why people don’t care for Wonderful Life, but I still like it….don’t ask me why.

    posted by Todd on 12-16-2009 at 8:54 pm

  18. I’m with M. Forrest. it has its good points, but i actually like sitcom spoofs better than the actual movie…(family matters being the best one so far)

    posted by Fate on 12-16-2009 at 9:01 pm

  19. I’m 45, hubby’s 47, and it’s the only holiday movie we both agree on: love it dearly, watch it yearly. Sure the ending makes people cry, but we’re both bubbling during the phone scene, fer Pete’s sake!

    posted by Tiny Dancer on 12-16-2009 at 9:48 pm

  20. One of my favorite movies. I never tire of watching it. (And my husband just rolls his eyes every time I do.)

    posted by Mom on 12-16-2009 at 10:30 pm

  21. I’m pretty much indifferent to it (though I looooove Jimmy Stewart), but my ethics teacher in high school absolutely hated it, and had us watch it as an example of utilitarianism.

    posted by Hailey on 12-16-2009 at 10:42 pm

  22. I really enjoy this movie. I always try to catch at least part of it. (Great article Stacy!)

    posted by Shandy on 12-16-2009 at 11:09 pm

  23. I wish people still talked like that.

    “Why don’t you kiss her instead of talking her to death?”

    “I been savin’ this money for a divorce, if ever I got a husband.”

    “We serve hard drinks in here to men who want to get drunk fast, and we don’t need any characters around to give the joint atmosphere.”

    posted by Karen In Japan on 12-16-2009 at 11:18 pm

  24. I also know that in the scene when there is a run on the savings and loan, Jimmy Stewart did not know how much money the frail, homely woman (not sure of her name) would ask for, so that his reaction could be genuine.

    posted by Darren on 12-16-2009 at 11:19 pm

  25. I LOOOOVE this movie. I was bored by it when I was younger but nowadays I tear up within the first thirty seconds or so and cry like a basketcase at the end. They don’t make movies like this anymore, that’s for sure.

    posted by Kelly on 12-16-2009 at 11:53 pm

  26. I love it. Saw it one night when I was at an incredible low point. This, IMHO, is the most important movie ever.

    posted by Bill on 12-17-2009 at 3:51 am

  27. This is the best Christmas movie that doesn’t star Patrick Stewart, a criteria by which all movies should be judged.

    posted by Kevin on 12-17-2009 at 4:04 am

  28. I enjoy the movie, but my wife is the big fan.

    posted by @mandoron on 12-17-2009 at 7:27 am

  29. I adore this movie. It’s just an all around feel good movie. It shows that some people do have good moral character (yea he wanted to jump off a bridge, but look at all the good things he did in his life, sacrificing his own wants). Overall, the movie just makes me all happy inside.

    posted by Tiffany on 12-17-2009 at 8:20 am

  30. Perhaps my favorite movie ever. I really love the fact that Alfalfa is kind of a bad guy. Nothing but fond memories for me.

    posted by diane on 12-17-2009 at 8:35 am

  31. I didn’t pay attention to this movie until I was about 23. When I saw it the first time, I started tearing up at the end and have continued that every time I’ve seen it since (now 41). My all-time favorite movie.

    posted by Camdawgs on 12-17-2009 at 8:49 am

  32. Does anyone remember the BAD 1970s (maybe 80s?) tv remake of this starring Marlo Thomas and Wayne Rogers? Always a great idea to remake a classic! NOT!

    posted by Beth on 12-17-2009 at 8:58 am

  33. @Kevin – Patrick Stewart’s version of _A Christmas Carol_ is, for me, the standard by which all other versions of the tale are measured.

    I LOVE _It’s a Wonderful Life_. Jimmy Stewart, swoon.

    Also, there is a book out I’ve been meaning to get – “Zuzu Bailey’s It’s A Wonderful Life Cookbook: Recipes and Anecdotes Inspired by America’s Favorite Movie”

    posted by KJ on 12-17-2009 at 8:58 am

  34. This is one of my all time favorite Jimmy Stewart films… I can understand people’s tastes in movies vary but this is truly one of Capra’s best works…

    three cool trivia bits left out.

    1.) The film was an absolute box office dud.

    2.) The film was never intended to be a Christmas Film. The fact that it’s set during the holidays was always incidental. I had always heard that it was released in July, but IMBD has it released in January of ’46.

    3.) This was Jimmy Stewart’s first film after returning from WWII. Frank Capra allegedly didn’t want Stewart for the role at first, as he felt that Stewart had become too hardened to play the sensitive George Bailey…

    posted by Jonathon on 12-17-2009 at 8:58 am

  35. I saw it for the first time this year, and liked it just fine. I do agree with Connie Willis’s evaluation (in the introduction to Miracle and Other Christmas Stories) that Miracle on 34th Street is the better movie, but it’s still fine.

    (I also read a thing once, I think on screenwriter John Rogers’ blog (kfmonkey.blogspot.com) that It’s a Wonderful Life is a more interesting movie once you realize that Jimmy Stewart dies when he jumps in the water and the rest of the movie is his perception of Heaven.)

    posted by Matthew E on 12-17-2009 at 9:03 am

  36. I don’t like the Wizard of Oz either…

    I do like Gone with the Wind, the cinematography was excellent. However, story-wise, the movie doesn’t hold a candle to the book.

    As for It’s a Wonderful Life. Finally watched it a few years back and while it’s enjoyable, I don’t think it’s the be all and end of all movies, Christmas or otherwise.

    posted by Lilly on 12-17-2009 at 9:27 am

  37. I love watching the film…from the run to the bridge onward. But I find it hard to sit through the interminable set-up of all the examples of fate’s piling on George and his grousing, as studded with wonderful scenes as it is.

    posted by VM on 12-17-2009 at 10:00 am

  38. It’s a Wonderful Life is defniitely a favorite. I’m looking forward to seeing it on the big screen as a local theater is showing it for a limited time for the Christmas season. :)

    posted by Karen C on 12-17-2009 at 10:15 am

  39. I LOVE this movie! It’s my favorite and the Christmas season isn’t complete unless I see it at least once. Usually I catch a late night showing and that’s when I end up wrapping all my gifts (until the very end, when I’m blowing my nose and wiping tears away).

    posted by Becky on 12-17-2009 at 10:24 am

  40. maybe it’s just me, but “potterville” looks like a much more fun place to live in then bedford falls…

    “hello you wonderful old building and loan~”

    posted by ee the c on 12-17-2009 at 10:37 am

  41. When I was a student at the University of Virginia, this movie was a end of semester ritual, complete with audience participation and everything.

    I love it. Best Christmas movie ever (whether intended as such or not), one of the best movies ever.

    I agree George all sweaty looking at the bridge works perfectly, I always just assumed it was part of the nervous breakdown.

    And I love Donna Reed just a little more now. :)

    The SNL send-up of this that ends with the town beating the hell out of Potter deserves special mention, though. I actually saw the SNL skit before ever seeing the movie, thought it was hysterical, and found it even funnier after seeing the movie.

    posted by Karen on 12-17-2009 at 10:52 am

  42. Nope, sorry.

    “3. Mr. Potter’s full name is Henry F. Potter. He’s only referred to as “Potter” or “Mr. Potter” during the movie and credits, but if you have eagle eyes you’ll notice his name written on the door to his office.”

    Joseph says his name the first time he’s introduced.

    Clarence: Who’s that, a king?
    Joseph: That’s Henry F. Potter. The richest and meanest man in the county.

    Don’t mess with me, I’m an It’s a Wonderful Life MACHINE!

    posted by Melody on 12-17-2009 at 10:56 am

  43. Yeah, about that window. George’s life was actually pretty good until Mary made her wish, then everything fell apart – his dad died, his brother (the ingrate) welshed on his deal to take over the business, his uncle lost the money … but she got what she wanted. Call it The Curse of Mary Hatch.

    posted by Tim bah Humbug on 12-17-2009 at 10:56 am

  44. @Matthew E – that’s so weird to think of. I’ll keep that interpertation in mind when I get a chance to watch it again.

    I don’t think I can watch /wonderful life/ this year b/c I infact work in a bank and am trying everything to get away from here (just short of standing at the bus stop with my bags). Same reason I can’t watch /Orange County/ – just hope to God some grad school is foolish enough to accept me!

    Although I haven’t watched /wonderful life/ since I was in HS, I’m going to side on liking it. I remember my heart just aching for George and Mary – I’ll let you guys know when I (hopefully) get away and get to watch it next year.

    posted by OkieMelissa on 12-17-2009 at 10:57 am

  45. Sequel Idea:

    It’s Not a Wonderful Life at All: The Uncle Billy Story

    posted by Melody on 12-17-2009 at 11:11 am

  46. I go through cycles – used to love it many years ago when I was younger, but they played it on TV every night for all of December. I just got sick of it. And then suddenly, one Christmas season it was gone. I was suddenly obsessed with trying to watch it. Went out and bought the VHS (dating myself here a bit). Once I had the tape, didn’t want to watch it. Then when I flipped over to a DVD, I just HAD to have a copy of my own, even though my VHS copy was only ever watched once. Every year I think this is the year I’ll watch my DVD copy and finally take it out of the shrink wrap. Got to love Christmas tradition.

    posted by Silver on 12-17-2009 at 11:13 am

  47. I’m still waiting for “It’s a Wonderful Life 2″, in which Clarence is cast into hell for not having devised a bell ringing machine while on Earth.

    posted by Rich T on 12-17-2009 at 11:15 am

  48. love it!

    posted by Nathan on 12-17-2009 at 11:29 am

  49. I love Jimmy, but I never really got into this one. I try every couple years to see if I’ll like it because I really want to, but to no avail. Maybe I’ll try again this year.

    posted by Caitlin on 12-17-2009 at 11:47 am

  50. I was very relieved the year that only one station aired this movie and only one time. I loathe this movie, although that may be due in part to my general dislike of Jimmy Stewart :) You may flame me if you wish!

    posted by Amy on 12-17-2009 at 12:21 pm

  51. I have yet to make it through this entire movie (I’m 29)…..just too cheesy!!

    posted by Carol on 12-17-2009 at 12:23 pm

  52. I’m 28, I’ve seriously never seen it. I LOVE old movies, I LOVE Jimmy Stewart. I just seem to miss it every year, I’d like to see it but I think there’s a universe conspiracy against me. I’ve only seen clips, the part about the moon and kissing her, the part with the pool, and the end with the bell n the tree.

    posted by AuntieEmBabes on 12-17-2009 at 12:30 pm

  53. Back in the early 80s before the copyright expired I only got to see it once a year on TV. A 2hr 20 min movie condensed into 2 hrs. And every year the local station would cut the film differently and I’d see a new scene. When VCRs became affordable, It’s a Wonderful Life was the first movie I bought – a poorly made VHS with terrible picture and sound all for sixty bucks. It was the first time I saw the opening conversation between Clarence and Joseph.

    posted by gwdmaine on 12-17-2009 at 1:32 pm

  54. Love it! I have it on VHS (and a working VCR, thank God) and watch it at least once.

    I wait until the kids are gone so I can cry all I want. The scene in the bar when he’s praying and starts crying gets me going. I read somewhere that Capra didn’t expect him to cry but when he did, he himself zoomed in for the close up.

    posted by Donna on 12-17-2009 at 2:03 pm

  55. Great article! What a film. For all you George Bailey fans out there, I wrote a song for the man called (appropriately) George Bailey… would love for you all to take a listen via my website or watch the youtube video below. Thanks and happy holidays!

    Carolyn Sills
    http://www.carolynsills.com/Original_Music.html
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOQna0DuOfU

    posted by Carolyn Sills on 12-17-2009 at 2:11 pm

  56. Great article. I still love this movie; I have found that despite being sympathetic George isnt the greatest guy. (yells at kids, selfish about his dreams)… but it shows how much good he continues to do and how he holds true to the values of family and community. It is a movie I watch every year.

    posted by Ocelotl on 12-17-2009 at 2:19 pm

  57. LOVE it. Heard somewhere recently that it flopped in the box office and didn’t become popular until syndication (is that the right word?) many years later! Thanks for the facts!

    posted by Julia on 12-17-2009 at 3:09 pm

  58. To Matthew E. – I don’t see at all that George is dead when he falls off the bridge – In the beginning of the movie Clarance and Joseph are talking about him because people are praying for him and that’s before he jumps off the bridge, right?

    posted by Laurie on 12-17-2009 at 3:20 pm

  59. “Call it The Curse of Mary Hatch.”
    “It’s Not a Wonderful Life at All: The Uncle Billy Story”
    LOL! Great comments.

    I always cry at:
    1. When drunk Mr. Gower hits George and then realizes this kid kept him from giving poison to someone so he hugs him and then they’re both crying and
    2. When Mary, as a little girl whispers to George (low enough so he can’t hear it): “George Bailey, I’ll love you till the day I die.: *SOB*

    posted by Laurie on 12-17-2009 at 3:30 pm

  60. George” Uncle Billy, do you know what the 3 most exciting sounds in the world are?”
    Uncle Billy,: “Yeah. Breakfast is served, lunch is served dinner is served…”

    posted by Laurie on 12-17-2009 at 3:41 pm

  61. adore it. cry every freaking time.

    posted by ac on 12-17-2009 at 3:46 pm

  62. Heartwarming, corny and everything that movies today are not. I don’t think it would really feel like Christmas if I didn’t see this every year. One of a long list of “must see” Christmas movies I haul out every year.

    posted by Siobhan on 12-17-2009 at 3:47 pm

  63. Pure “Capra-corn” and I love it! I first saw it Christmas of 2006 when I was home with the flu and my parents took my daughter for the evening so I could rest. I got one channel on tv and it was on… Ever since then, I watch it once a year. “Faaaan dance by the light of the moooooon.” Jimmy Stewart was a hubba hubba, and Donna Reed–so pretty. I also love the fact that it looks at life somewhat realistically. yeah, we all have dreams, and they get diverted. Make the most of it! Surround yourself with good people, help them and they will help you.

    posted by Helenann on 12-17-2009 at 4:01 pm

  64. No mention of the police man and cabbie being named Bert and Ernie. They were best friends in the movie and also on the Muppets. Coincidence? Nope…. Fact #11

    posted by Boneplate on 12-17-2009 at 7:32 pm

  65. The remake from the early 80s was It Happened One Christmas. I honestly enjoyed that, too.

    posted by Darren on 12-17-2009 at 11:01 pm

  66. This is my favorite Christmas movie…we watch it every year! (Sometimes I even sneak it in twice, when I am up wrapping after everyone has gone to sleep!)

    posted by Dianna Wettlin on 12-18-2009 at 7:57 am

  67. LOVE IT – Just like this movie, whether you love it or hate it, there’s a scene in the beginning when George is making the ice cream sundae and asks if Mary wants it ‘with coconuts?’ and she doesn’t like it. George fires back, ‘Don’t like coconut, say brainless…’

    That scene always reminds me of people who adamantly claim their dislike of this movie. But I like coconuts and this movie, so I’m biased.

    posted by R Clark on 12-18-2009 at 3:26 pm

  68. The film is one of my all time favorites. When my children were young & I’d be watching the movie, I sometimes had to shoo them out of the room during the final scenes. I wanted to have my good cry w/o questions or teasing. They won’t watch it w/me now cuz too often I’m speaking the diaglogue. They still give me a hard time about being weepy, but it doesn’t matter. Love, love, love the movie!

    posted by Sharon on 12-18-2009 at 3:27 pm

  69. Love it and even have a copy of it at home, just in case we don’t catch it on the TV.

    posted by Lauralee Hensley on 12-18-2009 at 5:21 pm

  70. I watch every year, and every year something else tugs at my heart. Heard once that the scene where George is in the bar and starts praying was originally done as a wide shot. Capra decided it needed to be a close up and had Stewart retake the scene multiple times but never got the emotion that he got in the first take, so Capra painstakingly blew that shot up to get the close up that he wanted.

    posted by shirleyfeeney on 12-19-2009 at 3:14 pm

  71. i LOVE this movie. especially when he screams: “Merry Christmas Bedford Falls! Yeeeeeeaaaaaahhh!!!”

    posted by emmiline on 12-20-2009 at 5:39 pm

  72. This is one of my favorite holiday movies. I could literally watch it over and over. I even got my boyfriend to watch it a cpuple years ago and he loves it too. And I know he’s not lying, because he’ll even watch it on his own sometimes!

    posted by Melissa on 12-21-2009 at 1:21 pm

  73. @M Forrest – You old scrooge. How could you not love this movie? I just bawled my way through it for the umpteenth time. It’s a classic, not to be missed.

    posted by Becky on 12-24-2009 at 11:06 pm

  74. I adore Jimmy Stewart, I love this movie, but I’ve never understood why it’s a Christmas movie. It’s not cheerful and merry – it’s a very bleak story about a man whose dreams will never be fulfilled. The ending is uplifting and sappy and I cry every time, but it doesn’t really put me in a festive mood.

    posted by Boofus McGoofus on 12-25-2009 at 2:07 am

  75. Great post. I watch it every year, and even surprised my self this Christmas when I was already weeping only 10 minutes into it and Gower was slapping George’s ears. I wrote a song called George Bailey, wanted to share it with you all as you guys obviously love the film as much as I do. You can listen to it on my website, or watch the youtube video below. I hope you enjoy – happy holidays everyone!

    Carolyn Sills
    http://www.carolynsills.com/Original_Music.html
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOQna0DuOfU

    posted by Carolyn Sills on 12-27-2009 at 1:54 pm

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