It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

This film, based on the story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren Stern", is recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the best American films ever made.

On Christmas Eve, George Bailey(James Stewart) is despondent and is having thoughts of suicide. He prays and is heard by Joseph, the head angel, and assigns George's case to Angel Second Class, Clarence (Henry Travers). Joseph and fellow Angel, Franklin, narrate what George's life had been up until the present time.

When he was a young boy, George saved his younger brother Harry's life when he fell through some ice. He also saved the life of another person when the druggist that he worked for, Mr. Gower (H.B. Warner)upset about his sons death, had incorrectly filled a prescription with poison. George always sacrifices his own dreams for those of others. When his brother graduates from high school, it is his chance to stop working at the family business, the Bailey Building and Loan Association, and travel the world and go to college. He goes to a dance and meets up with Mary Hatch (Donna Reed) a girl who has had a crush on him for years. He tells her about her dreams, and when he is walking her home, he finds out that his father has had a stroke.

When his father dies, George must take over the Building and Loan because if he doesn't the evil Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) will stop them from providing loans to the cities poor. George decides to stay and gives his brother his school money. When his brother graduates, George becomes excited because he has another chance to get on with his life. When his brother comes home, he has a wife and will be starting a job with her father's company. George must keep working at the Building and Loan.

He stays in town and marries Mary Hatch. As they are leaving for their honeymoon, there is a run on the bank. Evil Potter offers everyone "50 cents on the dollar" to come to his bank, but George uses his and Mary's honeymoon money to save the bank. George and Mary start a family and George starts up "Bailey Park", a low cost housing development, so that people don't have to go to Potter. When World War II occurs, George can't enlist because of the hearing lost he acquired when he saved his brother years ago, but his brother becomes a war hero as a pilot, winning the Medal of Honor.

On Christmas Eve, Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell) is reading the article about Harry in the paper and while distracted, leaves an $8,000.00 deposit on Potter's desk. Potter finds the deposit and doesn't say anything. They need the money for a bank examiner and when they can't find it, George appeals to Potter for the money and Potter says no.

An unhappy George thinks that he is worth more dead than alive and goes to the bridge and states that he thinks that everyone would be better off if he was never born. Clarence the Angel jumps into the water and George jumps in to save him. Clarence reveals himself to be George's guardian angel and shows George what life would have been like had he not been born. His brother Harry would have died if he had not been there to save him and therefore would not have been able to save lives in WWII. His pharmacist boss would have killed someone if he hadn't been there to stop the prescription from going out. Mary would have been an old maid, Uncle Billy would have been in an asylum and the town of Bedford Falls would be named Pottersville with Mr. Potter controlling everything.

George wants to live again and his prayer is answered with a yes. He finds that his family and friends have collected the money needed to satisfy the bank examiner. As he looks at his life and the people around him, George realizes that he does have "A Wonderful Life" after all!

Although the film was considered a flop when it was originally released, it was still nominated for five Oscars. It did not win any of it's categories. The pool scene was located at Beverly Hills High School where the pool is still in operation after all these years.

This is a great film with a great message!

132 Minutes. Not Rated. I give this movie FOUR AND ONE HALF STARS.