Matt O’Connor
It’s Day 15 of our Christmas Movie Countdown! Released in 1946, It’s A Wonderful Life is up there alongside A Christmas Carol for being one of the most legendary holiday tales ever told and has been adapted countless times. Director Frank Capra also mentioned that it was one of his favorite films that he had directed. Although it might not seem like a true Christmas film at first glance, the story it tells is one of the best in the genre.
It’s A Wonderful Life follows a man named George Bailey struggling to find his place in the world. On Christmas Eve, an angel named Clarence Odbody visits George and takes him on a journey of emotion and self appreciation. Clarence shows George memories of the past and how he affected the lives of everyone around him in a positive way, and the two witness what life would look like if George had never been born.
Even though it’s been nearly 80 years since the film was originally released, It’s A Wonderful Life still holds up as a Christmas tale that transcends the ages. The character arc that George Bailey goes through is up there with the Christmas greats like Ebenezer Scrooge and has been an influence on many films and television shows that succeeded it.
By the time George returns, he has gained a newfound appreciation for the life that he has and the people in it. By helping George find his place, Clarence earned his angel wings, and George’s daughter Zuzu ends the movie with an iconic quote. “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.”
