December 20: Debut of “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)
Prayer Idea
Pray for each person to recognize the eternal value of his or her life.
History Note
Philip Van Doren Stern (1900-1984) was an American author best known for his books about the Civil War. In 1938 Stern had the idea for a short story. He worked on it for several years. In 1943 he tried and failed to find a publisher for it. He decided to print it himself and send the story to friends and family at Christmas.
Producer and director Frank Capra ended up with the rights to make a film based on the story in 1945. Capra’s company expanded the story and prepared for filming in 1946. Jimmy Stewart, who had served as a pilot during World War II, was cast as George Bailey with Donna Reed cast as his wife, Mary Hatch Bailey. Lionel Barrymore played the antagonist Mr. Potter. The film crew spent two months creating a huge set to represent the town of Bedford Falls with 75 buildings and 20 full-grown oak trees.
On December 20, 1946, the film debuted for a charity preview screening in New York and officially premiered the next day. The film was a box office flop, failing to recoup its production budget in ticket sales. It received five Academy Award nominations in 1947, though no wins. In the midst of paranoia about Communist influence in Hollywood, the FBI was concerned that the movie was subversive. However, the House Un-American Activities Committee did not interview the writers and directors.
In 1974 the copyright to the film expired because the owner failed to renew it. Because television stations could show it without paying fees, they started showing the film frequently. This led to renewed interest in the film, which has become a holiday classic.
Jimmy Stewart made 80 films during his career, and he said It’s a Wonderful Life was his favorite. In a 1987 Guideposts article, he reflected on filming a prayer when George Bailey feels he is at the end of his rope. Stewart said:
As I said those words, I felt the loneliness, the hopelessness of people who had nowhere to turn, and my eyes filled with tears. I broke down sobbing. This was not planned at all, but the power of that prayer, the realization that our Father in heaven is there to help the hopeless, had reduced me to tears.
Stewart concluded:
It’s simply about an ordinary man who discovers that living each ordinary day honorably, with faith in God and a selfless concern for others, can make for a truly wonderful life.
The town of Seneca Falls, New York, claims to be the inspiration for the fictional town of Bedford Falls. The town is home to a museum and an annual festival related to the movie. Photo by Andre Carrotflower / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0.
Learn More
This news story talks about the history and impact of It’s a Wonderful Life and about the town of Seneca Falls.
Please Note: One of the interviewees says "Oh, Lord."
Find more resources at Homeschool History.
