Considered by many as director Frank Capra's greatest American classic,
this seasonal tale of a man discovering the amazing impact he has on lives
around him premiered December 20, 1946, at the Globe Theater in New York
City. Its popularity in recent times has grown tremendously with the advent
of television and video distribution. For many years, its pervasive appearances
on late-night broadcast stations signaled the final approach of the Christmas
holidays.
It's a Wonderful Life follows the life of hardworking George
Bailey who always dreamed of adventure but found that his commitment to
duty kept it long out of reach. Faced with desperate pressure from all
sides of his frustrating life, he succumbs to an idea that his final duty
and worth in life should be a sacrifice for an insurance policy to cover
a loan. In steps his guardian angel Clarence to help show him what life
would have been like without him. Through a series of encounters with bitter
people he happily knew in his own meager life, he comes to realize and
accept life's truest riches - his family and friends.
Much later in their lives, Donna Reed, Jimmy Stewart, and Frank Capra
would all claim this project as their all-time favorite career film. Many
fans, critics, and researchers reference its story, dialog, and characters
as a universal foundation for discussion in their own work. Numerous articles
and books have revealed remarkable details of its production and crew.
For example, much to Capra's surprise, Donna actually threw her own stone
to break the designated second story window pane in the film's famous wishing
scene. She did this with her strong and precise baseball talents practiced
long before with her farm brothers back in Iowa.
The film recently celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Donna Reed
Festival in the summer of 1996. Surviving cast and crew members, including
Bobbie Anderson, Argentina Brunetti, Carol Coombs, Karolyn Grimes, and
Jimmy Hawkins, were reunited at a gala event where they reminisced with
stories and unique insights from the film. Noted film critic and historian,
Leonard Maltin, once remarked that "this film seems to improve with
age." In the hearts of many, especially those in the audience of that
special gala in Denison, nothing has rung more true.
Cast
- George Bailey - Jimmy Stewart
- Mary Hatch Bailey - Donna Reed
- Henry F. Potter - Lionel Barrymore
- Ma Bailey - Beulah Bondi
- Uncle Billy - Thomas Mitchell
- Clarence - Henry Travers
- Ernie - Frank Raylen
- Bert - Ward Bond
- Violet Bick - Gloria Grahame
- Mr. Gower - H.B. Warner
- Harry Bailey - Todd Karns
- Pop Bailey - Samuel S. Hinds
- Cousin Tillie - Mary Treen
- Sam Wainwright - Frank Albertson
- Ruth Dakin Bailey - Virginia Patton
- Peter Bailey - Larry Simms
- Janie Bailey - Carol Coombs
- Zuzu Bailey - Karolyn Grimes
- Tommy Bailey - Jimmy Hawkins
- Freddie .- "Alfalfa" Switzer
- Cousin Eustace - Chrales Williams
- Mr. Martini - Bill Edmonds
- Mrs. Martini - Argentina Brunetti
- Annie - Lillian Randolph
- Little George - Bobbie Anderson
- Little Sam - Ronnie Ralph
- Little Mary - Jean Gale
- Little Violet - Jeanine Ann Roose
- Little Marty - Danny Mummert
- Little Harry - Georgie Nokes
- Nick the Bartender - Sheldon Leonard
- Bodyguard - Frank Hagney
- Rent Collector (Reineman) - Charles Lane
- Tom (at Building & Loan) - Edward Kean
- Mrs. Hatch - Sara Edwards
- Joe Hepner - Ray Walker
- Mr. Partidge - Harry Holman
- Marty Hatch - Hal Landon
- Mickey (with "Alfalfa") - Bobby Scott
- Dr. Campbell - Harry Cheshire
- Bank Examiner - Charles Halton
- Bank Teller - Ed Featherstone
- House Owner - Farrell MacDonald
- Tollhouse Keeper - Tom Fadden
- Bill Poster - Gary Owen
- Mr. Welch - Stanley Andrews
- Jane Wainwright - Marian Carr
- Man on Porch - Dick Elliott
- Mrs. Davis (Building & Loan) - Ellen Corby
- Sheriff - Al Bridges
- Joseph (Angel's Voice) - Joseph Granby
- Franklin (Angel's Voice) - Maroni Olsen
Cast list from Jimmy Hawkins' "The 'It's a Wonderful
Life' 1994 Calendar," The Jimmy Hawkins Co., 1993
