It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
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AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: The holiday classic to define all holiday classics, It's a Wonderful Life is one of a handful of films worth an annual viewing.
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Cast
as George Bailey
as Mary Hatch
as Henry Potter
as Oncle Billy
as Clarence Oddbody
as Ma Bailey
as Ernie Bishop
as Bert
as Violet Bick
as Mr. Gower
as Sam Wainwright
as Peter Bailey

as Harry Bailey
as Cousin Tilly
as Mrs. Hatch

as Ruth Dakin Bailey

as Cousin Eustace
as Giuseppe Martini
as Annie
as Mrs. Martini

as Sam Wainwright

as Mary Hatch

as Violet Bick
as Marty Hatch

as Little Harry Bailey
as Nick

as Potter's Bodyguard
as Joe
as Real Estate Salesman

as Tom

as Janie
as Zuzu Bailey

as Tommy
as Pete
as Freddie

as Marty Hatch

as Mr. Partridge
as Mickey

as Dr. Campbell
as Mr. Carter

as Bank Teller
as Mr. Welch
as House Owner
as Jane Wainwright
as Bill poster
as Miss Davis
as Potter's secretary

as Man with Sheriff
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Critic Reviews for It's a Wonderful Life
All Critics (71) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (67) | Rotten (4) | DVD (12)
While it isn't the best picture to come out of Hollywood this year, nor is it Capra's masterpiece, it tells a good story and its conclusion has a heart-warming effect on the audience.

It's a Wonderful Life is a wonderful title for a motion picture about which practically everyone who sees it will agree that it's wonderful entertainment.

The most well-loved of all Christmas movies.
It's a Wonderful Life is about hunger. It's about greed. It's about the many ways a good man is stymied. Finally, it's about George Bailey, whose decency prevents him even from killing himself.

Capra is an old-time movie craftsman, the master of every trick in the bag, and in many ways he is more at home with the medium than any other Hollywood director. But all of his details give the impression of contrived effect.
It's a Wonderful Life is a pretty wonderful movie.

Audience Reviews for It's a Wonderful Life
Juggling with your emotions union first viewing, you really do not know what kind of film you are in for her. "It's a Wonderful Life" follows George Bailey as he starts up a banking company, get's married, and becomes one of the wealthiest men in town. What is hidden in the background is that his status is all about to change when the company loses all of it's money, right before Christmas. Debating suicide, George is then shown by his guardian angel, what life would have been like for the town if he hadn't been born. The payoff to this film is one of the most emotionally satisfying endings to any film I think I have ever seen. It really makes you appreciate life no matter how harsh, easy, brutal, or depressing it can be. Life can be happy as long as you make it that way. Terrific screenplay, amazing direction, great camerawork, and a cast that brought me to tears by the end, "It's a Wonderful Life" is one of the definitive Christmas movies. Halfway through this film, you may question if it seems worth watching all the way through, because it almost feels like a different film, but it is all worth it in the end. Brilliant film all around.
Super Reviewer
Maybe considered a timeless classic, however I wish time had moved a little faster during the movie. For me a forgettable movie that drags in places. Huge fan of Stewart, not a huge fan of this movie!

Super Reviewer
Joyous, timeless classic! I can't say I've seen many movies from the 1940's, let alone any Christmas ones, but this was a very pleasant viewing experience, in several senses of the word. James Stewart is fantastic and brings a lot of vigor to his performance, but above all it's got a story that can be applied still today. It isn't confined to the values of the era, as it's broadly and universally human in its message. Basic themes like love, loss, greed and empathy, provides it with a wide spectrum of emotions that we can all relate to in some way (which is pretty amazing, considering it's over half a century old). A riveting, jolly and beautifully narrated holiday tale, that will add some extra lustre to your Christmas.

Super Reviewer
It's a Wonderful Life Quotes
George Bailey: | How old are you anyway? |
Mary Hatch Bailey: | Eighteen. |
George Bailey: | Eighteen. Why it was only last year you were seventeen. |
Annie: | I've been savin' this money for a divorce, if ever I got a husband. |
George Bailey: | Am I talking too much? |
House Owner: | Yes! Why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death? |
George Bailey: | How's that? |
House Owner: | I said why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death? |
George Bailey: | ...You want me to kiss her, huh? |
House Owner: | Oh, youth is wasted on the wrong people! |