America’s Favorite Holiday Movie: A Look Inside It’s a Wonderful Life

Voted the most inspirational movie ever made by the American Film Institute, Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life has been a beloved Christmas classic for many generations. The snowbound streets of Bedford Falls, the desperate travails of George Bailey, and the discovery of Zuzu’s petals have become traditional signatures of the holiday season. Yet when the film was released in 1946, it was a box-office flop, won no Academy Awards, and was largely forgotten—until it was rediscovered through endless airings on local TV stations beginning in the 1970s and on annual Christmas eve broadcasts on NBC starting in 1992.

This talk will examine the fascinating story of It’s a Wonderful Life, looking at the challenges of how it was made, what it says about the problems of post-war America, and how it became the ultimate portrayal of holiday goodwill and cheer.