Title: It's A Wonderful Life
Company: Liberty Films
Director: Frank Capra
Screenwriters: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, and Frank Capra
Starring: James Stewart and Donna Reed
Length of Video: 132 minutes
Rated: Unrated

I was lucky enough to review Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life, one of my all time favorite movies. It starts off as you hear many people praying for one man on Christmas Eve. George Bailey is his name, and he is thinking of doing the unthinkable and leaving this world. But the prayers of the citizens to not go unanswered. An angel named Clarence is sent to help George. And before he leaves Clarence gets to see the highlights of George's life. George saves his brother, even though it cost his hearing in the left ear. Then, the next section of George's life you see is when he just has graduated from high school and is going to a dance celebrate it. There he dances with Mary. That night George's father dies, and George sends Harry to college while he stays in Bedford Falls to manage a small family-owned bank. Mary and George later marry. But trouble strikes. As the two lovers head to their honeymoon the Depression starts, and they give up their honeymoon money to help the townspeople. The Bailey family grows with a total of four children. Then World War II starts and Harry and other hometown boys go to fight. George's brother is an amazing pilot and does so well he is decorated by the president. Early on December 24 as the Bailey's Uncle Willy is going to pay the mortgage, callous, nasty old Mr. Potter, who through out the movie hates the Bailey's spots the $8,000 going to be used to keep Bailey Bros. Building and Loan in business and takes it. George begins to feel worthless when he finds out he may not be able to stay in business, like he won't be able to support his family and help the town. He gets so desperate he considers suicide. But, to prevent him Clarence saves him, and Clarence tells him he is George's guardian angel, and he is needed in Bedford Falls. George doesn't believe him, and wishes he never existed. Poof! Wish granted. Mary never got married, and Mr. Potter owned the town now called Pottersville. Everything is different and dismal. Pottersville was a horrid place. But was it horrid enough to get George to want to exist again? You'll have to watch the movie and find out. Oh, and don't forget to flip the two-sided disk to see the special features. They're great!

I would definitely recommend this movie to kids in the fourth grade and up, or ages ten our up. I liked the way you saw George's life and the way you saw how important and cared for he was. But I didn't like when he got upset and angry and losing the money. Movies that are similar to this one are Harvey and Citizen Kane, which are both easily classics. This is a wonderful movie, and you should definitely watch it during the holidays. It also might be a good idea to watch it with family, and if you're emotional, a box of tissues. (November, 2002)