Its A Wonderful Life

Few motion pictures have enjoyed a renaissance like the 1946 Frank Capra masterpiece It’s a Wonderful Life. Nominated for Five Academy Awards, it was dismissed as syrupy Christmas fare and fell into obscurity until television gave it new life. Today it’s an American tradition. With It’s a Wonderful Life: A Memory Book, any fan of the classic film can further appreciate its magic and legacy. The warm reminiscences of the film’s cast are supported by excellent photographs, providing the perfect companion for any fan of the film–or anyone who believes in miracles and angels. The book features dozens of interviews and rare behind the-scenes photographs that allow readers to see how the movie was created. Comments from Frank Capra, Jimmy Stewart, Bobbie Anderson, Jimmy Hawkins, Karen Grimes, and many more make the story come alive. More than a dozen brief biographies of the prominent cast members detail how It’s a Wonderful Life affected their lives and careers. Then and now photographs supplement the career highlights of Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Beulah Bondi, Gloria Grahame, Frank Faylen, Ward Bond, and others. Like George Bailey himself, It’s a Wonderful Life was rescued from oblivion in the late 1970s when it was discovered that the film’s copyright had not been renewed and the motion picture fell into the public domain. Television stations nationwide began freely airing the film. From film remakes and marvelous merchandise to cast reunions and Saturday Night Live’s hilarious parody, this book explores the adoration of generations of viewers who have fallen under its spell.