This is my all time favourite movie, a couple of facts I just learnt ……… It's Based on a Christmas Card Philip Van Doren Stern wrote the original story, "The greatest gift" in 1943. Unable to get it published, he printed 200 copies of the 4,000-word fable and sent them as Christmas cards to friends, relatives and his Hollywood agent, who sold the film rights to RKO for just $10,000. An RKO producer then showed the story to Cary Grant, who liked it so much that he wanted to play George Bailey—the part that eventually went to James Stewart. During World War II, James Stewart gave up a $12,000-a-week Hollywood salary for a military paycheck of $21 a month. He flew dozens of combat missions in Nazi-occupied Europe and came home a decorated war hero. But after five years without acting, Stewart felt insecure about his performance in front of the camera. "I couldn't tell if I was good or bad," he later said. The actor finally hit his stride thanks to a pep talk from Lionel Barrymore, who played Henry F. Potter, "the richest and meanest man in the county."
How times have changed …………….. The Script Was Censored The beloved family movie began with a script that film industry censor Joseph Breen deemed too racy. "Please omit the expression 'all night' in Violet's line, 'I was out all night last night,'" he wrote RKO. "There should be no flavor, of course, that George is trying to proposition Violet." Breen also insisted that, when they dry out their clothes after George pulls his guardian angel out of the river, "there should be no suggestion that either George or Clarence is naked."
Acting on Impulse When a bank run threatens to sink the Building & Loan on their wedding day, George and Mary placate panicked shareholders with money earmarked for their honeymoon. Before shooting that scene, Frank Capra discreetly told actress Ellen Corby to request a very modest amount. As the camera rolled, she asked for $17.50, and a surprised Jimmy Stewart impulsively kissed her. The reaction was genuine and in character, though it wasn't in the script.
Those Tears Were Real "Dear Father in heaven ... show me the way," George prays in desperation. Stewart later recalled performing that scene: "As I said those words, I felt the loneliness and hopelessness of people who had nowhere to turn, and my eyes filled with tears. I broke down sobbing. This was not planned at all, but the power of that prayer. The realization that our Father in heaven is there to help the hopeless had reduced me to tears." Stewart is truly 'great'
That's amazing to hear - Ellen Corby was noticeable to me, she has such an outstanding face then again, I know we can watch a movie a few times and notice something we missed, especially if the film is full of incident as this one is
She is easily recognizable. She was in a crowd, though, and I wasn't looking for anyone in particular, I suppose.
You will now When she asked 'George' for a low amount from the bank, he kissed her this was a natural reaction from Stewart who was truly engrossed in the character Knowing what I know now, the tears will go on a little longer than before
Town near me, Seneca Falls has a festival each winter dedicated to the film. The claim is that Frank Capra modeled Bedford Falls after this town. https://therealbedfordfalls.com/