It's A Wonderful Life Analysis | The Cutting Room Movie Review

Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life is perhaps the definitive classic Christmas movie. It stars James Stewart as hapless George Bailey, a banker who, one snowy Christmas Eve, is brought back from the depths of despair when his guardian angel, Clarence, shows George how life in his sleepy hometown would be without him.
Released in 1946 to an inititally lukewarm reception, the film gathered dust on the Paramount shelves for decades. Then, in the 1980s, a wave of television broadcasts brought it to worldwide attention, and the filmed garnered the reputation it has today.
ATRM are in Bedford Falls, 1919-1945. We've got the full story behind a Christmas classic as we learn the true meaning of Christmas...
00:00 | Introduction
04:01 | Synopsis
05:11 | The Director: Frank Capra
15:12 | The Writing: Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, and Frank Capra
27:10 | The Cast: James Stewart as George Bailey and Donna Reed as Mary Hatch/Bailey
37:43 | The Highlight: "You want the moon?" scene; Clarence shows George Bedford Falls if he'd never been born; The joyous ending
52:01 | The Rating
To gain access to bonus episodes and our podcast archive, and support what we do, please become an ATRM patron...
/ alltherightmovies
Listen to our podcast at alltherightmovies.com
Follow us on social media for lots of great movie content...
Twitter: / atrightmovies
FilmFrame: / filmframeatrm
Facebook: / alltherightmovies
TikTok: / alltherightmovies
Instagram: / allthe_rightmovies
Our sponsor for this episode is BetterHelp.com - the online therapist:
www.betterhelp.com/ATRM
All The Right Movies is an online hub for movie lovers everywhere, creating videos, podcasts, and articles on classic and hit films. The Cutting Room is our movie show where we break down films into their key filmmaking parts to discuss what makes them work, and also tell the making of story behind the film. All delivered with some big laughs and opinions.
#itsawonderfullife #christmas #movies #atrm

[@MrGpschmidt]

My fave film of all-time. Period. Capra's classic is a masterpiece of filmmaking storytelling with an impeccable cast led by an iconic James Stewart (my fave actor of all-time) and a truly amazing performance by Donna Reed. Speaking of - I met her daughter Mary Owen years ago who introduced the film and had a post-screening Q&A at NYC' IFC which has now been a yearly engagement there (sadly this was the 1st year I couldn't attend but will be seeing it on the big screen this Sunday as part of the 75th anniversary celebration by Fathom Events.) My fave moment is when George races from the porch of his home after his mom denounces him and he's in a quick ECU and Stewart registers shock/fear/horror/recognition of his new reality & terror induced acceptance all within 2 seconds (!) *I remember seeing this the 1st time when I was a teenager and came across it at the final act and had no clue what was going on execpt it felt like a TWILIGHT ZONE episode! *On a personal note my parents' names are George & Mary :D Great job gents & Happy Christmas!~

[@AllTheRightMovies]

Cheers George. Yeah it's a great film, and some brilliant memories there. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@martincox4845]

Had our annual viewing of this last night.
Wonderful as ever, but I find myself crying more times every year!
(I'm a 55 year old bloke by the way!)

[@AllTheRightMovies]

It does seem to get better with each viewing.

[@jimw966]

Both Capra and Stewart had seen combat during the war, so there probably is a bit of PTS they are working through making this movie. Capra was one of 5 directors that came back from the war fundamentally changed from their experiences and it showed in their films.

[@colmkelly5547]

The whole film is unreal, an absolute masterpiece. The scene in the Bar were Stewart starts crying is because Stewart was remembering the horrors he had saw during the War a few months prior. Love also the guy who took all his money comes in at the end and gives it back to George. So many brillant scenes and I watch it every Christmas without fail.

[@AllTheRightMovies]

Yeah it's pretty special isn't it

[@willwilliam7171]

This film is utterly bleak and joyous in equal measure. This poor guy is completely at his wits end and is literally staring into the abyss. A Christmas film about suicidal depression! Who would’ve thunk it? I can’t get over what a monumental performance James Stewart puts in. He’s great in everything. Love him in the film Harvey.

[@damianlennox1664]

One of the best you guys have ever done. I've never welled up during a podcast before. Merry Christmas.

[@AllTheRightMovies]

@@damianlennox1664 cheers Damien, Merry Christmas!

[@AllTheRightMovies]

Thanks Will, great Christmas film for sure.

[@stevemartin6192]

Fantastic content, wonderful film ❤

[@AllTheRightMovies]

Cheers Steve. Appreciate that 👍

[@ProjectFairmont]

Awesome review. This used to be on TV regularly during the Yuletide season. Shame it’s not as widely viewed by current and future generations. Donna Reed is achingly beautiful, and Stewart’s acting…a near perfect film.

[@AllTheRightMovies]

Cheers Shawn. Yeah it's outstanding stuff. And were all fans of Donna Reed too :)