“It’s a Wonderful Life” has become a Christmas tradition for generations, airing year after year and drawing viewers back to Bedford Falls. The 1946 classic, starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, will air on NBC at 8/7c on Tuesday, Dec. 24.
While most fans know the story by heart, the film’s journey from idea to holiday staple is filled with surprising details.
How ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Almost Looked Very Different
At the center of the movie is George Bailey, played by Stewart, but he wasn’t the only actor considered, according to For Women First. Both Henry Fonda and Cary Grant were in the running for the role before Stewart was cast. Looking back, it’s hard to imagine anyone else delivering George’s emotional breakdown on the bridge or his joyful run through Bedford Falls.
The same goes for Mary Bailey. While Reed is now considered perfect for the role, director Frank Capra originally wanted Jean Arthur, who had worked with Stewart before. Arthur stepped away from acting at the time, leading Capra to consider Olivia de Havilland, Ginger Rogers, and others before “borrowing” Reed from her studio contract.
Even the villainous Mr. Potter nearly had a different face. Actors including Vincent Price and Raymond Massey were discussed before Capra settled on Lionel Barrymore, whose performance became one of the most recognizable antagonists in film history.
The film itself was inspired by “A Christmas Carol” and began as a short story called “The Greatest Gift,” written by Philip Van Doren Stern and sent out as a Christmas card in 1943, according to “It’s a Wonderful Life Book.” The story eventually reached RKO Radio Pictures, which bought the rights for $10,000. Capra later purchased the property from the studio and reshaped it into the film audiences know today.
Despite its snowy setting, “It’s a Wonderful Life” was filmed during the summer, which explains why Stewart can be seen sweating in several scenes even as snow falls around him.
Why the Film Became a Christmas Classic Over Time
Believe it or not, “It’s a Wonderful Life” wasn’t a success when it first came out. It lost money at the box office and even caught the attention of the FBI, which criticized the film over concerns about its themes.
Everything changed decades later when the movie slipped into the public domain in 1974. That allowed TV networks to air it without paying for the rights, and it quickly became a holiday staple, showing up over and over again throughout the Christmas season.
Film historian Jeanine Basinger explained why the story has endured. “In the end, when George is made to realize that his life meant something very important to a great many people, it’s brought home to him,” she said. “This is something that doesn’t go away.”
Basinger also said the movie played a major role in shaping both stars’ careers. “This movie made an icon of Donna Reed,” she explained, adding that while the film is central to James Stewart’s legacy, it’s just one part of a much larger body of work.
Years later, NBC regained exclusive broadcast rights by acquiring the copyright to the original story, “The Greatest Gift,” which brought an end to the days when the film aired nonstop during the holidays. Even so, the heart of the movie hasn’t changed, best captured by Clarence’s famous line: “No man is a failure who has friends.”
