It's a Wonderful Life (Clam) Reviews

• GREAT FILM...RIPOFF REISSUE

  
  By A3DEDZFGSOG6PO on 2006-10-04
  Buyers beware....This supposedly "new" 60th Anniversary Edition of "It's a Wonderful Life" is THE EXACT SAME DISC AS THE PREVIOUSLY RELEASED VERSION FROM REPUBLIC PICTURES / ARTISAN!!!! The only differencne is that the new version is from the Scrooges at Paramount DVD and they've added new cover art (whoop-de-doo).
  
  In addition, the "new" disc has the same bonus features and the same B&W transfer as the older edition. Paramount desperately needs to GIVE THIS FILM A REAL SPECIAL EDITON and stop suckering consumers into buying a product they already own!!!!!
  
  By the way, there is NO COLORIZED VERSION on the 60th Anniversary DVD or the older release. Amazon has mistakenly listed this title as "color" and misled several reviewers to say that there actually was a colorized print on the disc. THIS IS WRONG!
  
  

• Why is this the BEST release of "It's A Wonderful Life" in DVD history?

  
  By A35UNON2GI8C0R on 2006-11-05
  Rather than review the content of this almost universally beloved film, I'm just going to comment about the quality of the 2006 60th Anniversary Edition DVD itself. I've since written an updated review about the new 2007 edition of this title, now available in a "Two-Disc Collector's Set." Please look at both editions to decide which you prefer.
  
  I've owned nearly every version of this title in almost every format available on home video during the past 25 years. It's true that the CONTENT of this Viacom/Paramount DVD -- including its special features -- is identical to the Republic Pictures Home Video release more than 10 years ago.
  
  However, this 60th Anniversary edition is spectacular for several different and extremely important reasons. (I'll address the criticisms some people have leveled about the sound on this 2006 DVD in a little bit, so stick with me.)
  
  You don't have to be a technical expert to immediately notice the striking improvement of the picture AND sound in this 2006 edition. The print is crystal-clear and in my view, has more vividness and sharpness than ALL other previous releases of this title on home video.
  
  Proof? I put my "old" THX-version DVD issued by Republic Pictures / Artisan Home Video (the former DVD gold standard for this title) -- into my Sony multi-changer DVD player -- and watched and listened to every frame of this film AND its special features. I stopped and started this "older" DVD in several spots -- and stopped and started the new 2006 Paramount edition repeatedly -- so I could compare quality almost "side-by-side."
  
  Hands down -- this 2006 version is fabulous. The spots and dirt have been wiped clean, the sharpness and contrast are arguably better than what film audiences saw 60 years ago. There are no ragged spots, no jumped frames and no lint, fiber or hair fragments along the edges or jumping across the screen. I believe the technicians at Paramount (which acquired Republic Pictures Home Video) -- digitally cleaned EVERY frame of the last DVD release -- so that the film now looks like a million dollars. It's almost too pristine, if there is such a thing. No jump cuts, no "jump ahead" sound breaks, no fogged-out scenes, nothing ragged -- with the result being the cleanest and purest version of "It's A Wonderful Life" ever issued in home video history.
  
  It gets better. English subtitles were available on older DVD versions of this title, but the 2006 version has a cleaner typeface, wiping out some of the confusing and unnecessary attributions of "who's saying what" that were disruptive to some hearing-impaired viewers. In this 2006 version, you'll get a mostly straight, line-by-line reading of what's being said -- as it's being said.
  
  Meanwhile, the DVD's special features -- which include the same pair of documentaries produced in 1990 and 1991 -- are identical in that they were shot on video tape hence there isn't much improvement in picture quality. However, subtitles that WERE NOT available for these special features -- are NOW available in this 2006 edition. The only "extra" to the previous "gold standard" that remains unchanged -- is the original 1946 trailer. Subtitles are not available and it has the same raggedness and dirt commonly seen with vintage trailers stored separately from the films they used to advertise.
  
  I'm highly critical of re-issued DVDs that seem nothing more than an excuse to squeeze more dollars out of buyers for the same material with new packaging. But this 2006 Paramount DVD version of "It's A Wonderful Life" is the best to date. It is NOT in color. (I own a colorized version for younger people who can't stand black-and-white. Despite controversy surrounding colorization, know that the 2007 "Two-Disc Collector's Set" has the same 2006 60th Anniversary black-and-white edition you see here -- plus a new "colorized" version. This version uses the same pristine print -- but has the added bonus of boasting the best "color" hues ever seen for this film, using the latest image technology available. Despite my preference for black-and-white, the quality of this new colorized version is impressive.)
  
  Meanwhile, let's address the criticisms about the sound on this new DVD. Go back a little bit. Much was made when Republic Pictures Home Video got the THX LucasFilm sound system seal of approval for "It's A Wonderful Life" during the 1990s. But it was still two-channel mono with negligible equalization of sound effects. In this 2006 DVD, you'll get consistent two-channel mono and decent sound equalization to minimize "booming" and over-modulated portions in the film. In the old versions, you had to turn down the volume a notch during the musical portions -- and turn it back up when the dialogue came back. It's a nit-pick, but you really notice the difference if you're crazy enough to do a side-by-side comparison like I did.
  
  As for the digital sound "pops" that perfectionists keep bringing up -- they're right. They're even in the spots noted by another fine reviewer who listed time codes where you can find them. But in my view, unless you brace yourselves for them to arrive like a booming train -- unless you purposely crank up your speakers to carry sound throughout your house -- yeah, you "might" be annoyed if you demand the same perfection for a film made in 1946 as you would for a film made in 2006. Honestly, the disproportionate attention given to these digital "pops" is, in my view, giving fence-sitters the impression that they're supersonic cracks of lightning that will make people jump out of their seats. I didn't twitch at all. They almost "blended" into the 60-year-old soundtrack. Yes, I know they're digital defects, but do you remember the zillion "pops" scattered throughout dirty prints of "It's A Wonderful Life" with filthy optical soundtracks? The audio on this 2006 DVD still wins. You have EVERY RIGHT to demand perfection for your dollars. But as a person who's more fastidious than average -- I don't believe most buyers will care about a few "pops" in a film that's this old. Combine the overall improvements with the relatively low cost of this DVD -- and I still say this is the BEST experience of "It's A Wonderful Life" I've ever SEEN and HEARD on home video.
  
  Finally, another reason to buy this DVD. It's old news to some, but it's not widely known that this version of "It's A Wonderful Life" can only be broadcast by NBC. It used to air a zillion times during the holidays on every TV station on earth. It was a quick way to get tired of even a super film you think you know by heart. But Viacom/Paramount now owns this version of "It's A Wonderful Life" outright and NBC has exclusive licensing rights to air it just ONCE each year. This is a good thing for future generations to appreciate.
  
  So junk the old, buy this version and be happy. It may feel painful, but it's worth it. And no, I DON'T work for Amazon OR for Paramount Home Video.
  
  

• Capra's and Stewart's Personal Bests

  
  By A3TZB9SXJCFMFJ on 2000-12-27
  A beautifully crafted film that proved to be the apex of triple Oscar-winner (1934, 1936, 1938) Frank Capra's distinguished career, and the epitome of his cycle of works celebrating the "common man". Mr. Deeds found himself suddenly wealthy, Mr. Smith went to Washington as a Senator, and John Doe became the focus of a socio-political movement; but "Life"'s George Bailey never distinguishes himself outside of his small hometown of Bedford Falls --- his brother Harry is the one who becomes a war hero, and his friend Sam Wainwright is the one who achieves financial success. George's triumph is simply his personal integrity, his code of ethics, and his strength of character --- his goodness, if you will --- during the unexciting course of his ordinary, mundane existence. In this respect, George is more an Everyman than any other Capra protagonist, inviting strong audience identification and response.

  In one of the most exquisite performances ever given in an American film, James Stewart is superb as George. It's not an easy role to play because so much screen time is spent focusing on George's subtle reactions to the world around him. One incredible moment comes at the train station when George slowly begins to absorb the news of his brother's recent marriage and new career opportunity, and how his brother's fortune will destroy his own hopes of leaving Bedford Falls and the family business. Stewart's face is extraordinary in this scene, as surprised realization fades into quiet disappointment and finally, gentle graciousness and acceptance. Stewart's tour de force is given strong support by a superb cast of Capra stalwarts, including Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, H. B. Warner, and the phenomenal Beulah Bondi (as George's mother). And Donna Reed, in one of her first romantic leading roles after a number of years playing supporting ingenues and bits, is excellent in the warm but unglamorous role of George's loving wife, Mary.

  The Republic Home Video DVD is definitely the edition of this classic to own. Like the LaserDisc before it, the DVD offers a crystal clear, beautifully restored film-to-video transfer which will amaze and delight anyone who is familiar only with the horrible multi-generational VHS cassettes, or the awful colorized version, that were commonly screened back in the late 1970's and 1980's. There are some nice bonus features on the DVD, including a "making of" documentary and the theatrical trailer. This is one DVD that you'll never regret adding to your home theatre collection!

  Trivia note: If you're a fan of this movie, try finding a copy of film historian David Thomson's 1985 novel "Suspects" which continues George's story and relates the characters from this movie to many others (did you know that Donna Reed's "Mary Bailey" is actually the sister of Gene Tierney's "Laura"?!, etc.) ... great fun!
  
  

• A Soul's Journey

  
  By A1N2L9A6I686G5 on 2005-11-21
  I've loved to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" for as long as I can remember - and, no matter how many times I've seen it, it always leaves me pondering my own life - wondering what I've contributed to this world & to my loved ones just by the simple fact that I am "here"...
  
  This is one of those movies that tugs at your soul and, as such, it's one to be watched any time of the year - you don't have to wait for the holiday season to watch this one! In fact, I think it's an awesome movie to watch anytime you're feeling down & depressed - as it reminds us that no matter how bad it gets, our lives do have meaning - that other people DO benefit from our being alive...
  
  "It's a Wonderful Life" is about the life of George Bailey (played by James Stewart) - a man who grew up in a small town where everyone knows everyone. It takes place on Christmas Eve when, due to his thwarted dreams & a looming scandal, he decides that the only "way out" is to commit suicide...
  
  However, his suicide attempt fails due to some help from an angel (played by Henry Travers) - a very "human" angel who's trying to "earn his wings". This "angel" decides that the best way to show George that his life DOES have meaning is to show him what life in Bedford Falls (his small town) would have been like if he was never born. He's taken to the homes of all the people whose lives he touched, and shown where they'd be now if there had never been a "George Bailey".
  
  Through this experience, George finally realizes the amazing, positive impact he really had on these people, and on this town. At this point, he decides to "choose life" - it's a beautiful moment!!!
  
  Overall, this is a wonderful, touching, important movie. As I said before, it leads one to ponder the difference they've made in the lives of their loved ones - and even the lives of "strangers". Because of this, I would highly recommend this movie to everyone - especially those who may need a reminder now & again that their life truly does have meaning - that they really do make a difference...
  
  

• Looks promising Wonderful Life.

  
  By A36AH31X84FIC8 on 2007-09-08
  This is a wonderful story about a man who has big plans but settles for the simple quiet life as he marries and has a couple of kids. but when a big problem arises in his life and he feels there is no way out. He thinks the unthinkable to end it all, only to be saved by an angel and his friends and family. he then realizes he has a wonderful life and true happiness is with family, i just love this film. It's got a good story, the kind of story you don't find nowadays. long live Jimmy Stewart he's the man. i'm sure this will a be great edition of the film. it looks as if it contains both B&W, Color Versions of the film that are in the set to be released, i've already preordered a copy for myself and hope this is the last reissue. because there have been tons of other copies made by various companies, i say if it's not broke don't fix it that's my opinion anyway. Paramount had already released the 60th edition last year so let's hope this is a perfect edition of this classic film, that keeps on selling for years to come . I always get a tear in my eye at the end i must confess it's a tender part.
  
  All in All Like The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade this film is one that warms my heart and soul around christmas time in the arms of love ones and friends. This Film is an American Institution to me, It's a classic, pure and simple everybody should own a copy.
  
  Highly Recommended Film.
  
  Update: I just watch this DVD and let me tell you, that it's a wonderful package both Black and White and Color Versions Are Excellent and remastered very well for total clarity of picture and sound. the color version is just unbelievable, i couldn't believe my eyes it's was better than the Republic version released in 89. and wasn't pasty looking, the colors looked natural like they belonged there. i do have agree with most of the reviewers stating that the trailer for the queen's film, should've not been on this disc. i agree it was totally out of place to be on this DVD of such class. but that's only a small problem, just fast forward it and enjoy the movie. curious though the color version does not have a trailer on it thank goodness. what great buy this is, if you don't already own this film or just want an upgrade this for you . i love this edition personally because it gives you a choice of which version of the film, you want to watch on any given day.
  
  
• All time Capra classic..perhaps his most viewed
  By A3CSRP3P4U9HI on 2000-07-11
  "It's a Wonderful Life," starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, did OK, but not super, at the box office in 1947. Perhaps it was too sentimental. Nevertheless, this movie has, in the meantime, become one of the most widely known, most watched and beloved of director-genius Capra's films.

  The premis of the story (just in case you've been off planet for the past 53 years) is this... What would life be like if someone had never been born? What effect does one seemingly insignificant life have on the lives of others that a person brushes against during their life? Well, in this movie George Bailey (played by Stewart) gets the chance to see just that. An apprentice angel arranges the whole thing.

  I am amazed each time I watch this film to see how small acts and interactions have major effects in the lives of others -- family members, et al.

  The Christmas-time setting of this film has certainly contributed to much of its success and appeal. That, the hometown feel of the setting, the next-door neighborly nature of the characters, the story itself, and stars like Stewart, Reed, and others, make this film a timeless classic.

  Is this film sentimental? Certainly! Is it watchable? Definitely! Should you own it? Absolutely.

  5 stars, only because that's the highest rating possible.

  Buy this video!

  On a side note...you may be interested to know that biologist Stephen Jay Gould wrote a book titled "Wonderful Life" (taken from the title of this film) in which he pulls on a premis similar to the one in this movie -- the theme is contingency and the evolution of life. It's a "what-if" question. What if, for example, one of a group of animal's ancestors had turned right instead of left and was killed and left no offspring, then what? It's an interesting read about life of the Burgess Shale (Cambrian animal fauna). If it sounds interesting, give it a look, it's quite readable.

  Alan Holyoak
  
  

• BEWARE!! NOT COLORIZED!!!!
  By A2EHNH3TPG8DV5 on 2006-11-01
  I just received a copy of It's A Wonderful Life 60th anniversary edition & I'm very disapointed! I sent Amazon a e-mail asking if the movie was in color because their dvd format say's (In color) & I didn't want the movie if it was in B&W beacuse I already had it. I received a e-mail back from Amazon & they assured me that it was a colorized version of the movie. Well, I got my DVD today & on the back of the DVD it say's B & W. This is the same movie that was released a couple of years ago. It has the same stuff on it as the last movie they released. (The making of it's a wonderful life & A tribute to Frank Capra). There is nothing different about the movie. Paramount just wants to make more money. That's all it amounts to. So, all of the questions in these reviews are answered.
  THIS MOVIE IS BLACK & WHITE- NOT COLOR!!!!!!! If you already own this movie don't buy it! You will just be getting a copy of the movie you already own & they wont refund your S & H, because the movie isn't defective. Amazon needs to watch what they are doing. They need to start putting the right DVD format on things. This is the second time I've got taken by Amazon saying the DVD format is color.
  
  
• 4 LARGE AUDIO POPS BRING THIS VERSION DOWN A STAR
  By A36ER94271DHJZ on 2006-11-12
  First, the good news; yes, the newest edition of this Yule tide classic has been given an amazing restoration, and nicely blows the socks off of the older Republic DVD.
  
  I've never seen this, or pretty much any picture for that matter, look so crisp and clean, with no dust specs, scratches or artefacts to be had at all.
  
  But, unfortunately, the amazing picture quality comes with a rather annoying price, as there are 4 very loud audio pops, to be heard coming from the left hand speaker, through out the picture at the:
  
  1. 7 minutes and 43 second mark
  2. 57 minute and 9 second mark
  3. 1 hour, 24 minutes and 46 second mark
  4. 1 hour, 31 minutes and 43 second mark
  
  NOTE: (This may very a second or two either way, depending on the accuracy of your DVD player's counter, and also may not be as noticeable when played through your TV speakers alone, as I was listening to the sound through a 2 channel stereo speaker set up)
  
  I tried another copy but it too had the audio pops, so it's the DVD master and not just a bad disc.
  
  I also checked out the same spot on the old Republic DVD where the first audio pop occurs, but there's no audio pop or problem of any kind in, or around, that area.
  
  I've made an attempt to contact Paramount through the web site posted on the back of the new DVD's cover, but was unable to get the, "Contact Us" link to do anything.
  
  I'd like to find out if this is going to be fixed, or if we're stuck with it as is (as most DVD glitches, when enough people hound the studio about it, get fixed eventually, but in most cases, nothing is mentioned to the general public, and it's only by bugging them yourself, do you find this out).
  
  Case in point, the Back To The Future DVD set.
  
  In the original first run for the widescreen discs, the second and third movie was matted wrong, thus cutting off too much of the bottom of the picture and leaving too much of the top part of the picture visible.
  
  At first the studio wasn't going to fix the problem, but after enough noise was made, the studio relented and made replacement discs, but the catch was that no official notice was given, and unless you contacted them, then you never got the replacement discs.
  
  Let's just hope that this problem is fixed the, "It's A Wonderful Life" DVD, as this movie deserves it.
  
  
• It is not colorized after all....
  By A2PHP5109AVWMD on 2006-10-03
  As additional information about this release became available after I wrote my initial review, I have decided to go back and revise my comments as follows: the DVD is in B&W after all. And that's as it SHOULD be. Those complaining that the movie on this disc was not colorized probably prefer full-frame DVDs over properly letterboxed ones too. So, just so we're all clear here: this 'new' DVD is basically the same as the 'old' DVD. It has new color cover art which is very misleading, and for that reason I will retain my one-star rating. The film itself, of course, gets five stars.
  
  
• It's a Wonderful Life
  By A1OGPR0AKZ4K7D on 2008-04-03
  This is one of the most beloved movies in film history. It is very uplifting, and while can be viewed at anytime for a boost, it always has been part of my family's Christmas Eve tradition. While the colorized version is okay, I prefer the original black and white. The quality appears to be much better, and maybe that has something to do with traditional expectations also. I always wonder when they make a movie like this, if they realize it is something special, and how important it will be.
  
  
  
• Can't Beat It...
  By A37ZSHZK2TF445 on 1999-12-07
  This film is a classic, no doubt, and my ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE ever.

  As for the DVD version, doesn't get any better than this. The movie quality itself if better than any of my VHS Tape versions by a long shot, the addtional information about the film, actors, etc. is AWESOME!

  I love the movie and now I have a verison of it that brings it all back to me.
  
  

• DVD earns its wings
  By A39JOVXA82AO5D on 2000-01-01
  I'm sure you know the story, so I'll just talk about the DVD. Overall, the quality is an order of magnitude better than what you see on TV. I actually did an A-B comparison with a live broadcast (flipping back and forth every few seconds). The DVD is much brighter and sharper giving a more 3 dimensional image. There are a few spots where the digital processing added some artifacts in the form of a few white specks, but all in all its well done. you also get the original trailer ( no wonder it was not a big hit - the trailer totally missed the real story line) and 2 features talking about the making of & history of the movie.
  
  
• "I'm glad I know you, George Bailey."
  By A3UPMTEUN93POJ on 2001-12-27
  This is one of my all-time film favorites. I'm in great company on this. Beyond those who love and write about it here, as cited in many tributes and documentaries, it's Director Capra's and actor James Stewart's favorite, as well. IaWL can be summed up by it's essence: it's uplifting message of the extramundane, friendship, and the hopeful worth of the individual. No other film that I've seen can touch and rekindle the warmth I feel by this film's conclusion.

  Frank Capra's classic easily transcends the decades since the 1940's and settles me as the viewer in the town of Bedford Falls, New York without complaint. It strengths as cinema...or as a piece of Americana...is its faceted and deeply layered approach to what seems like a simple story involving family, sacrifice, and despair. Nonetheless, It's A Wonderful Life's story, cast, and direction blend into something as beautiful and sentimental as snow falling on Christmas Eve--even to a native Southern Californian like myself.

  "You've been given a great gift, George. A chance to see what the world would be like without you." It's A Wonderful Life in a nutshell. Should you hate Christmas, or never watched it on television or videotape, and have never seen the 1946 film, it concerns the trials of one George Bailey. A Bedford Falls native whose boyhood dreams of travel and adventure are seemingly crushed by a life of familial obligations. He's lived in his own world of self-sacrifice toward his younger brother, father, and the small close-knit community around him. George is an imperfect, but extraordinary man with a rising, latent bitterness toward his situation.

  By the film's Christmas Eve reckoning, his final hopes come crashing down in potential financial ruin (through no fault of his own), leaving suicide as his idea for an solution to the predicament. Enter the guardian angel--second class--Clarence, who gives George a vivid look into the world as it might have been if he'd never been born. It is a story that draws us into a glancing, heavenly nightmare. George realizes the worth of his life and to those around him (painfully) and pleads to live again. And, climatically, Life (so to speak), realizes the worth of George Bailey, and rewards him.

  It is a storyline that touches, at times wrenchingly, life's inequities, what-if's, and moments of sheer joy. George's all too apparent desires and emotions lay familiar as they are pretty universal. I think that is the film's not so subtle secret. Additionally, Mr. Capra's film works, in retrospect, because a great script has a tailor-made cast for its roles. The quintessential everyman role of George Bailey is brought to life by the quintessential common man actor, James Stewart.

  Mr. Stewart's greatest gift has been his quality of the vernacular, his informal and but not simple manner. And many an actor has tried to achieve this in other movies, but it only a handful can bring it off (Jack Lemon would be another). As for George's love, Donna Reed brings old fashion warmth, grace, and strength to her part as Mary Hatch. The embodiment of the 'All-American Girl." Her Mary, though, is not without a sense of passion, romantic or otherwise. The perfect wife? Perhaps. For better or worse, she, and this role, laid the groundwork for this ideal for many generations with this portrayal.

  The remaining cast is equally perfect. Could anyone else have played the great villain of the town's richest man, Mr. Potter (Capra's key idea and addition to the script), other than Lionel Barrrymore? His role is part caricature to be sure, but it breathes! He has life, malevolently so. and all too real power and menace. Henry Travers as Clarence the Angel, stumbles amiably to the heartfelt rhythm of the film. We should all have a guardian who tries so hard. Uncle Billy, played by Thomas Mitchell, poignantly identifies with family, fears of growing old, and our compassion for an irascible relative. The rest of a mighty cast of great characater actors, Gloria Grahame, Ward Bond, Frank Faylen, etc..., go on to complete and bring life to a part of cinema history.

  Finally, but not lastly, Frank Capra's direction and production keeps a heartrending tale from veering to the maudlin. He does not linger on man's goodness or his failings, or on life's ups or downs. But, he does give hope and enlightenment. Capra bestows a magical sense of Heaven (and a little Hell) here on Earth that lasts the duration of the film, and then some. The everyday and the otherworldly. The creation of Bedford Falls as a real place on film, inhabited by real people, is no small feat. His bringing together by whatever means of cast, crew, and script are indelibly etched in many a memory, and the highlight of a great career.

  For those who have seen it, who can forget the Charleston dance contest on the high school basketball floor so wonderfully and comically staged; the passionate kiss of George and Mary that comes at a point of romantic anguish and realization for George; or the crescendo and emotional impact that the final 12 minutes bring? After more than fifty years in release, and no matter how many times I see it, it still enthralls me. It is a superbly crafted film--though very Capraesque, I grant you. We're all better for it. Everything works: direction, cast, cinematography, editing, costumes, even corny singing. It seems to be about dreams that turn into nightmares, and nightmares that turn into blessings. George Bailey wins but also loses...and sacrifices, only to gain many fold. It's a Wonderful Life is a film that is greater than the sum of its parts--and again, we 're all better for it.

  This DVD has a great transfer of the original B&W film. The extras of a couple of documentaries and the original trailer are a nice addition.
  
  

• Most deservedly a classic; some reflections
  By on 2000-01-31
  Apparently, it was the well-known literati film critic Pauline Kael who once described It's a Wonderful Life as "doggerel masquerading as art." As a fairly keen film fan, I am sometimes grateful that there are critics who probe a little deeper and find questionable aspects in certain films that enjoy great popularity, especially in these days of the omnipresent Big Dumb Blockbuster Movie, but here I think she did Capra's classic a gross injustice. For those who are seeing it for the first time, as I finally did recently after missing it for years, IAWL is that true delight, a bona fide classic that, for most people, is actually capable of living up to its reputation. For from a purely cinematic and storytelling point of view, too, IAWL remains a most impressive achievement, and this surely has contributed much towards its lasting and universal appeal.

  The film is so well-known that any further comment on it may seem superfluous, but one of the main reasons why I find IAWL ultimately so successful is that unlike, say, Roberto Benigni's recent (and similarly titled and oriented) Life is Beautiful - to my mind, much overrated - IAWL's highly stylized story, beyond its own very obvious fantasy premise, always remains a relatively plausible one. Good, on closer examination it may still seem just a little improbable and contrived, and, for some tastes, perhaps a bit too sentimental at times, but that's not so critical here. For me, Benigni's film loses much of its impact because Benigni stretched credibility way too far in adapting and softening up its holocaust setting to meet the needs of his story. True, fans of Benigni's film argue that it was only meant as a fable anyway, and that is a valid point, but unfortunately the holocaust itself was no fable, and that leaves me seriously questioning the honesty and credibility of the film's message as indicated by its title. Capra's classic fable does not make such a mistake. Instead, it depicts the central protagonist, George Bailey, as a believable, sympathetic character in small-town America who has to suffer constant disappointment and loss throughout his life. His desire to end his life at the film's climax seems quite understandable: it seems that he has lost just about everything.

  From a storytelling point of view, the whole buildup to this climax, the depiction of George's life story, can be seen as a spectacular piece of risk-taking on Capra's part, since it is so long and drawn-out. The first half of the film can seem slow, but it is precisely the extreme length of this buildup, and the level of detail of George's life that it depicts, that makes the ultimate resolution of the story so unexpectedly powerful. For the still uninitiated, this means: stay with it. For by the time Clarence the angel finally appears, the viewer is intimately familiar with George's dilemma and can identify with it accordingly. George seems to have had a dull and uninspiring life, has never fulfilled his former dreams and ambitions, and now has a financial crisis on his hands, at Christmas of all times. And just when he's at his most down, he's been further humiliated by his arch-rival, the Scrooge-like Potter, socked on the jaw by his daughter's schoolteacher's husband, and, in his drunkenness, has rammed his car into a tree. Most perceptive; life can be just like that, sometimes the misfortunes pile up just when there's enough of them already. After indulging in often overt sentimentality earlier in the film, Capra depicts this ultimate crisis in George's life in a surprisingly chilling and dark fashion, adding still further to the overall impact. Anyone who thinks that the actors weren't really challenged by their material should reconsider in view of this part of the film - for example, the way James Stewart plays George's climactic breakdown in front of his family, and his later despair in the bar, is truly masterful. Stewart was a genuinely great actor.

  The genius of the film is then how Clarence (the most unlikely angel imaginable) is still able to turn George's (and the viewer's) perspective around, despite such a long, dark setup. Here, too, the alternative Bedford Falls "time line" (Pottersville) is both chilling and sure in its logic. Hence, when George finally realizes what would have become of his family, friends and acquaintances, and even his town had he never been, the effect is for both him and the viewer an unexpected and thrilling revelation. When he finally beams with joy at the end, both he and the viewer are appreciating his true riches in an entirely new light. Again, credit is especially due to James Stewart for portraying this so convincingly.

  Capra once said that he made this film not for critics, but for those he most admired. So, one might claim that IAWL is, like Benigni's Life is Beautiful, "not a film for the jaded," and yet its great strength is that it can, in fact, also speak so well to some of us who might otherwise be potentially skeptical about its message and make us think a little differently about things. (For me, as far as this aspect of the film is concerned, it wins over Benigni's film hands down.) As for the film's little unspoken messages ("you can only take with you what you've given away" and Clarence's final message to George that "you're never a failure if you have friends"): they speak for themselves.

  Incidentally, to a reader from Wakefield, MA, December 25, 1999: don't get the wrong idea about critic Leonard Maltin's comment about the film seeming to improve with age, he wasn't "incredulous" about that all. In fact, IAWL gets his maximum rating of four stars in his Movie and Video Guide (I wish Amazon would include his ratings in their listings), and of the 1970s TV remake, It Happened One Christmas, he says "[it] only shows how wonderful the Frank Capra original was - and is."
  
  

• What a great message
  By on 1999-11-16
  I met Jimmy Stewart several years ago (God rest his beautiful soul) at a private club in Princeton, NJ -- the home of our alma mater, Princeton University. I had arrived at a private club in Princeton that I had just joined as its first Afican-American member and, hence, was very nervous. Mr. Stewart, along-time club member, suprised me while I was getting my meal and joined me for dinner. The club had given him my file and he knew a lot about me in order to make me feel at home. We talked about his life in the Army and in Hollywood and specifically about when he was filming this movie. He told me that when he was filming the now-famous scene in the bar, he felt so much for George Bailey that he began crying without any prompting from Frank Capra ! I heard this and began to cry myself. Each year afterwards, Mr. Stewart would come by my Reunion class tent (or I would go by his) and he would recognize me and say hi. Needless to say, I miss him and what he stands for. My wife and I are now expecting our first baby and I have some hard job decisions to make: go back into private law practice and make a lot of money (but never see my family) or stay in government. This movie helps make that decision easier but my tears will still flow ! :)
  
  
• Wonderful, Indeed
  By A11PTCZ2FM2547 on 2002-11-19
  I didn't discover this jewel until I caught it on cable television in the 1980's. Now I own a copy, and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is watched faithfully each Holiday Season--often several times.

  Frank Capra's endearing classic is the ultimate feel-good movie, like a sip of hot chocolate to warm the throat following a festive night under the stars looking at lights. All of us readily identify with George Bailey, a common man with big dreams and grand expectations. But when George's life consistently fails to meet his expectations, he becomes more disillusioned, disappointed. If only he could have traveled the world, designed and built the skyscrapers and bridges he talked about as a boy, his life would be meaningful.

  And then George faces the ultimate conflict: possible bankruptcy, scandal, and imprisonment. He contemplates what, quite frankly, many of us would contemplate at such a time--suicide. Instead, he is given the ultimate gift: a chance to see what life would be like had he never been born. What he sees is bleak, even hopeless, and suddenly George realizes: his life has been meaningful, all along. And the majestic magnitude of his life is manifested during the film's final scene, when George's family and friends embrace him and rush to his aid.

  James Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore lead an exceptional cast in this wondrous film. Released in 1947, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is a timeless classic that will be just as entertaining in 2047 and all the years to follow.

  "To George Bailey, the richest man in Bedford Falls!"
  
  

• Beautiful Picture/Sound Pops Need To Be Fixed!!
  By AIIG6XUI1LM3X on 2006-11-27
  Paramount has done a great job remastering this beloved classic. However, the audio pops that other customers have noticed have got to be fixed! They are very loud and they take you out of the film because they sound "digital" and not part of the original soundtrack. It wouldn't take Paramount much time nor money to fix these problems. And it should be done because 1. This is one of the most loved films ever made and 2. Customers are tired of repurchasing this title every few years because each one has a major flaw.
  
  
• A Worthwhile DVD
  By A2GDQB3X9KF47G on 1999-11-28
  It is interesting to see the number of reviews lauding or criticizing this film -- do any of you think that people thinking about purchasing this DVD (or even the VHS version) have NOT seen the movie? Well, for those wondering whether it is worth buying the DVD for this classic movie, I would say yes.

  The film quality seems surprisingly good for an older film and quite noticably better than the VHS version. The documentary and tribute are both worthwhile and enjoyable additions to the DVD (although portions include repetitious information.)

  If you're having second thoughts about buying it, just watch it one more time and you'll remember why this movie needs to be a part of your collection.
  
  

• There are none better!
  By A156P4FPL8OGXB on 2001-01-02
  That's right. Hands down this is the best film of all time. Sure it's sentimental, but I guarantee that even a cursory watching of this film will move you.

  Life doesn't seem worth living for George Bailey. His Savings and Loan is threatened, Harry Potter has called the police on him, and he is ready to jump from Bedford Falls' nearest high bridge...until Clarence intervenes.

  Through Clarence, ASC (Angel Second Class - an angel without his wings), George receives a wonderful gift - the chance to see what life would be like if he had never been born.

  Bedford Falls is named Pottersville. There is no Bailey Savings and Loan. George's brother is dead. Mr. Gower, the pharmacist, is a bum.

  Says Clarence, "Each man's life touches so many other lives. If he wasn't around it would leave an awful hole."

  Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed are unforgettable. It's a film that has everything - romance, humor, failure, and success.

  If you've never seen nor heard of this delightful movie you're missing out. Rent or buy it today!
  
  

• The 1995 DVD release's picture quality is the same as this one
  By AX1GBTMVX4F8M on 2006-11-10
  I own both and the 1995 DVD's picture & sound quality are the same. They just repacked the movie with 60th anniversary banner. There is no difference. So if you don't have the 1995 DVD release this is a good item for you because they did a good job in 1995 and saved themselves money not having to retouch it up in 2006!
  
  
• Easy Paramount contact info
  By A1KGEX9VH4IXC7 on 2006-11-13
  I have the Republic version and haven't yet decided on the Paramount release. If there is a problem, their contact info is public knowledge as when we had to complain about the lack of laugh-tracks on the Andy Griffith Show/4th Season set. Contact Paramount at:
  
  Paramount Pictures Home Video
  Bluhdorn 308A
  5555 Melrose Avenue
  Hollywood, CA 90038
  (323) 956-5000 (ask for Home Entertainment)
  
  Might be easier to call first. Of course, like the previous DVD problems with the Andy Griffith show and others, they will automatically say they aren't aware of any problem and have had no other complaints. This is typical.
  
  
• It' s a Wonderful Life
  By A3C5S6VA1G22B7 on 1999-12-13
  poorly encoded and audio was out of sink with the video.......We bought the dvd version from amazon. we have watched it every year on vhs and was so looking forward to the dvd. we am very disappointed ..........in the quality of this movie on dvd.
  
  
• original aspect ratio
  By on 2003-10-18
  To the reviewer below who asked why they don't release a widescreen version, the answer is that they didn't start making movies with "widescreen" aspect ratios (1.85:1 or 2.35:1, usually) until the 1950s, to compete with television. Before that movies were made with the "Academy Standard" ratio of 1.33:1, which is the same proportions as non-widescreen TVs (although before the 1930s it was 1.37:1). What this means is that the DVD actually is showing you the original aspect ratio, as the director intended it to be seen.
  
  
• B&W, "RESTORED" & AT LEAST ONE SCENE FIXED!!!
  By A363MHR7F61OGO on 2006-11-02
  Ignore the "color" designation that Amazon refuses to fix; the movie itself is indeed in black and white as it should be. Moreover, it has been restored, or cleaned-up, call it what you will, an incredible improvement over the prior version I have (THX Artisan 2001). Further I went right to the scene where George and Clarence get thrown out of the bar, then I watched the old one just to make sure; the "jump", or bad splice, whatever the issue was, is not visible to this viewer anymore. Maybe they compressed it somewhat here, or some other computer trickery; regardless, it is now a smooth flowing movement!! One bad point, naturally Paramount HAD to contaminate this "Special Edition" with a preview of one of their other, completely unrelated movies- Shame on them!. Everthing else- feature-wise, appears the same. JUST FOR THE CLEAN VERSION OF THE MOVIE, IT IS WELL WORTH THE UPGRADE!!! BUY IT!!
  
  
• Long on charm, short on substance
  By on 1999-09-25
  Largely dismissed by critics and audiences alike at the time of its release, It's A Wonderful Life has found popularity primarily through sheer repetition. Various copyright battles kept the film from the public eye for several decades, at which point the film was deemed of no commercial value. The copyright was then allowed to lapse, putting It's A Wonderful Life into public domain and creating a situation in which any television station in the world can run the film without having to pay royalities to the owners. And play the film they did, over and over and over, to a point at which virtually every man, woman, and child in the English-speaking world has seen all or part of the movie.

  And make no mistake: it IS a likable movie. The story is charming, if rather contrived and excessively sentimental; Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, and the supporting cast are effortlessly appropriate; and director Capra handles his material with skill. But it is unlikely that this film would have ever received a place of honor were it not for the fact that it has more or less been played to death on every television station in the country.

  Generally speaking, good though the film may be, it simply doesn't compare well with the rest of Capra's work, which includes such knock-out critical and audience favorites as It Happened One Night, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Meet John Doe; it lacks any significant wit in script; and the cast is hardly challenged by the material.

  It's A Wonderful Life is enjoyable, yes, and makes for pleasing viewing around the holiday season. But if you've seen it one time too many, you may be happier with Meet Me In St. Louis, a holiday musical which can actually bear the repeated showings that It's A Wonderful Life can not.
  
  

• I love this thing, and I also hate it
  By A1BKMYEQ6BP5B5 on 2006-12-07
  Why hate this movie?
  
  Well, a lot of the values it trumpets are dated, to say the least. In Bedford Falls (the "good" universe) women and blacks are only around to work for the white men. We're not supposed to mind that a 12 year old is left unsupervised to watch a store, or that the adult George drives drunk, or that he lets Potter refer to his friends as "a bunch of garlic eaters," and we're supposed to think it's cute and funny that an 18 year old smacks the rear end of his adult (black and female) servant. And then there are some values that no one seems to latch on to. (You'd think all the people who love "Wonderful Life" would have noticed that the wedding was small and inexpensive and copied it. You don't hear about people doing that, though.)
  
  In the "bad" universe of Pottersville, blacks can be musicians and women can have careers. (And why does Mary never getting married lead to an almost unibrow?)
  
  But the themes that one life can be important, that the love of family is precious, that friends can BE family, get me every time.
  
  BTW, the French translation on the DVD is quite good, with the actors doing the dubbing working hard to sound like the characters and not just people reading.
  
  
• It's a Wonderful Litmus Test
  By A28GEIVP5KQMZU on 2006-12-21
  An annual self-assessment for this reviewer is to time myself on when I, more-sentimental-every-year fool that I am becoming, start blubbering. It used to be that I could last until the bell rang, but as more and more of those near and dear to me depart this earth, I realize more the value of those who remain. So then I started breaking down when the bushel basket of money came in, and this year, when George/Jimmy finds himself back on the Bridge, alive and himself. May we all live long enough to regress to the opening credits!
  
  I haven't owned an edition since VHS, so this special 60th Anniversary edition is indeed a refreshed "I can see clearly now" experience of Bedford Falls. And the added features are edifying. W.C. Fields was considered for the part of Uncle Billy? Miss Melanie a/k/a Olivia de Havilland as Mary Bailey? What a charmed confluence of coincidence, then, to create the Cosmic Kapra Karmaic cast! /TundraVision, Amazon Reviewer
  
  
  
• There they milk us again!!!
  By A5VI800QMKE8 on 2007-10-29
  One movie on which the studio will milk the fans the world over for as many times as they can! Alright, I held back buying the 60th Anniversary edition released last year thinking there will be a definite release of this gem. When this double-disc release was announced, I was very hopeful that at least now after countless releases, this will be the definitive edition of the film but man, they proved me wrong again. Rather than working on the new release, they just repackaged the 60th Anniversary edition alongwith another disc featuring the colorised version of the film. No new extras or commentaries here, so in case, just like me, if you were looking forward to own a definitive release of this wonderful film, looks like you may have to wait a little longer. Maybe for a few more years till the publishing house milks every drop from the fans.
  
  A billion stars for the film and no stars for this so called "2-disc collectors edition" and the studio releasing it.
  
  
• The last scene is one of the best in movies
  By on 1999-05-31
  For the entire movie, you think George Bailey's a nice guy. (Jimmy Stewart was really great in the role.) You feel sorry for him as he contemplates suicide, you hope seeing what the world would be like if he'd never lived will make him see that, as his angel says, $Q really had a wonderful life." But in the last scene, in which he begs the invisible angel to let him live again, you are suddenly pulled into the movie for the first time, and with force! You beg the angel to let him live, too. When he "becomes alive" again, and he runs through the town, that is one of the most joyous sequences I've ever seen in movies. I hardly ever cry watching movies, but I cried with joy watching that. This is a true example of just how wonderful life is, and the final scene will help anyone who is sad or going through depression see that very well. A truly great film.
  
  
• This movie will lift your spirits !!
  By on 1999-04-23
  I have seen hundreds of movies that move me, but "It's a Wonderful Life" has been my favorite as long as I can remember. Many people find it corny and old fashioned, I find it uplifting and as true in content today as the day it was made. No one could have portrayed the character of George Bailey like the unforgettable Jimmy Stewart....and Donna Reed and the entire cast.......Wow!! I think Frank Capra must have had a sixth sense when it came to knowing who would cast well with whom. I cannot count how many times I have viewed this movie, and every time I do it's as though it's the first time I have seen it. I am hard pressed to pick a favorite scene, but if I did I think it would be when the druggist, Mr. Gower, realizes that George did not deliver the capsules that contained poison, and hugs him. Without being asked, George tells him he will never tell a living soul......and does not. In closing, I would say there is probably not a person alive that could not benefit from the message in this movie. If you have not seen this film you are truly missing out.
  
  

• Miracle on 34th Street (Special Edition)
• A Christmas Story (Full-Screen Edition)
• A Christmas Carol (Ultimate Collector's Edition)(B/W & Color)
• Holiday Inn (Special Edition)
• Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (50th Birthday Deluxe Remastered Edition)