50 years ago: It’s a Wonderful Life, the perennial Christmas classic, released

It’s a Wonderful Life Released: December 20, 1946 Studio: RKO Genre: Christmas fantasy/drama/romance Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 3.30 Worldwide: ? Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: 147.30 Worldwide: ?

Directing: Frank Capra Screenwriting: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Henry Travers Review: “An uplifting magical film, worth all of the praise it’s received.” VD “Only Capra and this cast could pull it off so well; this film seems to improve with age. ” LM The film – initially a flop – owes its current status as a “beloved holiday classic” MSN to a clerical error at the copyright office. The film was mistakenly moved into the public domain in 1974 which meant local TV stations could play the movie without paying royalties. MSN The film was based on “The Greatest Gift,” a short story by Philip an Doren Stern which was originally written as a Christmas card. LM It “contains at least one true celluloid miracle: James Stewart’s engrossing performance as George Bailey, one of Hollywood’s most honorable, memorable and troubled American dreamers.” TV He plays “an average man in an average town who feels his life is worthless and decides to jump off a bridge.” VD “His crusty-but-lovable guardian angel Clarence (Travers), who is desperately trying to earn his wings, shows up to give him a tour of his town without his presence.” FS George learns “just how important he is to all the people around him” VD and “that wealth is measured in love and friendship.” FS “Moral courage, small-town American life, civic cooperation, and family love are glorified while corporate greed and selfishness are condemned.” FS “It’s a film designed to grab your cockles and warm them till they smoulder,” T95 climaxing in “an idyllic Christmas card finale.” FS Sources: FS Filmsite.org “100 Greatest Films” LM Leonard Maltin “100 Must-See Films of the 20th Century” MSN MSN Entertainment (7/19/2018). “100 Best Movies” by Shahnaz Mahmud T95 Time Out (1995). “Centenary Top One Hundred Films” TV TV Guide (August 8-14, 1998 issue). “50 Greatest Movies on TV and Video” VD Video Detective (1997). “Top 100 Films of All Time”

Awards/Honors/Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Genre Lists: Awards: Oscars: Wins: 0 Nominations: 5: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Stewart), Best Film Editing, Best Sound Other Lists/Honors: Critics’ Picks: Roger Ebert Leonard Maltin First posted 8/20/2019; last updated 6/3/2023.

50 years ago: The Best Years of Our Lives released

The Best Years of Our Lives Released: November 21, 1946 Studio: RKO Genre: war/romance drama Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 23.65 Worldwide: ? Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: 539.60 Worldwide: 803.50

Directing: William Wyler Screenwriting: Robert E. Sherwood Starring: Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Harold Russell, Teresa Wright, Virginia Mayo, Cathy O’Donnell Review: This was the kind of story “Hollywood typically avoided.” MSN In this “landmark, classic drama,” FS “Robert Sherwood’s script from MacKinlay Kantor’s book perfectly captured mood of postwar U.S.; still powerful today.” LM Three World War II veterans return home to their small town and “face a number of emotional conflicts, and try to put their lives back together,” VD “attempting readjustment to peacetime life and discovering that they have fallen behind.” FS The three servicemen “from different strata of society” AFI’98 are “an Army Sergeant (March) who turns to drinking, an Air Force major (Andrews) who is rejected by his wife (Mayo), and a seaman who has lost both arms (Russell) and agonizes over his relationship with his girlfriend (O’Donnell).” FS It “was the right film at the right time – mirroring the experiences of so many soldiers adjusting to a new life.” A07 In his first picture, “Harold Russell, a non-actor and war veteran who was an actual amputee,” FS was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. The Academy didn’t think he’d win, but wanted to give him an honorary Oscar for “bringing hope and courage to other veterans.” LM He ended up winning, which made him the only actor to win two Oscars for the same role. MSN Sources: FS Filmsite.org “100 Greatest Films” LM Leonard Maltin “100 Must-See Films of the 20th Century” MSN MSN Entertainment (7/19/2018). “100 Best Movies” by Shahnaz Mahmud VD Video Detective (1997). “Top 100 Films of All Time”

Awards/Honors/Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Lists: Box Office: Awards: Oscars: Wins: 7, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Fredric March), Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Harold Russell), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Musical Score, Best Film Editing. A Special Academy Award for Russell for bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans through his appearance in the film. Nominations: 8, including Best Sound Mixing Other Lists/Honors: Critics’ Picks: Francis Ford Coppola Leonard Maltin First posted 1/8/2020; last updated 5/30/2023.