"It's a Wonderful Life" has always been one of my favourite Christmas movies, but your article showed me why it's still so timeless and relevant today. Thank you!
For a lighter touch, I did an irreverent mash-up of this classic movie for holiday fun. Merry Christmas!
How beautiful, and a poignant reminder that one life touches so many - and may we wake up to the reality of the NOW to see those around us, and treasure them deeply this holiday and always.
So you made me cry. "It's a Wonderful Life" is one of my favorite movies of all time. How you discussed it is all the reasons I love that movie.
I do have a bone to pick with you though. (It's sort of my thing when it comes to "A Christmas Carol") Comparing George Bailey and Emily to Scrooge. Scrooge cares about being good in the end because he sees how he will be thought of and his memory treated. It is not actually about other people. George and Emily are simply good because it is the right thing to do. George is good because he has integrity, and has no idea how he has touched people's lives for the better until Clarence shows him.
Thank you for sharing this. It's a fact that the story upon which "It's a Wonderful Life" was based was an interpretation of "A Christmas Carol." I'm not equating these characters with each other; I'm comparing the narratives of celestial being descending to earth to help transform the perspective of a human being in order to help them change their destiny. It is not true that Scrooge changes merely to be thought of well. That's not what Dickens wrote or wanted us to believe. Scrooge pledges to make up for his miserly past, to give generously to charity, to get Tiny Tim the medical help he needs, etc. He's terrified by the vision of a future in which his demise is regarded with indifference or celebration--but it was Dickens' intent in the writing of his story to bring attention to social ills, injustice and the plight of the poor, and Scrooge's awakening to these inspires a determination in him to do something to alleviate these ills.
Thanks for your response. And yes I get that this is about using celestial beings in a story, and I get what Dickens was doing with the story of A Christmas Carol- attention to the social ills of the time. But still Scrooge only changes because of how he sees he will be thought of in the future or not thought of, ultimately Scrooge does good because of a desire to be well thought of by society. On the other hand, George Bailey acts with integrity without worrying what people will think of him in the future but because it is the right thing to do. And only because of Clarence does he realize how much good he has done in the world.
I would say these characters are actually opposite of each other. I am talking about the individual motivating factor. Scrooge's motivation is ultimately selfish even though he does good and becomes righteous. George's motivation is simply because he is a good and decent man. He is not motivated by any legacy, just by a good heart.
I LOVE this. I have three girls and one (18), especially, who cherishes “It’s a Wonderful Life” as much as I do. We watch it together, the two of us, every year. You’ve captured, emotionally, pleadingly, insightfully - and eloquently - what I have felt watching the film for 40 years and what I share with my daughter year after year. Thank You So Much. “Merry Christmas, You Beautiful Old Building and Loan!!”
I love It's A Wonderful Life. The actor who played Clarence the angel was a British actor who hailed from Prudhoe, Northumberland which is reasonably near to where I now live.
It was 1995, we had three young children, and had pretty much decided not to have any more babies.
My son visited me in the Denver Temple and said he needed to be born soon and he wanted me to be his mother.
The second visit was from my paternal grandfather who died as a hopeless pedo drunk before I was born.
I was waffling about confronting my family about widespread incest when he visited me and communicated that he and all of the family in heaven were very aware of what I was about to do.
He said it would be the most difficult trial of my life (it has been) but that he and all of my ancestors would be helping me every step of the way.
The third visit was from my youngest son in 2001.
I was suffering with suicidal depression, had been hospitalized for it after my older brother died of an opioid overdose, when he showed up one day and simply said, “You can’t kill yourself because I want you to be my mom.”
These three men in my family showed up when the desperation was overwhelming and I was in need of that extra something to give me the courage to muster on.
Thanks Jaime for such a great deconstruction of one of my favorite Capra movies.
My all time favorite stage play and non musical movie is You can’t take it with you.
I had the great joy of introducing that Capra movie to our oldest sons, sitting in our car in the middle of a May Blizzard up at Yellowstone Park as we watched it on a four inch screen.
This is the capstone of Frank Capra's career as a film director. He would only make a few more films after, none of which fully recaptured what he had done in the 1930s and 1940s. He may have caught the public mood here, but rarely at other times.
Indeed it is a wonderful thing. 🎄
This is beautiful, Jamie. Thank you.
MERRY CHRISTMAS XOXO
"It's a Wonderful Life" has always been one of my favourite Christmas movies, but your article showed me why it's still so timeless and relevant today. Thank you!
For a lighter touch, I did an irreverent mash-up of this classic movie for holiday fun. Merry Christmas!
https://open.substack.com/pub/drewmatic/p/christmas-mash-up-2025?r=17iqxr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
What a lovely and beautiful hope. Makes me want to watch the film again. Xoxo
How beautiful, and a poignant reminder that one life touches so many - and may we wake up to the reality of the NOW to see those around us, and treasure them deeply this holiday and always.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
A wonderful piece about a wonderful film. Thanks - I needed this.
THANK YOU! Happy Holidays.
So you made me cry. "It's a Wonderful Life" is one of my favorite movies of all time. How you discussed it is all the reasons I love that movie.
I do have a bone to pick with you though. (It's sort of my thing when it comes to "A Christmas Carol") Comparing George Bailey and Emily to Scrooge. Scrooge cares about being good in the end because he sees how he will be thought of and his memory treated. It is not actually about other people. George and Emily are simply good because it is the right thing to do. George is good because he has integrity, and has no idea how he has touched people's lives for the better until Clarence shows him.
Thank you for sharing this. It's a fact that the story upon which "It's a Wonderful Life" was based was an interpretation of "A Christmas Carol." I'm not equating these characters with each other; I'm comparing the narratives of celestial being descending to earth to help transform the perspective of a human being in order to help them change their destiny. It is not true that Scrooge changes merely to be thought of well. That's not what Dickens wrote or wanted us to believe. Scrooge pledges to make up for his miserly past, to give generously to charity, to get Tiny Tim the medical help he needs, etc. He's terrified by the vision of a future in which his demise is regarded with indifference or celebration--but it was Dickens' intent in the writing of his story to bring attention to social ills, injustice and the plight of the poor, and Scrooge's awakening to these inspires a determination in him to do something to alleviate these ills.
Thanks for your response. And yes I get that this is about using celestial beings in a story, and I get what Dickens was doing with the story of A Christmas Carol- attention to the social ills of the time. But still Scrooge only changes because of how he sees he will be thought of in the future or not thought of, ultimately Scrooge does good because of a desire to be well thought of by society. On the other hand, George Bailey acts with integrity without worrying what people will think of him in the future but because it is the right thing to do. And only because of Clarence does he realize how much good he has done in the world.
I would say these characters are actually opposite of each other. I am talking about the individual motivating factor. Scrooge's motivation is ultimately selfish even though he does good and becomes righteous. George's motivation is simply because he is a good and decent man. He is not motivated by any legacy, just by a good heart.
I LOVE this. I have three girls and one (18), especially, who cherishes “It’s a Wonderful Life” as much as I do. We watch it together, the two of us, every year. You’ve captured, emotionally, pleadingly, insightfully - and eloquently - what I have felt watching the film for 40 years and what I share with my daughter year after year. Thank You So Much. “Merry Christmas, You Beautiful Old Building and Loan!!”
I love It's A Wonderful Life. The actor who played Clarence the angel was a British actor who hailed from Prudhoe, Northumberland which is reasonably near to where I now live.
It is just such a joyful movie.
I have had three angelic visitations.
The first was one of my unborn sons.
It was 1995, we had three young children, and had pretty much decided not to have any more babies.
My son visited me in the Denver Temple and said he needed to be born soon and he wanted me to be his mother.
The second visit was from my paternal grandfather who died as a hopeless pedo drunk before I was born.
I was waffling about confronting my family about widespread incest when he visited me and communicated that he and all of the family in heaven were very aware of what I was about to do.
He said it would be the most difficult trial of my life (it has been) but that he and all of my ancestors would be helping me every step of the way.
The third visit was from my youngest son in 2001.
I was suffering with suicidal depression, had been hospitalized for it after my older brother died of an opioid overdose, when he showed up one day and simply said, “You can’t kill yourself because I want you to be my mom.”
These three men in my family showed up when the desperation was overwhelming and I was in need of that extra something to give me the courage to muster on.
Thanks Jaime for such a great deconstruction of one of my favorite Capra movies.
My all time favorite stage play and non musical movie is You can’t take it with you.
I had the great joy of introducing that Capra movie to our oldest sons, sitting in our car in the middle of a May Blizzard up at Yellowstone Park as we watched it on a four inch screen.
We laughed our heads off!
https://healthyfamilies.substack.com/p/senior-trip?utm_source=post-banner&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=posts-open-in-app&triedRedirect=true
Merry Christmas!
Jen
What a blessing laughter can be!! Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy Healthy 2025!!
This is another piece of perfection from you.
Thank you Jamie Beaman.
I will watch it again this year.
Blessings to you.
🌲
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
This is the capstone of Frank Capra's career as a film director. He would only make a few more films after, none of which fully recaptured what he had done in the 1930s and 1940s. He may have caught the public mood here, but rarely at other times.