PRI Public Radio International support for it's a wonderful Christmas with Andy Williams comes from this station and Public Radio International Affiliates Nationwide. Hello, I'm Andy Williams. There are so many wonderful holiday traditions that make this season a special time of year. One of the best is watching the film It's a Wonderful Life. The film was directed by Frank Kaplan start Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. It is a story of a man named George who is disillusioned with his life things aren't going very well for him. He believes when he meets an angel who tries to tell him that his life is valuable George scorns the notion and wishes. He had never been born his wishes granted and George finds out that life without him isn't as good for his friends and family as it would have been if he was there to share it. This simple touching story began as a Christmas card from a man named Philip Van Doren Stern the short story who wrote was called the greatest gift and a 1943. He may owe 200 Christmas cards printed with a story. One of the cards were shown to film director Frank Capra. It was instantly captivated by the store and it's very simple messages. No one is born to be a failure and no one is poor who has friends. In This Very Special program that you'll hear the story as it was originally written in that Christmas card the story of George Pratt who was named George Bailey in the film you will hear stories about the making of the film It's a Wonderful Life. Hear that is our Christmas present to you the short story the greatest gift by Philip Van Doren Stern. It's a Wonderful Life first published has the greatest gift A Christmas Tale by Philip Van Doren Stern read by Andy Williams. The little town straggling up the hill was bright with colored Christmas lights the George Pratt didn't see them. He was leaning over the railing of the Iron Bridge staring download Ali at the Blackwater. The current evidence world like liquid glass and occasionally a bit of ice detach from the shore would go gliding down the stream to be swallowed up in the shadows under the bridge. The water looked paralyzingly cold George wondered how long a man to stay alive in the glassy Blackness had a strange hypnotic effect on it. He leans still farther over the railing. I wouldn't do that if I were you quiet voice beside him said George turned resentfully the little man had never seen before he was Stout. Well past middle age and is round cheeks were pink in the winter are though they had just been shaved. Wouldn't do what George ask sullenly. What you were thinking of doing? How do you know what I was thinking of doing? Oh, we make it our business to know a lot of things stranger said easily. George wondered what the men's business was. He was a most unremarkable little person the sword to a passing a crowd and never notice unless you saw his bright blue eyes. That is you couldn't forget them for they were the kindest sharpest eyes. You ever saw nothing else about him was noteworthy. He wore a moth-eaten old for a cap and a Shabby Overcoat that was stretched tightly across is Punchy belly. He was carrying a small Black Satchel. It wasn't a doctor's bag. It was too large for that and not the right shape. It was a Salesman sample kit George decided this Tastefully, the fella was probably some sort of peddler the kind who would go around poking a sharp little nose into other people's affairs. Looks like snow doesn't the stranger said glancing up appraisingly at the overcast Sky. It'll be nice to have a white Christmas. They're getting scarce these days but so are a lot of things he turned to face George squarely you all right. Now, of course, I'm all right. What made you think? I wasn't George fellsilent before the strangers quiet gaze. The little man shook his head. You know, you shouldn't think of such things and on Christmas Eve of all times. You've got to consider Mary and your mother, too. George open his mouth to ask how the stranger could know his wife's name, but the fella anticipated don't ask me how I know such things. It's my business to know them. That's why I came along this way tonight lucky. I did too. He glanced down at the dark water and shattered. What if you know so much about me, George said give me one good reason why I should be alive. The little man made a queer chuckling sound come come. I can't be that bad. You've got your job at the bank and Mary and the kids. You're healthy Young & Sick Of Everything George cried. I'm stuck here in this mud hole for life doing the same dull work day after day other men are leading exciting lies, but I will I'm just a small town bank clerk that even the Army doesn't want I never did anything really useful or interesting and it looks as if I never will I might just as well be dead. I might be better dad. Sometimes I wish I were the fact that wish I'd never been born. The little man stood looking at him in the growing Darkness. What was that? You said? He asked self me. Well I said, I wish I never been born George repeated firmly and I mean it too. The Strangers Pink Cheeks glowed with excitement why that's wonderful. You've solved everything. I was afraid you were going to give me some trouble, but now you've got the solution yourself. You wish you'd never been born. Alright? Okay, you haven't what do you mean George grow? You haven't been born just that you haven't been born. No one knows you here. You have no responsibilities. No job. No wife. No children. Why you haven't even a mother. Will you couldn't have of course all your troubles are over your wish I'm happy to say has been granted officially. Nuts George snorted and turned away. The Stranger ran after him and caught him by the arm, you better take this with you. He said holding out his Satchel it'll open a lot of doors that might otherwise be slammed in your face. What doors and whose face George scuffed? I know everybody in this town and besides I like to see anybody slam the door in my face. Yes, I know the little man said patiently but take this anyway can't do any harm and it may help me open the Satchel in display. The number of brushes you'd be surprised how useful these brushes can be as an introduction. Especially the free ones these I mean, he hold out of plane little hand brush. I'll show you how to use it. He thrust the Satchel in the Georgia's relaxing hands and began when the lady of the house comes to the door you give her this and then talk fast. You say good evening Madam. I'm from the world cleaning company and I want to present you with this handsome and useful brush. Absolutely free. No obligation to purchase anything at all. After that, of course, it's a cinch now you try it. He forced the Russian to George's hand George promptly dropped a brush and of the satchel and fumbled with the catch finally closing it with an angry snap Harry said and then stopped abruptly for there was no one inside. The little stranger must have slipped away into the bushes growing along the riverbank George thought he certainly was going to play hide and seek with him was nearly dark and getting colder every minute. He shivered and turned up his coat car. The street lights have been turned on and Christmas candles in the windows glowed softly. The little town looked remarkably cheerful after all the place you grew up in was the one spot on Earth where you really could feel at home. George felt a sudden burst of affection even for crotchety old Hank Biddle whose house he was passing. He remember the coral hit had won his car and scraped a piece of bark out of Hanks Big Maple Tree George looked up at the vast spread of leafless branches towering over them in the darkness. The tree must have been going there since ending times. He felt a sudden twinge of guilt for the damage he had done he had never stopped inspect the wound for he was ordinarily afraid to have Hank Ketcham even looking at the tree now, I stepped out boldly into the roadway to examine the huge trunk. Hank must have repaired the SCAR or painted over it for there was no sign of it. George struck a match and bent down to look more closely. Straightened up with an odd sinking feeling in the stomach. It wasn't any Scar the bark was smooth and I'm damaged. He remembered with the little man at the bridge that said it was all nonsense, of course, but the non-existence car bothered him. When he reached the bank he saw that something was wrong. The building was dark and he knew he had turn the Vault light on you notice to that. Someone had left the window shades open. He ran around to the front. It was a battered old sign passing on the door. George could just make out the words for rent or sale apply James Silva real estate perhaps it was some boys tricky thought wildly, then he saw a pile of ancient leaves and tattered newspapers in the bank's ordinarily and macular doorway and the windows looked as though they hadn't been washed in years. I like it was still burning across the street and Jim Silva's office George dashed over and tore the door open. Jim looked up from his Ledger book in Surprise. What can I do for you young man? He said in the polite voice he reserved for potential customers the bank. George said breathlessly. What's the matter with it? The old Bank building gym, silver turn around look out the window. Nothing that I can see. Would like to rent or buy it with you. You mean it's out of business? For a good ten years went bust during the Depression strange around these parts ain't you? George saves against the wall I was here some time ago. He said weekly the bank was alright, then I even knew some of the people who work there. Didn't know a fella named Marty Jenkins did you? Marty Jenkins why he George was about to say that Marty had never worked at the bank couldn't have in fact for when they had both left school later applied for a job there in Georgia gotten it. But now of course things were different. He would have to be careful. No, I didn't know any said slowly not really that is I'd heard of him. Then maybe you heard how he skipped out with $50,000. That's why the bank went broke pretty near ruined everybody around here. Silver was looking at him sharply. I was hoping for a minute. Maybe you know where he is. I lost plenty of that trash myself. We'd like to get our hands on Marty Jenkins. Didn't he have a brother seems to me he had a brother named Arthur art? Oh sure, but he's all right. He don't know his brother when he's had a terrible effect on him to took the drink. He did. It's too bad and hard on his wife. He married a nice girl. George felt a sinking feeling in his stomach again. Who did he marry? He demanded Horsley both he and our headquarters Mary. Girl named Mary Thatcher. Silva said cheerfully she lives up on the hill just a side of the church. Hey, where you going? But George had bolted out of the office. He ran past the empty Bank building and turned up the hill for a moment. He thought of going straight to Mary the house next to the church had been given to them by her father is a wedding present. Naturally our Jenkins would have gotten it if he had married Mary George wondered whether they had any children then he knew he couldn't face Mary not yet. Anyway, he decided to visit his parents and find out more about her. There were candles burning in the windows of the Little weather-beaten House on the side street and a Christmas wreath was hanging on the glass panel of the front door. George raise the gate latch with a loud click a dark shape on the porch jumped up and began to growl. Then it hurled itself down the steps barking ferociously. Brownie, George had a brownie loaf. That don't you know me, but the dog Advanced menacingly and drove him back behind the gate the porch light snapped on and George's father stepped outside to call the dog off The Barking subsided to a low angry growl. His father held the dog by the collar while George cautiously walked past you can see that his father didn't know him. Is the Lady of the house any asked? His father way of toward the door go on and he said cordially I was saying this dog up she could be mean with strangers. His mother who was waiting in the hallway obviously didn't recognize him George open the sample kit and grab the first brush that came to hand. Good evening, ma'am. He said politely I am from the world cleaning company. We're giving out a free sample brush. I thought you might like to have one no obligation. No obligation at all his voice faltered his mother smiled at his awkwardness. I suppose you'll want to sell me something. I'm not really sure I need any brushes. No ma'am. I'm not selling anything. He is shorter the regular sales when will be around in a few days. This is just well just a Christmas present from the company. How nice she said you people never gave such good brushes away before this is a special offer. He said his father end of the hall and close the door won't you come in for a while and sit down. His mother said you must be tired walking so much. Thank you ma'am. I don't mind if I do he entered the little parlor and put his bag down on the floor the room look different somehow, although he cannot figure out why I Used to Know This Town pretty. Well. He said to make conversation knew some of the townspeople. I remember a girl named Mary Thatcher. She married R Jenkins. I heard you must know them. Of course, his mother said we know merrywell any children. He asked casually to a boy and a girl. George side audibly my you must be tired as mother said perhaps I can get you a cup of tea. No, ma'am. Don't bother said I'll be having supper soon. He looked around the little parlor trying to find out why it looks so different. Over the mantelpiece hung a framed photograph, which is been taken on his kid brother Harry's 16th birthday. He remembered how they're going to Potters Studio to be photographed together. There's something queer about the picture. It took him a full minute to realize what it was it showed only one figure Harry's that's your son asked. Is mother's face clouded she nodded but said nothing. I think I met him to George said hesitantly, his name's Harry, isn't it? His mother turned away making a strange choking noise in her throat or husband put his arm clumsily around her shoulder his voice which was always mild and gentle suddenly became hard. You couldn't have met him. He said he's been dead a long while he was drowned the day that picture was taken. George's MyInfo back to the long ago August afternoon when he inherited visited Potter studio on their way home. They had gone swimming. Been seized with a cramp. He remembered he had pulled him out of the water and I thought nothing of it but suppose he hadn't been there. I'm sorry. He said miserably I guess I'd better go. I hope you like the brush and I wish you both a very merry Christmas. There he put his foot in it again wishing them a merry Christmas when they were thinking about their dead son. Brownie Ted's fiercely at her chain is George went down the porch steps and accompanied his departure with a hostile rolling growl. He wanted desperately now to see Mary. He wasn't sure he could stand not being recognized by her, but he had to see her. The lights were on in the church in the choir was making last-minute preparations for Christmas Vespers. The organ has been practicing Holy Night evening after evening until Georgia become thoroughly sick of it, but now the music almost tore his heart out. He stumbled blindly of the path to his own house. The lawn was untidy in the flower bushes had kept carefully trimmed were neglected and badly sprouted are Jenkins could hardly be expected to care for such things. When he knocks at the door, there was a long silence followed by the shout of a child then Mary came to the door. At the side of her George's voice almost failing Merry Christmas, man. He managed to say it last his hands shook cuz he tried to open the Satchel come in. Mary said indifferently. It's cold out. When George enter the living room on happy as he was he could not help noticing with a secret grin that the two high-priced blue sofa they often had quarreled over was there evidently Marriott gone through the same thing with our Jenkins and it won the argument with him, too. George got a satchel open one of the brushes had a bright blue handle and very colored bristles. It was obviously a brush not intended to be giving away. But George didn't care. He handed it to Mary. This would be fine for your sofa. He said my that's a pretty brush. She exclaimed. You're giving it away free. Hinata telling me special introductory offer this one way for the company to keep excess profits down share them with his friends. She stroked the sofa gently with a brush smoothing Out The Velveteen app. It is a nice brush. Thank you. I there was a sudden the screen from the kitchen and two small children rushed in a little homely face girl flung herself into her mother's arms sobbing loudly as a boy of seven came running after snapping a toy pistol at her head. Mommy. She won't die. He I shot her a hundred times, but she won't die. He looks just like our Jenkins George. Acts like him to the boy suddenly turned his attention to him. Who are you? He demanded belligerently. He pointed his pistol to George and pull the trigger your daddy cried your dad. Why don't you fall down and die there was a heavy stuff on the porch. The boy looked frightened then backed away. George saw Mary glanced apprehensively at the door. Are Jenkins came in he stood for a moment in the doorway clinging to the knob for support his eyes were glazed and his face was very red. Who's this? He demanded thickly. He's a brush salesman. Mary tried to explain he gave me this brush brush. Salesman art snared. Well, tell him to get out of here. We don't want no brushes are hiccup. Violently pushed across the room to the sofa where he sat down suddenly and we don't want no brush salesman either. You better go Mary whisper to George. I'm sorry. The boy heads towards George go on go away. We don't want no brushes and we don't want no old brush salesman. Neither George look to sparingly at marry her eyes were begging him to go ahead lifted his feet up on the sofa and was sprawling out on it muttering unkind things about brush. Salesman. George went to the door followed by Art, son who kept snapping his pistol at him and saying you're dead dead dead. Grab the boy was right George. When he reached the porch maybe was dead, but maybe this was all a bad dream from which he might eventually awake. He wanted to find the little man on the bridge again and try to persuade him to cancel the whole deal. He hurried down the hill and broke into a run. When he near the River. Gorge was relieved to see the little stranger standing on the bridge. I've had enough he got get me out of this. You got me into it strange raises eyebrows. I got you into this. I like that. You were granted your wish you got everything you asked for your the freest man on earth. Now you have no ties. You can go anywhere do anyting. What more can you possibly want change me back George pleated change me back. Please not just for my sake but for others to you don't know what a mess. This town is in you don't understand. I've got to get back. They need me here. I understand right enough The Stranger said slowly. I just wanted to make sure that you did you had the greatest gift of all conferred upon you the gift of life. I've being a part of this world and taking apart in it yet. You denied that gift. As the stranger spoke the church bell high on the hill sounded calling the townspeople to Christmas Vespers and the downtown church bells started ringing. I've got to get back George said desperately you can cut me off like this way. It's murder suicide rather. Wouldn't you say the stranger murmured you brought it on yourself? However, since it's Christmas Eve, well, anyway, close your eyes and keep listening to the Bell. his voice sang clover keep listening to the Bells. George did as he was told he felt a cold wet snow dropped touch his cheek and then another and another and when he opened his eyes the snow was falling fast so fast that it has secured everything around him the little stranger cannot be seen But then neither could anything else the snow was so thick that George had to grope for the ridge railing. As he started toward the village he thought he heard someone saying Merry Christmas, but the bells were drowning out all rival sound so we could not be sure. When it reached tank battles house, he stopped and walked out into the roadway peering down anxiously at the base of the big maple tree the scar was there thank heaven. He touched the tree affectionately he'd have to do something about the wound got a tree surgeon or something. Anyway, he's evidently been changed back. He was himself again. Maybe it was all a dream or perhaps you've been hypnotized by the smooth flowing Blackwater. He had heard of such things. At the corner of Main and Bridge streets. He almost collided with a hurrying figure. It was Jim Silva the real estate agent. Hello, George. Jim said cheerfully late tonight. Ain't you? I should think you'd want to be home early on Christmas Eve. George draw a long breath. I just wanted to see if the bank is all right. I've got to make sure the Vault light is on sure. It's on I saw it as I went past what let's look, huh. George said pulling at Silver sleeve. He wanted the Assurance of a witness. He dragged the surprise real estate dealer around to the front of the bank where the light was gleaming through the falling snow. I told you it was on Silver said some irritation. I had to make sure George mumbled. Thanks and Merry Christmas, then it was off like a streak running up the hill. He was in a hurry to get home but not in such a hurry that he couldn't stop for a moment at his parents house where he wrestled with brownie until the friendly old bulldog Wagner all over with the light. He grasped his start of Brothers hand and run at Frederick Lee wishing him and almost hysterical Merry Christmas. Then he dashed Across The Parlor to examine a certain photographed. He kisses mother joke with his father and was out of the house a few seconds later stumbling and slipping on the newly fallen snow. Is he ran up the hill the church was bright with light and the choir on the organ. We're going full-tilt George flung the door to his house open and called out at the top of his voice Mary. Where are you Mary kids? His wife came toward him dressed for going to church and making gestures the silent. I just put the children to bed. She protested now they'll but not another word. Could she get out of her mouth for a smothered with kisses and then he dragged her up to the children's room where he violated every tenet of Parental Behavior by madly embracing his son and his daughter and waking them up thoroughly. It was not until Mary got him downstairs that it began to be coherent. I thought I'd lost you omary. I thought I'd lost you. What's the matter darling? She has been bewilderment. He pulled her down on the sofa and kissed her again. And then just as he was about to tell her about his queer dream. His fingers came in contact with something lying on the seat of the sofa is voice froze. He did not even have to pick the thing up for he knew what it was and he knew it would have a blue handle and very colored bristles. You're listening to It's a Wonderful Christmas Time Andy Williams. And this is PRI Public Radio International. The story you just heard sounds familiar, doesn't it? You've probably seen the film It's a Wonderful Life every Christmas for you. What you may not have known is that the greatest gift was the name of the story was based on let's take a look behind the scenes and find out how this charming tale became a film that is one of our most treasured Christmas traditions. You sent for me sir. I meant done on earth needs our help with time that man will be thinking seriously of throwing away God's greatest gift the story the greatest gift. He knew that he had found the film that he was waiting for. You just come out of military service during World War II and wanted his re-entry into filmmaking to be on a par with any film ever made before the War. I was quite a lot to live up to Capper was the director of such films As It Happened One Night with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert and Lost Horizon was Ronald Colman. It Happened One Night garnered five Academy Award the first film ever to do so It's a Wonderful Life with the first and only film made under the Liberty films Banner his own Studio co-founded with William Wyler and George Stevens when Capital was first shown Philip Van Doren Stern Christmas card, RKO had already optioned it for film but after three scripts were written RKO still didn't think it had a script strong enough to make a successful film bought the rights from RKO including the three draft scripts yet another script written and knew right away that Jimmy Stewart was the perfect choice for George Bailey. He put together Donna Reed as The Suite Life Mary Bailey Lionel Barrymore is the cool. Mr. Potter and a host of other characters to bring this Story 2 cinematic life Tom Capra Frank Capra son to me to tell the story about how he just come back from the war and he's been you know, five years have been over in England flight bombers and and he thought he wasn't going to have a career when he came back. He thought he might be a stranger. Turn back to Hollywood. He wasn't sure you get a job. So my dad calls him up and and he goes to see my dad and my dad tells him the story about this guy's getting ready to commit suicide in his Angel Falls in the river in the end and the angel shows him what his life was like what it before you've been born and and it's Kenny's going on and on and on with the story and he finally just says it to me, you know, I buy this is It's just so depressing. This is I don't know why we're even doing this but you know, we're going to go ahead and do it and Jimmy used to say he just sat there and listened to the story wasn't paying any attention to what my dad was saying. He was thinking God. I hope you offered me a job. I just hope he offered me a job because he hadn't had any job offers and he was he was getting scared. So finally at the end. My dad says, yeah, we're going to go ahead and make it anyway and you know, you want to play this part in recess, of course. Yes. Hidden carrot could have been Santa Claus. You know, it didn't matter. Cahperd bought a couple of other stories and you know, but just wasn't happy with it in the film The Head of RKO stuck his head in the office door and said, how are things coming in Capitola man? I just haven't found the project that I want to have his my first picture though. He's well. Let me tell you about something we got that bought a Christmas card and we've had three scripts written on it, but nobody's been able to come up with the hook. Then that makes the thing work and why don't I give you a copy of the Christmas card and have you read the scripts socapa read this Christmas card by Philip Van Doren Stern called the greatest gift and he just thought it was the greatest idea that he had ever heard. And so He told RKO I love this and so are kale sold in the Christmas card in the three scripts for $50,000 and now Capra was free to hire a couple of other Riders and he was Off to the Races. The greatest gift was written in 1938 by Philip Van Doren Stern one day while I was shaving and he'd written the store and then talked to some friends about and they thought it was interesting about a guy who was she was never been born to get to see what life would have been like but he put it away for five years and then he took it out and he added the Christmas theme and the title of the greatest gift and he sent it out to different magazines and he was turned down then he still The story and you know that he couldn't sell it. So he made up 200 Christmas cards and send it out to all his friends and one of the friends was his agent. She called him and said I like the story very much. Do you mind if I try to sell it as a movie? He's the guy she's killing Nazis as I don't see what kind of movie is in this thing. But what the heck well carry granted read it and liked it very much and he got our kale to buy it for him for $10,000 and sold Cary Grant was supposed to be George Bailey and then when these three scripts failed and capper picked it up there was only one George Bailey Anne Frank Capra's mine, and that was Jimmy Stewart and They went through a lot of ladies to find the right Mary Bailey. But that when they found out every they knew they had the right girl. This is James Stewart's first and he was concerned about being in front of the camera again, his performance speaks for itself. I don't care what happens to me. Get me back to my wife and kids. How many times please. I want to live again. I want to live again. Please God let me live again. Jimmy Hawkins working with Jimmy Stewart foots very interesting. Remember one scene I had with him I was sitting on his lap and Jimmy Stewart was thinking about the $8,000 is that Tia just lost and he was extremely depressed at the time and I was putting tinsel on his head and all of a sudden he would grab me and pull me into him and hug me and kiss me and I member rehearsing at three or four times and shooting it three or four times, but I was wearing a Santa Claus mask around my neck. And the inside of the mass was extremely scratchy and I remember every time you pulled me toward him to hug me the mask would hike up and the inside would scrape my cheek and I kept remembering, you know, why is this man keep doing this to me? But I know enough that it was a movie and I was supposed to pretend that it was the first time he was doing it, but I kept flinching inside every time. Oh, no not But he was very very nice man. Always very giving and there was a thrill to see him through the years. You just blew it always reminisce about the picture. Welcome home. Mr. Bailey. Donna Reed was a contract player for MGM when Frank Capra chose her for his Mary Bailey. She was the perfect choice to play opposite Stewart lovely sweet lawyer. She was not campus first choice. However, that was Jean Arthur Who turn the film roll down due to a prior commitment you sometimes wonder what a film would have been like with other actress playing the roles. It is almost impossible to picture anyone else as Mary Bailey. Buffalo Gap Ranch, Wisconsin hot dog just like an organ you might not think of Buffalo Gals is I love song by Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed sing it together in the film It's a Wonderful Life as they walk home from a dance. You know, these two have just fallen in love. Jimmy Hawkins play the Bailey's youngest son. Tommy B Excuse you for what? He shares his memories of Donna Reed. It was great work without a reed. I remember she was a very kind lady and there's one scene that she was Jimmy Stewart's kind of going berserk in the house. She would pull me towards her and remember her warm hand on my cheek. And I thought you this a nice lady a there was just something a little four-year-old kids observance of this lady. I mean I didn't I didn't tell her then after doing It's a Wonderful Life with Donna Reed when she started her TV series the very first show was I was trying to play Shelly fabre's boyfriend and in the episode Shelly brings me home. And what happens is I fall in love with the mother instead of the daughter and it for the next eight years. I was playing Chili Peppers boyfriend on the show. So I have great memories of Donna Reed and course. I was very close to her at the end of her life and would visit her. I remember her flash Christmas came over to the house to give her a Christmas ornament from It's a Wonderful Life with all the and family the Bailey family on the Christmas ornament and she told me where she wanted to place it on a Christmas tree. And so I put it there and then when it was time for me to go I member leaning down and kissing her. Goodbye. And I remember her hand on my cheek again and a flashback to when she touch me when I was 4 years old on the cheek, and I thought that was right. This was a nice lady, but the film was not successful at the box office It's a Wonderful Life was the only film to come out of cappers young Studio Liberty films. The studio had to fold as a result of financial losses. Tom. Capra Liberty films was a Company formed by George Stevens and my dad and and William Wyler. They had a number of projects besides. It's a wonderful life including Magnificent Obsession I Remember Mama were several more but the first picture they made was It's a Wonderful Life and what happened with It's a Wonderful Life was it first of all, I want a little bit over budget and in order to finish it my dad took out a second mortgage on our house in Brentwood hundred $20,000. and I finished the film with his own money, which is in a kind of hard to do and they all had their own money in them in the company and the way it was structured economically in the way. The IRS was treating it really had to be a huge success in order for Liberty to make money on it. It opened on Christmas Eve 1946. It wasn't the market it very well and it played for two or three weeks and then just sort of slipped off the radar screen. It did make its production money back. But it in order to keep Liberty in business. It was going to have to be a huge success and it was not a huge success and as a result. Paramount decided that well, first of all, the big studios didn't like the idea of Capra Wyler and Stevens making a production company in a studio. They didn't like that at all. So they weren't not happy and Paramount made him an offer they couldn't refuse to made an offer for stock and they just bought the whole company out and the picture went to Paramount and then why learn Stevenson Capra all had to make I think two pictures each for Paramount as part of the deal. So what is made this film a holiday classic in the years since its release Paramount sold the copyright and the film to a subsidiary of Republic pictures called National telefilms NCAA National telefilm Associates. And they syndicated the film to television stations around the country and they also allowed the copyright to laps. And television station owners once they understood that there was no copyright in T. I didn't know the film anymore realize that they could run it for free. And so they basically begin running the wheels off of it and that is when it was really exposed to the American public and it became what it is now became an icon and it became part of every American serve Christmas tradition. It's the message of the movie that the people relate to Jimmy Hawkins in the message of It's a Wonderful Life is that each man's life touches so many other lives if they weren't around they would leave it off a hole. Your brother Harry Bailey broke through the ice and was drowned at the age of 9 transfer died. Harry wasn't there to save them because you weren't there to save Harry. That tells everybody that they're all important in life. And that's what the movie tells us that we are all important. George you really had a wonderful life don't you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away. We may not think that we are we go about our lives and we don't think anything that we're making a difference but if we're taken out of the equation we see that possibly standing at a corner waiting for a light to turn green. Somebody may pass us when we smile at him and we don't know that that smile change their whole life for that day. They just we did make a difference and that's why that movie is so important people see that they do make a difference Frank Capra himself believed that the two themes of It's a Wonderful Life accounted for us later success that no one is born to be a failure and that no one is poor who has friends and it's a wonderful life remained his favorite of all the films he directed. Yeah, it's a wonderful life was absolutely his favorite film he believed and I think he was right. I mean, he believed that it was his magnum opus that he actually put everything he put everything together for that film that he been trying to do all along. You know, I don't think there's any question about that. I mean it has everything in it. It's not the happy little story that a lot of people think it is. I mean, it does begin with a suicide and attempted suicide and starter goes downhill from there. And you know, when you think about George Bailey's character, it really is about how your dreams don't come true and how much he wanted to get out of that little Burg he was never going to do it and it doesn't do it at the end and it doesn't it isn't he isn't any better off at the end. He's just not in jail. The best place for him to be is is you know, not not Pottersville but Bedford Falls the difference between Pottersville and Bedford Falls is George Bailey and and I think that's the real theme of the of the picture that you know, he has made a difference but he has changed the lives of all those people that Uncle Billy's not old drunken sot because of George Bailey and that mr. Potter is doesn't know and everything because of George Bailey in all of those things are true, but it is also about disappointment in and in a frustration So you still think killing yourself would make everyone feel happy, right? All I don't know. I guess you're right. Husband better if I'd never been born at all. That's an idea. Are you think? And I'll do it. All right. Is that you wish you never been born? Give me that. That's a great film. I love that film is my favorite film and in a sense, it epitomizes everything I've been trying to do. I'm trying to say in the other films only does it vary dramatically with a with a very unique Story. The importance of the individual is the theme of a timer that tells and no man is a failure is carried out in this unique plant because of bad news thought it was a failure and thought everybody around it would have been better off had he not been born. I was given the chance to see how the world around him in his own small in the world would have been had he not been born. What do you want? This is true. I thought sure you would remember me. I don't know what I did something happen to everybody. Please let me come in and keep me here until I get over it. your brother-in-law gobeli Janelle hands young people are idealistic this idealism that comes for the restaurant for them and I'm some kind of a minor league folk hero at the moment with some of the film students a time and tell him that some of the positive things about life. All the people to go around kicking each other in the teeth are in the groin or anything else if that's love is still the most moving for so well and that that honor and honesty and a few things like this are not just just thinks of other things to hang on to and to make pictures about after my dad made It's a Wonderful Life it sort of became a family tradition that it was our Christmas Eve movie. And in the Italian tradition, what time Family generally do on Christmas Eve is A lot of fish so we would have a big fish dinner and then we would run It's a Wonderful Life and from the time I was about six. I became the projectionists. So I had to change the reels on the 1600-meter projector and we showed the movie we'd invite friends over have dinner Show the movie and then we'd all go to midnight mass. And that was our Christmas Eve tradition so weak. All of us kids learned that movie by heart when we could we would all you know with mr. Potter we go, you know, you're a warped frustrated old man. MasterCard warped frustrated old man there cap. Then we go with Lionel Barrymore young man miserable Little Critter crawl in your on your hands and $500 equity in a life insurance policy. You're worth more dead than alive. And so we we just knew all the words in it and it it just really became part of our our whole life and I still do that on Christmas Day by show It's a Wonderful Life at home on videotape and we all sit down and watch it and everybody has a kind of a cheerful Christmas Eve One of the things that marked the Capra film was his use of humor. There are many light moments to give It's a Wonderful Life Special charm. For example the scene where Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed or at a school dance the Dance Floor opens and beneath. It is a swimming pool when the parrot hear the Roar of the crowd they think it is because they are such wonderful dancers but is because they are about to dance right into the water and they do by the way the young man who opens the dance floor as revenge on George were taking Mary away from him is the actor who has played Alfalfa in the Our Gang comedies. Did you do I guess I'm not quite the football tonight. You know, that wasn't me talking I tell you where the prettiest girl in time. Well, why don't you say it? 1818 I was only last year you were 17 clothes on. I have your camera and Stewart's playfulness wasn't limited to moving pictures. They also left their mark on at least one photograph. They took a famous photo and Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra send everybody a copy of it, but that there was something unique in the picture back in 1946 cameras didn't have those wide-angle lenses. So the photographer who is taking the picture of this huge group of over 300 people started to the left and Pan the whole group so that when the picture turned out you could see the whole group so they asked everybody please do not move don't make any movements until we yelled at its. Okay, then for some reason Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart standing on the Left End of the picture when the the the snapshot started. And halfway through it the photographer yelled Go-Go and I didn't know what all that meant. But when we receive the picture what happened was Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra stand on the Left End of the picture when they Emanuelle go they squatted down and ran behind the whole group and then stood on the other end so that when the camera reach the other end of the picture they were at both ends when the picture turned out so it was gives quiet now they had a sense of humor and that's what Capper did in all his films. He would add that those extra little touches that would add either humor something that families are people do in situations that you don't normally see in films and that gave his pictures that special touch and Humanity. Thank you for joining us today for this. Look at a Holiday. Classic May the season be a wonderful one for you. I'm Andy Williams. Special thanks to the Jimmy Stewart Museum The Donna Reed Foundation AFI American Film Institute. Tom Capra. Jimmy Hawkins Z M Productions Westlake Studios, Isabella muchlinski and Tennyson flower Caravelle studio and wnet channel 13 and my big brother George the richest man in town. What's a Christmas present for a very dear friend of mine? That's right. Let's Ride attaboy Clarence. It's a wonderful Christmas with Andy Williams was produced and written by Jessica K. The recording Engineers with Chris Roberts and Mike Frazer post production editor and recording engineer was Todd Hall slamming technical director was John Tyler executive producers were Jessica K Wesley Horner. It's a wonderful Christmas is a co-production of Smithsonian Productions and the publishing Mills audiobook support for this program comes from this station and Public Radio International Affiliates Nationwide. It's the Most Wonderful Time with the kids Jingle Bell hanging out and everyone telling you be of good cheer. It's the holiday season. scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long long ago It's the Most Wonderful Time There'll be much DeSoto and hearts will be glowing when loved ones, honey. There'll be parties for hosting marshmallows for toasting. Christmases long long ago there'll be much DeSoto NM Hearts movie going with What's the most the most? PRI Public Radio International