It's a Wonderful Life Resources

Check out Rotten Tomatoes for reviews from all the feckless chumps who didn't like It's a Wonderful Life before getting disproved by history.

Think AMC is all about zombies, meth dealers, and ad men? They were originally all about classic movies. They still have a movie site that provides background info on masterpieces like It's a Wonderful Life.

Seneca Falls, New York, claims that it's the basis for Bedford Falls and holds an annual celebration around Christmas every year. Occasionally actors from the movie show up, like the little girl (now an older woman) who played Zuzu.

Seneca Falls also has an It's a Wonderful Life museum.

This short story started out as a Christmas card after the author couldn't get it published. A humble beginning for a story that morphed into one of the best-loved movies ever. Very Capra-esque.

In this dark, unauthorized book sequel, we see what happens when George actually dies and Clarence fails to earn his wings. Harsh.

If it seems like It's a Wonderful Life would totally work as a musical, then you're in luck—there's a musical version, although it didn't become a major hit. One of the creators was Sheldon Harnick, who wrote the lyrics for Fiddler on the Roof.

Here's a stage version where all the roles are played by the same versatile guy.

Want to see someone screaming, "Hello, Bedford Falls!" into an old-time radio microphone? This theatrical adaptation takes the radio play version and performs it live.

People apparently love adapting the radio play version of It's a Wonderful Life for some reason. PBS even did a one-hour version that was shown on TV—reversing the concept behind the indie band TV On The Radio in the process. Bill Pullman plays George Bailey, Martin Landau is Mr. Potter, and Christian Slater is Harry. Christian Slater. Really?

Roger Ebert obviously loved this movie—how could he not? The dude was always a total sucker for heartwarming masterpieces.

This review by Bosley Crowther whiffed in a big way in many people's estimations. Crowther criticizes the movie for being too sentimental, but wasn't that the point?

Karolyn Grimes played Zuzu, and she reflects back on the magical experience of being a Bailey daughter.

Jimmy Stewart remembers shooting It's a Wonderful Life and recounts a funny story about how Frank Capra had trouble pitching him the movie.

This article spills some of the secrets behind It's a Wonderful Life—like the fact that the movie's Bert and Ernie actually had, uh, nothing to do with the Sesame Street Bert and Ernie. Shmoop is choosing to ignore that.

This even longer list of movie secrets (not secrets anymore, apparently) gives even more details about the production, from casting to technical stuff.

The original trailer introduces all of the actors and has the movie's instrumental version of "Buffalo Gals" playing in the background. There's a big symbolic bell at the beginning, so you know somebody's racking up some serious wings.

Stewart talks about how Capra pitched the movie to him, explaining how it sounded semi-ridiculous. Stewart got on board immediately. He also says his favorite scene is when Clarence and George are talking together in the watchman's house, and Clarence reveals he's an angel.

Mr. Potter gets what's coming to him in SNL's discovery of the film's lost ending. Dana Carvey crushes it as Jimmy Stewart. And who's the perfect Potter? Jon Lovitz, of course.

This short documentary takes us behind the scenes, showing us just how Capra and co. crafted an all time holiday classic fit to beat the tar out of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Jingle All the Way.

In this Wonderful Life spoof (one of many The Simpsons nods to the film), the bank customers aren't so wonderful.

This 1987 documentary, hosted by iconic talk-show host Johnny Carson, goes deep into Jimmy Stewart's life, exploring his career in movies.

You can check out the full radio play version—also starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed—here. If you sketch crayon pictures of all the scenes and hold them up as you listen, it'll be basically like watching the movie.

Tiomkin's score hits all the emotional points of the movie, from sadness to joy to humor. He even puts in little pieces of pop music, like the melody to "Buffalo Gals."

The director and his leading man on the set.

Promo shot of the iconic director.

Jimmy Stewart goes from exuberant to hopeless.

Reed draws on her country upbringing to give Mary some down-home sass, but she's still luminously beautiful.

Lionel Barrymore was part of a legendary acting family. This proved to be one of his most famous roles, amping up the villainy as a kind of unrepentant Scrooge.

It doesn't get any sweeter than this.

In the original poster advertising the movie, George is whisking Mary into the air. It has a very lighthearted vibe—like, you can tell George isn't going to commit suicide in this movie.