Did you ever wonder what the world would be like if you had never been born? Well, George finds out how much better his life has been than he thought.

###It’s a Wonderful Movie

Rarely do you come across a movie that’s so universal in it’s message that anyone can watch and enjoy. This is one of those rare movies.

###A little history

I read somewhere that this movie almost didn’t get made. Frank Capra had recently finished “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington” (which is also a tremendous film), and had this idea for a guy that gets discouraged about his life and gets saved by an angel.

He’s thinking about suicide, when his prayers and those of his friends and loved ones are heard, and an angel is sent to save him. I heard that Frank Capra described this rough outline of a plot to Jimmy Stewart, and his response was “that sounds kind of depressing Frank. But if you’re doing it, I’m on board whatever the project is.” The problem was that the studio also thought it was too depressing and fantastical to be a popular hit. How wrong they were!

###The story

The story begins quite naturally at the beginning. The beginning of George Bailey’s life, that is. He’s a young kid in Bedford Falls, growing up in Pre-WW I smalltown U.S.A. His goal, right from the beginning is to get out of this one horse town, and see the world. Unfortunately, for him, the universe conspires against him, and he’s never quite able to get out.

###Significant Events

• Saving Brother
• Discovering Poison
• Running the family business