It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas fantasy drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra. It is based on Philip Van Doren Stern's self-published short tale and booklet The Greatest Gift, which is partially based on Charles Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol. George Bailey, played by James Stewart, is a man who has given up his own goals in order to aid others in his society, and whose thoughts of suicide on Christmas Eve are interrupted by his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers).

It's a Wonderful Life is widely regarded as one of the best movies of all time. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and was named one of the 100 best American films ever made by the American Film Institute. It was ranked No. 11 on the American Film Institute's best films list in 1998, No. 20 in 2007, and No. 1 on its list of the most inspirational American films of all time.

Detailed Information:

Running time: 131 minutes

Directed by: Frank Capra

Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell

Budget: $3.18 million
Box office: $3.3 million