- Film Review
- Reviewed By David Parkinson
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5 out of 5
This masterpiece from Frank Capra still has a lot to say about community spirit and is a film with much more to it than feel-good sentimentality. As the suicidal man who is shown the value of his life by his guardian angel, George Bailey is Mr Deeds, John Doe and Mr Smith rolled into one and only James Stewart could have given him the self-doubt that gnaws away at his essential decency. As with all good morality tales, the villain has to be exceptional, too, and Lionel Barrymore is at the peak of his powers as the villainous Potter. The term Capra-esque is too often misapplied: forget the imitations and revel in the genuine article.
Plot Summary
Frank Capra's classic fantasy drama, starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore. George Bailey is a small-town businessman who believes he has been a failure. Contemplating suicide, George meets his guardian angel and discovers what life in his home town of Bedford Falls would have been like had he never lived.
Cast and crew
Cast
- George Bailey
- James Stewart
- Mary Hatch
- Donna Reed
- Mr Potter
- Lionel Barrymore
- Uncle Billy
- Thomas Mitchell
- Clarence Oddbody
- Henry Travers
- Mrs Bailey
- Beulah Bondi
- Ernie
- Frank Faylen
- Bert
- Ward Bond
- Violet Bick
- Gloria Grahame
- Mr Gower
- H B Warner
- Harry Bailey
- Todd Karns
- Pa Bailey
- Samuel S Hinds
- Cousin Tilly
- Mary Teen
- Sam Wainwright
- Frank Albertson
- Little George Bailey
- Robert J Anderson
Crew
- Director
- Frank Capra
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