I Was Shocked My Friends Had Never Seen It – Why “It’s a Wonderful Life” Remains the Best Christmas Movie by Jared Harding Wilson

by Jared Harding Wilson

Hey friends, I recently had a conversation with some good friends about the greatest Christmas movie of all time, and I was absolutely shocked when they admitted they’d never even heard of Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life! I couldn’t believe it. I immediately invited them over to watch it with me. One of them hesitated and said she doesn’t really like old black-and-white movies. 🎥 That made me a little sad 😭 because, in my opinion, this 1946 classic is by far the best Christmas movie ever made – colorful or not!

Yes, it’s now December 26th – two days after Christmas – but it’s never too late to watch this amazing film. The holiday season lingers a bit, and the message of hope and redemption feels just as powerful now as it does on Christmas Eve.

Interestingly, when it first came out, It’s a Wonderful Life actually flopped at the box office. It didn’t even make back its budget and was considered a disappointment. But decades later, in the 1970s and 80s, when its copyright lapsed and TV stations could air it for free, it exploded in popularity and became the beloved holiday staple we know today.

The story follows George Bailey (played brilliantly by James Stewart), a good-hearted man who’s always put others first – saving his brother’s life as a kid, keeping the family business going to help the town, dreaming of adventure but staying in Bedford Falls out of duty. On Christmas Eve, when everything seems to crumble and he’s facing ruin, George hits rock bottom. He spirals into deep depression and even contemplates suicide on that snowy bridge, feeling like the world would be better off without him.

That’s when his guardian angel, Clarence, shows up and grants George’s wish by revealing what the world would look like if he’d never been born – a dark, greedy place without his quiet acts of kindness. Seeing the profound difference he’s made pulls George through, and he races home to his family and friends, who rally around him in one of the most heartwarming scenes in cinema, singing “Auld Lang Syne” as love and support pour in.

James Stewart himself was coming off World War II when he made this – his first film after serving as a bomber pilot. He suffered from what we now call PTSD: nightmares, shakes, guilt over lost men and civilian casualties. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to act anymore. But in those raw emotional scenes – like George’s breakdown or his desperate prayer in the bar – Stewart drew directly from his own trauma. It wasn’t all acting; it was real pain pouring out, making George’s despair feel incredibly authentic.

I’ve been there myself. In my past, I’ve felt that same darkness, like giving up on life entirely. I even thought the world might be better without me. (I’ve written a bit about this before, during Suicide Prevention Month.) But one day, when I was at my lowest, someone reached out and asked for my help – something small, but it gave me purpose. That was enough to keep going. No matter how tiny, a sense of being needed can pull you back.

Tragically, my little brother didn’t make it through his own battle. He ended his life 13 years ago, and the pain is still there, especially around the holidays. I miss him so much. Watching George pull through reminds me that even in our darkest moments, our lives touch others in ways we can’t see – and there’s always hope on the other side.

Here are some fascinating behind-the-scenes facts that make the movie even more special:

•  The innovative “snow” was a new invention: a mix of foamite (fire extinguisher chemical), soap, sugar, and water pumped through wind machines. It was quiet enough for live sound recording (unlike crunchy painted cornflakes used before) and won a technical Oscar. They used 6,000 gallons of this stuff – and filmed during a brutal California heatwave, so actors were sweating in winter coats while “snow” fell!

Donna Reed (Mary) broke a window with a rock in one take – surprising everyone, since they had a marksman on standby. Turns out she was a high school baseball star with a killer arm!

•  The passionate phone kiss between George and Mary was Stewart’s first onscreen kiss since the war – he was so nervous it was mostly improvised in one unrehearsed take. It was so intense they had to cut part of it for the censors!

When Uncle Billy stumbles off-screen and you hear crashing trash cans? That was a real accident – a crew member dropped equipment. Actor Thomas Mitchell ad-libbed “I’m alright!” and Capra loved it so much he kept it in.

•  The massive Bedford Falls set was one of the largest ever built, with real animals roaming for authenticity.

The film’s message – “No man is a failure who has friends” – rings true, especially when we’re hurting. Like George, we all have an impact we might not see until someone shows us.

In the spirit of hope, I love Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s words on mental health struggles: no shame in them, just like any illness, and help is available through faith and others. And from the Book of Mormon, Alma 36:27 reminds us that God supports us through every trial and will deliver us if we trust Him.

If you’re feeling low this holiday season, please reach out – to friends, family, a hotline, or Heavenly Father. Your life is wonderful, and you matter more than you know.

What about you? Have you seen It’s a Wonderful Life? Is it your favorite Christmas movie, or do you have another go-to? What’s a scene or moment that always gets you? I’d love to hear your thoughts or stories in the comments below – let’s share the holiday spirit together! 🎄