About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

Brother Harry says it all when he toasts George with "A toast to my big brother George. The richest man in town."



Pros

• The movie is an excellent portrayal of the importance of support from family and friends.
• It contains the timeless message that relationships are more important than money.
• The movie Shows how marital love between two people can grow through the years.

Cons

• This film is not for people who don't like sentimental, sweet, nostalgic, family centered movies.

• Avoid the colorized version.

Description

• Don't wait until Christmas to watch this. It's worth viewing anytime -- especially whenever you are down or troubled.
• According to Clarence (Henry Travers), "Remember no man is a failure who has friends."
• Talk with your spouse about George (James Stewart) and Mary (Donna Reed) and the journey they travel together.

Guide Review - It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Some Great Scenes About the Journey of Marriage:
There are great scenes showing their realization that they love one another, their wedding night, and how their love for one another grows through the years.

Life Lessons:
This tremendous classic film has many messages about life. What you receive from watching it will depend on where you are on your own life journey.

Some lessons from the movie include:

• Marital love between two people can grow through the years.
• We are all valuable to our world.
• It is important to have families stick together in difficult times.
• Relationships are more important than money or possessions.

• It is important to reassess disappointments about the past.
• People helping other people is a tremendous strength and support.
• Most of us yearn to leave a legacy and to believe that our existence has mattered.
• The smallest contributions may end up being the most significant ones.