"Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?" We will never know all the lives we've touched, because we did not receive George's gift; "a chance to see what the world would be like without you." But know this, you do make a difference! 🤗 No matter who you are, how you feel, what you think, why things are the way they are now, which stage of life you're in... keep putting one foot in front of the other 🚶👣👣 The world would've been vastly different if you were not born. Well, you're here now, so make the most of it! 😊

1:50 Shops that sold cigars used to have counter-top lighters. They were unreliable, so it was said that if you could get one to light on the first try, your wish would be granted.

One of those films that can rightly be called ‘perfect’.

Your emotion at the end was totally appropriate. I always say that if you don’t shed a tear during this movie I question if you have a soul. Beautiful reaction ! Thank you !

Christmas woudn't be Christmas without It's A Wonderful Life.... Food for the soul!

You're young and like many people of your generation, you may not be aware of some of the nuances of early 20th century America, unless you study history. As a kid George is working for a druggist, it's 1919. That shop is known today as a pharmacy but back then they also served as soda, candy & ice cream fountain shops. You couldn't buy sodas or ice cream just anywhere like today. Most people didn't own electric refrigerators yet, it was a fairly new invention. So people would go to fountain shops, have comfort food and hang out. Tying a string on your finger was used by some people to remind them not to forget something important.

Bailey park was the result of what Georges dad had been doing all his life with the Building and Loan and George continued it.

Growing up in the 60s and 70s most drug stores still had a soda fountain. they made sodas, lemonade, ice cream, sundaes, milk shakes, floats and sometimes sandwiches and burgers. The big chain pharmacies put an end to that.

The bar you are referring to that George works at is a Soda Fountain. Until the 1990s or 80s in America, drug stores commonly had soda fountains that made soda drinks and ice cream and such.

Thanks for your lovely reaction. Season’s greeting to all!

Thanks for sharing your reaction, it's a gift for us to watch. 😊 The Bailey Building And Loan was making some money, George was able to pay himself a $45 per week salary, which wasn't nothing back then. They just considered Peter Bailey, and George also, not good businessmen because they didn't get rich off their business dealings. They could have exploited people, charging 2x as much for the houses they built, and took advantage of people who had fallen on hard times, but didn’t. It didn't make them rich in money, but rich in life 😊

What a great xmas gift, watching your reaction to this awesome movie.

Oh, the string on fingers was an old school way to remember things. Every time you looked at the string you were supposed to remember whatever it was you had to do.

Loved your reaction. I have seen this movie countless times and it affects me every time.

People used to talk about tying a string on their finger--to help them remember that they needed to do something.

You said "thankfully he still has his clothes" hahaha that made me laugh out loud

I think It's a Wonderful Life has a masterful screenplay because the exposition is given so delicately and with an emotional reality. And it's directed perfectly. Every shot IS a perfect shot in each situation that occurs whether it be George talking to his father at the dinner table or a moment of sudden realization when he walks into a closeup. And I always think of Potter as the king of darkness because without George in the world Bedford Falls turns into a film noir called Pottersville. Truly brilliant. And while George is our protagonist, Mary is the hero since George is anguished about what may have been possible for him, Mary is about what really IS. And then there's the acting...

The lighter machine that George makes his wishes on were called different names. When I was a kid they weren't very common anymore but they still existed. There was one in my neighborhood drug store it was labeled " Aladdin's Lamp " it would only light once in every 20 tries or so. The slap Mr. Gower gives George was called "Boxing a kids ears" a common discpline at the time.

Lasso the moon was first in this movie. It was alluded to in "Bruce, Almighty."

What a pleasant surprise to see this reaction appear on my feed today. This is probably my all time favorite film, not just Christmas film. Loved your reaction, Henry, you get the spirit of this movie. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! 🎄

There was a run on the banks in 1932 - 4 yrs after the 1928 graduation of Harry - thousands of banks closed across the country.

Jimmy Stewart used his ptsd from his recent days as a WWII pilot to tap into the emotions in some scenes. He had recently been grounded by the military because of his ptsd. I believe this was his first movie since returning.

Many drugs that were (are) used to make certain medicines can be poisonous in certain amounts, or in combination with others, or used without other buffering ingredients. Those bottles were always specially marked for pharmacists. Mr. Gower’s shop was a combination of pharmacy, some household items, a “soda counter” which had ice cream, coffee, sometimes sandwiches, etc. When Walgreen’s first started, many of them had soda counters.

The goat in the car functions as director Frank Capra’s signature, “Capra” being “goat” in Italian (think of Capricorn). In this film, Frank Albertson plays Sam Wainwright and offers $25K. When he plays Cassidy in PSYCHO, his wad has grown to $40K as if by inflation.

Thank you for your thoughtful reaction!

To my big brother George, the richest man in town.

It doesn’t start to snow again until he says Please, God, I want to live again.

Actually, Jimmy Stewart's next movie was Hitchcock's Rope (1948) George was upset about staying in Bedford Falls is why he was upset during his visit to Mary.

What everyone forgets is Sam Wayne Right would not be rich is George never lived. It was George idea.

George was hesitant to go see Mary because she was the marrying type. Where as Violet would have been a fling. He was torn between his love for Mary and his dreams of traveling. He didn't want to settle down.

Director Frank Capra's masterwork. He also produced the film and he made one of the greatest marketing flubs by releasing the film during summer 1946 when he should have made it a Christmas 1946 release.

People used to tie a string around a finger to remind themselves they had to do something.

Wonderful reaction to a classic movie!

Sometimes people would tie a string around their finger to remind them of something. I would put a rubber band around my wrist for the same purpose.

Great reaction and Merry Christmas to you as well thank you

Thank you for your thoughtful reviews

Great reaction ! ❤ Thank you ! You’ve got to watch « You Can’t Take It with You », same director also starring James Stewart and Samuel Hinds (Pa Bailey) and you’ll find out how sweet and gentle Lionel Barrymore (Potter) can be ! Greetings from France 🇫🇷

The movie really does make the details count. For instance, during the poisoned medicine scene, George walks in on his dad and Potter clashing. George stands up to Potter. This all helps draw the characters and foreshadows how their lives will play out. A lesser movie might have simply had the dad be too busy to help him and the people at the savings and loan might have just told him to go away. One thing about this movie always makes me laugh, Uncle Billy being allowed to handle thousands of dollars. I get that he's family and they want to be respectful, but are they crazy?

The one character who wound up much better off in alternative Pottersville NY was Mary Hatch--she was a public librarian, a spinster with of course no husband and no four kiddos.

Not just for Christmas! Every story depends on its villain and mr Potter is a great villain.

Merry Christmas henryellow

You have my vote !! Merry Christmas !!

I've watched all these reactions and alot of you say I don't get the string on his fingers. It was when you tied a string to your finger to remember something. He forgot why he tied them

Yes, some US states do have laws against suicide even to this day.

Keep up the good work. Your reactions are heartfelt, interesting, and touching!!!! Thank you for spending your time with us in an entertaining and enjoyable way!!! Love from Canada!!!

The end of Its A Wonderful Life is exactly what Christ wanted for us. That is heaven on earth. Think about it. George even turns the other cheek by yelling, "Merry Christmas Mr. Potter!" The greatest, most timeless movies have what can be considered the greatest endings in film history. Thats Casablanca, Gone With The Wind, Titanic, Citizen Kane, The Wizard of Oz and Its A Wonderful Life.

James Stewart, my all time favorite actor in most every genre except musicals❣️

Its A Wonderful Life is not only the greatest Christmas movie ever made, its the greatest Christian movie this side of The Passion. This movie shows us how wonderful a true Christian society can be. And then Its A Wonderful Life shows you the flipside, which we live in Pottersville.

In a way this is the very first twilight zone episode

Actually, this was only a couple years before Rope.

The building and loan will be taking a small cut, and charging interest. They'll be making enough money to keep going, and pay those who work there enough to live off, but they won't be making the kind of exhorbitant, crushing (to customers) profits that Potter (or in fact most modern banks) would make. So to Potter they're 'not making any money'. Suicide used to be a crime in many places. If you tried and were unsuccessful, you could be prosecuted for 'attempted self-murder' in the US and UK (UK that changed in the 60s, not sure about when in the US). It's where the phrase to 'commit suicide' (like to 'commit murder') comes from.

Watch this one every Christmas with the family :)

Good people, doing good things, in a good way is the fuel that keeps the bad guys in check...even if it is just a YT channel.

I celebrate Christmas because Jesus is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas. What a classic and I love what you said. Thanks.

wheres ma clothes.. wheres ma clothes...what the sam hills going on here?!!!

His stand-off attitude when visiting Mary after his brother returned from college had nothing to do with Mary. It was just a bit earlier that same day that he realized that his life long dreams had just been crushed, which is obviously what was occupying his every thought and emotion at the time, romance being the farthest thing from his mind at the time….. Pay Attention 😊

good job. thanks

VE victory in Europe (nazis) VJ victory in Japan