Since I was a child I still get sad when I see the broken Mr. Gower... his face after Nick hits him with the seltzer.... and how they all laughed....

The guy who played Nick, the Bartender was Sheldon Leonard, who was born on this day, February 22, in 1907. The executive producer of the greatest sitcom of all time "The Dick Van Dyke Show." He launched his Hollywood career as an actor in movies and radio, where he was often cast to play a gangster, con man, or some similarly unsavory sort. He may be best known to modern audiences as Nick, the bartender in "It's a Wonderful Life." Carl Reiner often spoke of his indebtedness to Sheldon, who he acknowledged as the person most responsible for getting "The Dick Van Dyke Show" on the air, and keeping it there when the show suffered early ratings challenges. For that feat alone, Sheldon deserves all the respect accorded him to this day by members of the television industry. (Producer Chuck Lorre even named two leading characters on "The Big Bang Theory" after Sheldon Leonard. Can you name them?- Haha) Given Sheldon's central role in the genesis, evolution, and ultimate success of "The Dick Van Dyke Show," it may surprise you to learn that it wasn't even Sheldon's biggest TV hit. That honor goes to "The Andy Griffith Show," the still enormously popular series that Sheldon spun off from an episode of "The Danny Thomas Show," and then nurtured into a long-running series that would come to dominate CBS' Monday night schedule through eight prime time seasons, from 1960 to '68, spawning two successful spin-offs--"Gomer Pyle, USMC," and "Mayberry RFD"--along the way. Sheldon's creative hot streak continued into the latter half of the 1960s, when be brought "I Spy" to the screen, followed, a few years later, by "My World and Welcome To It," a short-lived but highly respected half-hour comedy loosely based on the life and works of the famed New Yorker cartoonist and writer, James Thurber. Sheldon Leonard died on January 10, 1997--about a month shy of his 90th birthday--having lived a wonderful life indeed.

"Out you two pixies go through the door our out the window!"

“That does it! Out you two pixies go, troo da’ door or out da winda!”

Although not credited, the piano player in the clip is the great lazz and blues pianist Meade Lux Lewis.

It really broke me swing Mr.Gower. His face just says it! He truly would’ve suffered the most had George not been there.

Best Christmas movie of all time

Came here just to see Meade Lux Lewis playing the piano! Thanks for share!

"That rumhead spent 20 years in jail for poisoning a kid. If you know him you must be a jailboid yourself."

FUN FACT:…Nick the bartender was none other than legendary tv producer, SHELDON LEONARD; better known as the Executive Producer of such tv hits as “I SPY” and “THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW”

We serve hard drinks here for men who want to get drunk fast.

At 3:22 when George and Mr. Gower exchange looks, I always felt that Mr. Gower was the only one who truly remembered George. Sure, we're in the alternate universe but I always felt that even though, George saved his younger brother's life literally, there were other kids around and could've saved Harry anyway. Even though the film later says he did in fact die, I still feel like there could have been a chance for another kid to save him. But no one knew about Mr. Gower's mistake except George. So he literally saved that kid from being poisoned and Mr. Gower. I feel like even in the alternative universe, Mr. Gower was allowed to have some memory of George but felt like he couldn't say anything to him. It's just a theory. I just love the look he gives George. It's a good balance of happiness to see George but then goes to extreme sadness.

It was a much darker world without George in it

"Where do u get off calling me Nick" "Well that's your name isn't it" "well that has nothing to do with it" 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

I like the look on Nicks face when Clarance says flaming rum punch.. Yeah flaming all right lol

The way Clarence says “two hundred and ninety three” so casually HAHA

One of my favorite scenes from this movie.

A favorite all time scene i love what Clarence orders at the bar

The best! Have a tear shed every year at Christmas when I revisit this great film!

Listen to bartender Nick's voice, and you'll recognize the inspiration behind the voices of "George Peterson" and "Sgt. Peterson from the Chicago P.D." in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Still my favorite movie

Bars on Christmas Eve nice

Clarence orders drinks the same way my mother-in-law does any time we go out to eat with her.

3:50 “Get the hell out of my bar!”

'Double bourbon, willya? Quick, huh"? My every drink order from now on.

Clarence was going to drink something. He could have drunk something previously during his tenure as an angel. He also could have just been naming off drinks he heard of during his observations. The first time I was in Southeast Asia I ordered a Singapore Sling, even though I had no idea what was in it. It just seemed the appropriate thing to order at the time.

People often wonder why Nick changed after George is shown how life would be without him . The answer is this simple, “Potter”. Potter runs everything and as you know Potter is a miserable man . Potter’s ugliness rubbed off on people . Nick worked for Mr. Martini and was of course surrounded by kindness. Potter if you will , Was basically the devil in the flesh. You see George was a ray of light for these people and knew how to stand up to Potter and set the example. Mr. Gower because George wasn’t there to prevent it , Poisoned the kid as we see here .

the best xmas film ever, and clarance the angel, fantastic.

In my 20's i found a bar similar to this. Except no music, very dark, no one spoke to one another. We were there to get drunk and not interestedin chit chat. Ive often thought back to that time and of all of us sitting in there killing the pain together wallowing in self pity. In 2 to 3 hrs i would be pretty sauced. Another hr of drinking i would drive home. Thank god i never hurt anyone

Best scene ever?

Funny in 1946 they had a movie about Alternate Realities :)

I love how they build up all these terrible things and then the angel’s like “You won’t be able to stand what happened to your wife, she’s a librarian!” Like what? I remember my first time watching, I was expecting something horrific after this scene, and it’s just nah, she’s wearing glasses now. Oh no

It's funny how 70 years later ... bartenders are even surlier.

Meade Lux Lewis playing piano, wonderful!

3:42 This would have been an Animaniacs moment here. Nick: Would you show them to the door? Yakko: That's ok, we can see it from here....😁 *The Warner Kids get thrown out of Nick's bar* Yakko: Was it something we said?

My favorite scene in this movie. BTW, that drink Clarence had ordered, do a drink like that really exist?

Cheryl...thats a very good point!! (about the Flaming Rum Punch and Mulled wine) hahahh VERY good!

Coal in your stocking. Merry Christmas Nick.

That was funny when Nick was ringing the register and saying, I get my wings...bajhahahah

The lady at 3:04 seemed to have the most sympathy of all the people in that room.

The bartender was a celebrity panelist on Match Game.

This is my favorite scene

Nick used a seltzer water from the seltzer bottle to spray at Mr. Gower in the face.

❤❤

Ouwt yuu too pixie's i love that line 😂😂

I love your laughter, it's cute

This is my Favorite Part of the Movie

Irony is Nick is the only one in town doing better without George except Potter. Nick owns the bar in the George-free universe.

Love it!

Is the piano player in this scene famous blues player Meade Lux Lewis? Looks like him!

Clarence is the man!!!!

"dat does it! out you two pixies go true da door or out da winda!"

Anyone else heard that one scene from Sam and cat and wanted to know what the joint atmosphere was?

Mulled wine is a very old drink.

Crazy side fact: I'm known as the "Mr. Gower" of my street. It happens.

I'm just here to hear Jimmy Stewart say "heyyy...little fella.." 😊

When this part comes on, I think of all the hours of you and "Nick." We spent hours being Nick. :) I absolutely LOVE this movie and Nick is my favorite. Every year I look forward to hearing him and remembering you impersonating him. Sheldon Leonard was unique, just like you were. I miss you very much. :'( "Hey look, I'm the boss. You want a drink or don't you? OK." "Look mister, I am standing here waiting for you to make up you mind." "Hey look Mr. We serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast, and we do not need any characters around to give the joint atmosphere. Is that clear? " "That does it. Out you two pixies go through the door or out the window. Now that's another thing. Where do you come off calling me Nick?" What's that got to do with it?" "Ah, would you show these gentlemen to the door? I'm givin' out wings."

I agree, totally.

Interestingly enough, Sheldon Leonard (Nick) essentially used the same voice several years later for the blink-and-miss-it Looney Tunes character Dodsworth.

Sheldon Leonard is the bartender, Nick.

I'm still laughing at how nick said "is that clear?"

the line is "...heavy on the cinnamon, light on the clove.".. . does not matter whether they drank that in 1650 or not, the order was connotative of antiquity....Dickens loved punch.... Mr. Gower, absolute pathos, and then some.

If he doesnt want to give the joint atmosphere, why does he have the guy playing the piano

Never heard that expressions before, "Adam's off ox"

Those brooklyn guys like him don't exist no more

The reason I deleted my original comment is because I found out what happened to Mr. Martini in the Pottersville universe. It turned out that Mr. Martini and his family had died when a fire broke out in their rental house in Potter's Field. Since George Bailey had never been born the Martinis had never moved out of Potter's Field. He was buried nearby Harry. Unfortunately they cut out of the final film that George also discovered his friend's grave when he discovered his brother's grave.

I like Nick the Bartender The best, There was a Guy that worked in a Bar Here In NJ That sounded Just like Nick.

"Double bourbon, willya?" My drink order from now on.

If you want a Pepsi you’re gonna pay for it, pal

Why is Nick so mean in the alternate universe?

If your name is Nick, and you own a bar, and you put a sign outside that says "Nick's," and you tell a new customer you're the boss, then why should it be any wonder where he comes off calling you "Nick," even if you don't know him from Adam's off ox?

You’ll see a lot of strange things from now on - that’s you people -

I worked in a Bar with a Guy Named Nick. Actually he was My Boss.Sound Just Like him.too But He was a Great Guy.

I just started bartending and you do get some weird people who stop in. Kinda wishing I could have them leave the way Nick does lol!

Uploaded via a potato c'mon man!

Does anyone know who Madam Sorfonz may have been?

What's on my mind? "I was thinking of a flaming rum punch!"

So, if George Bailey had never been born, then Nick would have owned his own business, instead of working for Mr. Martini. Nick had a "better life" without George Bailey. 😆🤣😂

get out you pixies! he thinks they are gay. talking about angels and wings and clarence's fuss budget ways. there's a sophistication in the movie

LOl mulled wine!

Evil Nick sounds like a Mafiosi

1:01

he didnt say he had it the day he was born

Cool movie. Filmed in 1942 in 100 degree weather. Fake snow everywhere.

2:40

0:39

Sheldon Leonard

3:50

Surly don't care about anyone but surly.

Great movie, but I wish Capra had the angel look and act the way they usually do when they appear on earth: great-looking, imposing. They scare the wits out of people ... have to calm the folks down. If they wanted a drink they'd order a triple bourbon.

They had mulled wine since the B.C.s.

This movie is iconic of course, but Nick’s voice always sounded a little too cartoony to me. It sounds like someone doing a really bad Bob Dylan impression.

I always preferred Potterville and identified with the bartender.

Why was nick different in this alternate world

hahaha... I LOVE this classic. I'm not ashamed to say it. But notice, the only Black person in the room here is the guy playing "boogie woogie" on the honky-tonk piano. 😃oh. MY.

so what happened to Martini in this alternate reality?

Nick was based.

I know this is blasphemous to say but doesn’t Pottersville look a lot more interesting than Bedford Falls.

It's so tiring having to sift through clips of people who have videotaped their TV with awful video and audio quality, bad angle and, heaven forbid, handheld, with a menu and volume bar on the screen, instead of having a real clip from the freaking film.

Nick implying they were two gays after him ordering the drink. do you have a place to stay? get these two pixies out of here.