And It's A Wonderful Life is finally here! A very requested Christmas film and what a film it is!! I had so much fun with this movie and the ending brought me to tears through the amazing ensemble singing from the cast as well as just how the story unfolds. It was amazing to watch and I can't wait to watch this one again! Thanks for watching and have a great day! :)

Knowing that Jimmy Stewart was a WW2 Vet and this role helped him deal with his PTSD makes this film all the more special.

I just turned 52 (yes, Christmas) and have to admit, embarrassingly, that I didn't watch this film until I was well into my 40s. I always thought it was one of those popular things that you're just supposed to like (like the Kardashians) so I actively avoided it. I watched it almost a decade ago because it was playing at a Christmas party and I couldn't leave. Needless to say I was won over. Not only that, it's one of those films that gets better and better each time you watch it. Now I recommend it to everyone. Be glad you found this early so you'll have decades of holiday seasons to watch this again and again. Cheers.

Lionel Barrymore, who played Mr. Potter, kept pushing Jimmy Stewart to take this role and be George Bailey. Wracked by problems after his experiences as a war zone bomber pilot and as a commander. Not only the death and destruction of his wartime experiences giving him severe PTSD, the knowledge that he had sent so many other young men to deal death, and many to their own deaths, had all but destroyed his desire to act. Barrymore, who was confined to a wheelchair in real life, kept pushing Stewart until he finally agreed, and I read he credited this movie for really helping him break out of the despair of PTSD. He tapped into the PTSD a bit to fuel George's most desperate moments, giving him that extra look and feel of a man on the edge, like when he was praying at the bar. Heck, I'm 54 and I've seen this movie literally hundreds of times, and there will still be tears in my eyes making everything blurry every time I watch this. But I feel so much happier when it is over I never mind. And, obviously, I'll watch it any time of the year when I need a cheering up. 😀

Everyone should see this movie at some point in their life. One of those stories that puts things in perspective. Happy holidays and good will to all!

Mr Potter is Drew Barrymores great uncle. Her grandfather's brother. Her grand father was John Barrymore and Lionel and John s sister was Ethel who had a theatre in on Broadway named after her and their parents were in the theatre. The siblings were famous in theatre then in movies.

The "jump cuts" you noticed are likely the result of random missing film frames. Many older films are missing bits and pieces from repairs that eventually become noticeable. The versions available to us are an assembly of surviving reels. The only way to view the complete original version is if you had the master copies. Of course with film stock deterioration and its flammability there aren't many of them around anymore.

James Stewart's first movie since returning from WW2. His war experience brought a darker side to his acting. I highly recommend the 1959 Otto Preminger classic Anatomy of a Murder with Stewart, Author O'Connell and George C Scott.

there's a line in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: "It's against Roman law to take one's own life. The penalty's death"

Clarence: "Your brother, Harry Bailey, broke through the ice and was drowned at the age of nine." George Bailey: "That's a lie! Harry Bailey went to war! He got the Congressional Medal of Honor! He saved the lives of every man on that transport!" Clarence: "Every man on that transport died. Harry wasn't there to save them, because you weren't there to save Harry.” I get a lump in my throat every time I see that scene.

It's a Wonderful Life really is a wonderful movie. It is a great story with multiple layered themes of life, faith, family, and community. Jimmy Stewart and Lionel Barrymore are both legendary actors of their era and the rest of the cast is populated with well known, fabulous character actors. It even has H B Warner, a silent era star, as Mr. Gower. Loved your reaction, subscribed. Thanks.

75 years since this movie first came out. James Stewart was an American actor and military pilot. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. Stewart enlisted in the Army Air Forces soon after the US entered the Second World War in 1941. Stewart's first postwar role was as George Bailey in Capra's It's a Wonderful Life (1946). Although the film was not a major success upon release, he earned an Oscar nomination and the film has become a Christmas classic, as well as one of his most well known roles. {I'm so glad you enjoyed this endearing movie that is shown annually at this time of the year here in America}.

I should add… that I am glad you appreciated this masterpiece of a movie and chose it to react to. Most young people your age wouldn’t chose to watch it and wouldn’t be able to appreciate it. Thank you.

You hit the nail on the head when you said that it doesn't have to be a movie viewed only around Christmas. It's not just a great Christmas movie, it's a great film that can be viewed at any time of the year! I highly agree!

A woman who looks like Donna Reed becomes an old maid? Not a chance!

Mary is the real hero of the whole story.

What a lovely and intelligent, compassionate reaction! The song at the end is "Auld Lang Syne". Here's a Wikipedia article on it en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auld_Lang_Syne - the song has a pretty long history. Lionel Barrymore and James Stewart team up in another, older, movie, "You Can't Take It With You", which also features Jimmy the Raven with a slightly more active role than he has here. Barrymore plays a completely different character, and we get to see him walking for almost the last time on film - he had crippling arthritis and was confined to a wheelchair for many years.

Another fun movie from James Stewart is Harvey (1950) it's about a six foot tall invisible rabbit.

I had the good fortune to spend a week with Frank Capra in a seminar class at Florida State University. He mentioned one of his movie making techniques (more a screenwriting trick) that knocked the (or one of the) main characters so low everybody watching felt so bad; but later in the film, that bedraggled main character is uplifted by happenstance or by concerted effort to victory over the negative. Mr. Capra called those old-time, feel-good, sappy moments -- like Bert and Ernie singing outside the "bridal suite" in the rain -- "Capra-corn" (as in "corny"). Despite a lifelong struggle with physically debilitating migraine headaches, Mr. C gave the world some of the best cinema ever!

The swimming pool under the floor is real, it's Beverly Hills High School. When Uncle Billy fell and all of the crashing noises happened, it wasn't planned, he shouted "I'm okay," and the director decided to leave it in.

Good job, on the reaction. It makes me so happy that you can see past the age of the movie.

19:50 So, that thing with George kicking the car door shut, and later when he has the Christmas Eve meltdown and asks his son if their car isn't good enough, remember that? Well, I'd seen this movie a bunch over my lifetime and only recently realized, after watching lots of movies from the 30s for the last five years, that George's car was already old in the 30s. Since then, George's car has become very important to me. This movie came out in 1946, so let's assume it takes place at Christmas of 1945. So I looked it up and George's car is from 1919, a Dodge Brothers Touring Car, a nice car at the time. 1919 is the year that George was 12, the year the movie opens. That means that his car is 27 years old in 1945. It probably belonged to his dad. So here would be the Christmas of 2021 equivalent: you're helping people buy their own houses and you live in an abandoned house that your wife is slowly fixing up and your car is 27 years old, meaning you drive a beat-up 1994 Dodge Whatever. No wonder George was at the end of his rope, he's working his butt off, doing the right thing, and he just can't get ahead, which is fine until you need eight grand and you just don't have it. I really think that was the cause of the meltdown, everyone does better than him so when he's stuck, he thinks the pattern will repeat, he'll always get the short end of the stick. Poor George. I love his beat-up car from 1919. I would buy that car today if I could afford it.

Makes me wonder how many lives this movie has saved.Good job George...and Clarence!

The movie i watch every Christmas! So dear to my heart. Great reaction.

Watched this for over 1/2 a century and it never gets old...

"This is like a mix of "Back to the Future 2" and "A Christmas Carol". I think that is one of the best descriptions I have heard from a young reactor. I am so glad that this movie was on your list. The fact that it is from 1946 and shot in black & white didn't discourage you from enjoying the beautiful and impactful narrative. (I imagine that "A Christmas Carol" (Charles Dickens 1843) might have influenced the script and characterization to some extent, and since "It's a Wonderful Life" is such an iconic movie, I am sure that "Back to the Future 2 may have borrowed some of its premises from Frank Capra's classic.)

The guy who takes the key and opens the floor of the gym was Alfalfa in "The Lil' Rascals" films.

In real life, Lionel Barrymore (Mr.Potter) was a big softie. When building a new house, they heard meowing coming from within the walls. Opened it up, and found a litter of kittens! He adopted them all on the spot. (Mr. Potter probably would've made soup out of them,) Whenever I watch this movie and start to get mad at Potter, I just remember the "kitten in the wall" story.

I love the critiques in all of your reactions! I find myself not skipping over your commentary and find your journey through the films, especially this one, honest and thoughtful. I remember watching this in 3rd grade before Christmas break and I talked about it so much that Santa got it for me for Christmas.. I watch it every year and I’m 30 now! 👍

Down and out watch this movie. Shows if you hold on it comes full circle. The good you do some day returns.

Thanks, Oliver! 🌲 I've seen this one so many times... most winters, I squeeze it in my viewing schedule. I finally saw it on the big screen at The Music Box in Chicago a few years ago. They show it every December. The audience is really emotive, many wearing jingle bells, so they ring them at key moments. It was wondrous to share the experience with so many enthusiasts.

My favorite movie of all time. Absolutely fell in love with it on my first viewing. A life-lesson in nearly every scene.

Nick the bartender was played by legendary actor/producer Sheldon Leonard. The two main characters in "The Big Bang Theory" were named after him. The swimming pool partt was for Harry's (and Mary's) high school graduation. George graduated four years earlier. He was working at the Building & Loan until Harry could take his place, and then George would go to college for the next four years... until fate changed their plans.

Lionel Barrymore, who played Mr. Potter, is Drew Barrymore's great uncle. And the character's first name is Henry, and Harry is a nickname for Henry, so he is Harry Potter.

It’s a great film period, not just Christmas

Such a great classic Christmas movie. It's not the Christmas season without watching this film. A Christmas Story, A Miracle on 34th Street, Scrooged, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation are other must see films at Christmastime.

A number of years ago I was reminded of the scene where George crashes into the tree. One winter night, driving my parents' car home from work, it had snowed, and the traffic carved ruts in the street, and then the snow froze over. I was going down a short hill, when I began sliding, got locked into a set of the ruts, and was heading straight for this tree on the corner. At the last second I managed to pull it out of the ruts, but there was no time; I could hit he tree or the house behind it. So I just laid down in the seat (it was an old fashioned car with bench seats) and waited for the impact. After, I pulled myself out from where I'd been jammed below the dashboard and got out to look at my parents' ruined car. The homeowner came out, and the very first thing he did was to check on the tree. Then he began bitching about the scratches my bumper had made into it (later we found out that it had driven the bumper back 2 inches and sheared some of the bolts holding it). Scratches. Never once asking if I was okay.

@ 16:35 The "run" on the bank was the Great Depression still going on by 1932 in the movie. @ 20:22 Notice the silver skull Potter has on his desk there! I read you are going to watch this again so definitely do my friend, as I'm sure you missed out on a lot of subtle dialog and moments. @ 33:22 Yes, Ollie! The Butterfly Effect! You noticed it when George got his wish and the snow stopped, and came back later. There's a very interesting documentary about the study of chaos you'll enjoy called "The Secret Life of Chaos" (2010) hosted by Prof Jim Al-Khalili. Since you understand the Butterfly Effect you'll see where the term came from and much, much more. If you've seen Jurassic Park, recall Jeff Goldblum's character was a scientist studying the relatively new science of chaos and dynamic systems. It's A Wonderful Life is one of the best of Frank Capra's movies, but there are a couple others you should watch soon, "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" (1939) also starring Jimmy Stewart, and "Meet John Doe" (1941) a good introduction for you to Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck. ✌😎

"Why'd we have to have all these kids!?" That wasn't him lashing out at the kids or even Mary... That was him worrying, "What the hell's going to happen to my kids when I go to jail?!"

"Everyone on that transport died... Harry wasn't there to save them because YOU weren't there to save Harry" Really gives me chills every time I watch that. Think of every act of heroism, even simple good act that ever occurred in history and how many people, good people teaching and living good and heroic principles went into inspiring that person to commit that act. In the case of George Bailey as a child no doubt his Father and Mother and even his Early relationship he had built with George influenced George to save his life. Sam was one of those kids that formed the chain gang to pull George and Harry out of the water. Then think of Harry growing up and remembering what George and all the other boys Sam, Marty and others did for him as a kid. With that memory, how would he ever not TRY to help his comrades in arms and his family and friends later in his own life? When we perform simple or heroic selfless acts... it really is the most valuable and wonderful thing to do in our life it has the potential to change SO many other lives for good!

There’s a SNL skit that continues on from the end of the movie where they realize that the money was in the newspaper that Uncle Billy gave Potter.

Love your reaction. I have watched this for 65 years and it still inspires.

This was the first Jimmy Stewart movie I saw in school when I was 9-10 years old on VHS. He starts in a lot of Alfred Hitchcock movies as well later on, and some of them have been my favorite. His last film was An American Tail 2 in 1991. He passed away in 1997 due to a pulmonary embolism.

This movie is very emotional. They don't make emotional movies anymore but back in the day they knew how to make you cry or feel good on queue. Modern movies are just fantasy crap... dazzled by special effects but no heart or emotion

Recommend you watch 'You cant take it with you', 'It happened one night's and 'Mr Smith goes to Washington'. All Capra, all classics in there own right. Great reaction Ollie

The guy that opens the swimming pool is Alfalfa from the Little Rascals

Since you're enjoying Jimmy Stewart movies, some other excellent suggestions: 1) Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939); 2) The Shop Around the Corner (1940); 3) The Philadelphia Story (1940); 4) The Stratton Story (1949); 5) The Man Who Knew Too Much (1954 - directed by Hitchcock); 6) Strategic Air Command (1955); 7) Anatomy of a Murder (1959); 8) The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962); 9) The Flight of the Phoenix (1965); 10) Shenandoah (1965); 11) The Shootist (1976).

You’re one of the few or none who was able to find the black and white version!

HP - Henry Potter... a substitute for Henry is... Harry. Holy shit... I just now after all these decades realized... George's brother is named after Mr Potter!

This is and always be my favorite...my family gets mad because I don't miss a showing...my English term paper included this movie...I graduate at 56..back in 80's or 90's the royalties lapsed so for one whole Christmas season every channel ran this movie around the clock...I think I caught them all..

The thing about it being against the law to commit suicide is that insurance doesn't (usually) pay for suicides.

Auld Lang Syne and Hark the Herald Angles Sing are two of my favorite songs ever. Definitely partly because of this movie.

The actress actually made the throw in the window. 9:34

I hate to say this, but so many reaction videos are done by people who have no idea what's going on in the movie. They miss so many of the important moments and give such horrible takes. You Sir did an excellent job picking up on all the little things going on in the movie, and it was a pleasure watching an intelligent person give their reaction. Thank you!

No superheros, no explosions, guns, nude scenes, aliens, profanity, crudeness, et al. But a better movie hasn't been made in the last 30+ years. Food for thought

Henry Travers is really good in Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt as well.

@22:52 you said that this movie takes place right after ww2 and that its a Important film to have after world war 2. Your not wrong but if you follow the time of the story it follows 3 major events that killed people, the 1919 Spanish flu outbreak, the great depression and the bank collapse of 1929/1930 and ww2. Collectively the majority of your audience would have lived through those events or were born about that time so would hear stories about them. If you have death and destruction for 30 years at that point you were probably thinking what is the point of living. This movie reminded people you don't have to make it big to have a collective impact on the good of the World.

And ironically this movie bombed at the box office when it came out. It became popular in the 70's in reruns when the copy writes to the movie ran out and every channel in the world stared showing it. The original Star Trek was similar in this regard. It ran for 3 years in the 60's with not good ratings and was canceled just before we landed on the moon. Then it went into syndication right after the moon landing and the rest was history.

This movie is where the names, Bert and Ernie came from. Sesame street.

Such a great movie! The ending was so sweet and watching you take it in made it so much sweeter. Of all things for me to mention, it's funny you made the Bert and Ernie reference, I think I heard the Sesame Street characters were actually named after the Bert and Ernie from this movie. Nice touch putting yourself in black and white for the reaction!

Yes, Bert & Ernie from Sesame Street were named after Bert the cop and Ernie the taxi driver. As for the hand shake deal with Mr. Potter, George looks at his hand after it. When a person has a sweaty palm when they shake your hand, it is an indicator that the person is nervous and trying to trick you on the deal. George realized Potter’s 3 year deal was a trap. After three years, Potter would be free to fire George and leave him with nothing.

my belief if that Mary's wish was granted because it benefited everyone while George's wish was selfish only benefitting himself. Her wish was for George to never leave town without her, to marry George, to have the house and all there kids & George finally realizes what she wanted was what was best for both of them

Love your comments.

I recommend the musical version of Scrooge (1970).

yes, it's filled with Love, shows the difference between wants & needs, that loving endures suffering leading all who are involved in Goodness nearer to Heaven

my favorite Christmas movie

I have watched this every xmas since a little girl...Jimmy Stewart is so good!

Gets me every time!!😭

I saw some interesting similarities between this and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" which also has similarities to Mirical on 34th Street if you ever see that movie see what you catch.

Merry Christmas and Happy new year My friend. Excellent movie and excellent reaction.

A perfect, perfect film…..!

Suicide being against the law isn't exactly a punishable offense, it just means that his family wouldn't be able to collect his life insurance.

Another great Jimmy Stewart movie is Harvey, if you feel like more classics

I'm glad you enjoyed the movie....I enjoyed watching you enjoy it. :-) As for that "noose" you thought you saw at the bed--perhaps it was the end of the pull-chain for a bed-lamp which would have been attached at the top of the headboard. As for angels getting their wings--it's a cute concept and I've no objection to it in this story but actually, most kinds of angels don't have wings....and people do not become angels and earn wings-- according to the Bible. Fun to watch a wholesome movie? You bet!

Great movie . It's a Wonderful Life is more than a christmas movie I am not christen and I love it. It is a feel good movie and one of the first time travel element movies. It is so much about time travel or alternative realities that Back to the future allude to it :). Fun fact the movie was not a financial success when it came out and was forgotten. Only because of a copyright registration error ( Which was fixed decades later) the movie was considered public domain for years and because of the that the Tv Networks aired over and over every christmas till it became a cult classic. Another fun fact the scene with the uncle that was drunk and fell down was adlib because one of the stage worker dropped something in the middle of filming. I love George speech to Mr Potter about the working class. The actor who plays Mr Potter is by the way Drew Barrymore great uncle. If you want another great Jimmy Stewart movie you should watch Mr Smith goes to Washington or Rear Window. The snow in the film was a new a special effect especially made for this film ironically when the film was made it was very hot.

Sam is actually a really good friend to George and Mary but yeah he has flaws. But you'll see in the end.

-The greatest movie of all-time!

Merry Christmas Ollie!

Some people didn't like that Potter got away with the money, but I think they wanted to end up on a totally positive note, and recovering the Bailey B&L money from Potter would have made the town's generosity redundant at that point.

Cop and taxi driver: Bert and Ernie.

I caught you.😉 I OK, real men do cry.😁 I'm old, and crying, for the 5th time this season.

So the "Suicide is against the law around here' dialogue gets many questions. Decades and hundreds of years ago in U.S. history it was even MORE common that if you tried to hurt yourself you would be forcibly committed to an insane asylum by a judge. That's what the watchman at the bridge is likely alluding to. Not that they would be sent to prison or put to death for trying to kill himself but rather locked away for their own protection. Still happens today of course but we don't think about it that simply.

What can you say, It's a Wonderful Life. Absolutely Great Commentary and Reaction. It's a Frank Capra film and like Alfred Hitchcock, you may want to follow up with more of his films. 1946, IAWL wasn't a commercial success, but "Old Long Since" has become a beloved film. In 1946, another film met with more success, winning seven Academy Awards, "The Best Years of Our Lives." Not a typical movie about World War II, it might be definitely worth a look. It's a Wonderful Life, it's the best!

Great reaction--you might try some other Frank Capra movies--Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Meet John Doe--they are well worth a watch

VERY good reaction!

The best Scrooge is Alistair Sim, 1951. Frank Capra also directed Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1938). Care to see it?

the rumor with the Kiss Scene is that James was SO NERVOUS to kiss Donna Reed. eventually he just grabbed her and kissed her…and that’s the scene we got!

W00t !! You could totally star in a James Stewart BIOPIC ! :D

Great reaction, you nailed it again! Just like George Bailey, you appear to have been born with an old soul. Are you actually 60 or 70, with a painting in the attic that grows old while you stay young?

Good one. You're gettin better kid.

you're sad when it ends, because your soul realizes the high point for western society is past us

Sesame Street took Bert and Ernie from this movie

It took this 1985 episode of "Newhart" to get me to look for "It's A Wonderful Life": kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iL1zg8mdzby1ZGQ.html Good, you're watching the Monochrome original! Back then, Ted Turner was playing with color crayons to Colorize black-and-white movies to make them "marketable." (And possibly subject to copyright.) I saw the Colorized version on WTBS, but prefer the Monochrome original. Frank Capra turned the "Christmas Movie" genre upside down by making the mood dark and gloomy. First we see the thwarted life of George Bailey, then we see the Trigger Event, finally, the existential question is asked: Will the absence of one person make a difference in the town or the world? Even a certain Boston bar played the Monochrome version: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fqqqZpSgyMuYp5s.html Did you visit "Frostbite Falls" just down the road?;)

Have you reacted to ''A Matter Of Life And Death'' another brilliant film, also from 1946!

Please react to notorious by Alfred Hitchcock

Happy Nerduom

Hopefully you watch "A Muppets Christmas Carol"....one of the greatest Muppets Movie!...I think it was Jim Hensons last movie he worked on.

Grüße aus old germany.hav a nic das.

They did Not just let him fall in. The bucket was the stopping point they knew to stop at. Harry was lighter so on the ice he went farther. Maybe wait for the questions as usually the answer is about to come up in the movie. He said did I act like that when I graduated from high school, 4 years prior. Sorry but you miss a lot of things essential to the movie talking over scenes. Maybe pause the movie for a statement, then continue. Mr. Potter is Henry Potter.

The Bert and Ernie muppets were named after these two guys.