Review of It's a Wonderful Life (1946) by Andrea M — 05 Jan 2012

It's a Wonderful Life is, at least from my point of view, the greatest Christmas film of all time, and the best I have seen so far. A thought-provoking, elegant and beautifully acted film, it has all the elements of what a classic should be, and remains one of the most formidable works of cinematic nostalgia; nevertheless, it contains a great level of depth, making it all in all a pure artistic masterpiece. The film tells the story of George Bailey (Stewart), who, at the start of the film, is consoled by an angel, Clarence (Travers) after he had been desiring to commit suicide, later being shown the importance of his life and its significance to others.

First of all, the artistic side to the film is by far one of its fortes. The art direction is stunning, ranging from the beautiful shots of the village in which it is set, the fictional Bedford Falls, to the nostalgic music. The visual aesthetic of the picture is delicate and dreamy, adding to the film's 'old days' feel. Aside from the art direction and music, It's a Wonderful Life is able to blend genuinely humorous comedy with serious drama, all in a pleasant and gripping way. Whilst the film's setting is idyllic, the plot does not rule out some of life's harsher sides - financial difficulties, selfishness and greed (those of hard-hearted landlord Potter (Barrymore)). Yet even in the darker moments of the story, it is consistently optimistic and a pleasure to watch, heightened by Reed and Stewart's excellent performances. Ultimately, the beauty of It's a Wonderful Life is the depth of its meaning and its morals; there are many which arise from the film, such as the value of life even in the worst of times, as well as concept of prevailing good. And whilst it may have ended on a positive note, it is not in any way cheesy or happy-clappy.

Few holiday films are able to successfully combine imagination, depth, classiness and beauty. It's a Wonderful Life may well be the best of this rare lot.