10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Making Of It’s A Wonderful Life

Few films have touched the hearts of the masses as much as It’s A Wonderful Life. Equally emotional and uplifting, Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film is the one that many viewers return back to again, and again.

There really is no other Christmas film quite as uplifting as It’s A Wonderful Life, let alone one that has been shared by multiple generations. Though we all know the movie by heart, here are some behind the scenes facts you might not have known about this classic Hollywood Christmas tale.

10 Christmas In July

Though a majority of the movie has nothing to do with Christmas, that final act turns the film into a holiday film without a doubt. Everything about the finale, from the sets, the effects, and acting scream Christmas time. It’s done so well you might have thought it was even filmed in December.

In actuality, the movie was filmed in July in the middle of one of the worst heat waves on record. All of the filming with snow and ice, with the actors running around in heavy coats was done in scorching weather. It got so bad, Frank Capra had to give everyone a day off to recuperate after one incredibly perilous day.

9 In Film Bloopers

Bloopers happen on every set. Actors forget their lines, crew members stumble into frame, or someone makes too much noise off the set. But, for the most part, these filmed moments are either delegated to a separate blooper reel or the trash.

When Uncle Billy waltzes off from the party drunk, you can hear him fall into a bunch of trash cans. In reality, a crew member off camera dropped a tray of props right after Thomas Mitchell, Uncle Billy, exited. Jimmy Stewart cracked up, and Mitchell immediately improvises the line “I’m alright!”.

8 The Prayer Scene Was Almost Lost

James Stewart is one of the most iconic movie stars of all time. His tenure alongside Capra and Alfred Hitchock made him an icon of classic Hollywood. His ability to convey deep emotion while remaining down to earth secured his stardom.

In the iconic prayer scene, Stewart was so enveloped at the moment that he broke down. Capra loved the performance, finding it the most captivating work Stewart had done. Sadly, he hadn’t zoomed in originally when filming. So, the reason the final shot looks incredibly grainy is due to Capra later re-framing the shot.

7 The Bank Run One-Liner

The film isn’t just a great Christmas movie, but a time capsule of the anxieties and moments of the time. It shows the happy days of the 20s turn into the Depression of the 30s, and finally the unification of the 40s and the war effort.

The bank run scene encapsulates this. When Stewart is handing out money to members of the savings and loan, Ellen Corby approaches the counter and asks for $17.50. This one-liner was done on the fly by the request of Capra who though the specifically small amount would deliver a funnier punch. The reaction Stewart gives is all genuine.

6 Cinematic Chrismas Connections

There are tons of casting connections between Christmas movies out there. Peter Billingsly, who plays Ralphie in A Christmas Story, for example, makes an appearance in the movie Elf. Funnily enough, there is another small connection like that between It’s A Wonderful Life and White Christmas.

Carl Dean Switzer, best known as Alfalfa from The Little Rascals, appears in the film as Mary’s date to the graduation dance. Switzer also appears in a brief cameo in White Christmas, as “Freckled-Face” Haynes, the brother to the Haynes Sisters.

5 Mother Knows Best

When it came to casting, Frank Capra didn’t have to look far for the role of George Bailey’s mother, Ma Bailey. Actress Beulah Bondi took on the role, embodying both the sweet and lovable mother as well as the mean widowed version in the alternate timeline.

This wasn’t the first time Bondi had played Jimmy Stewart’s mother in a film, though. Previously, she had played alongside Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Of Human Hearts, and Vivacious Lady.

4 Another George

It would be hard to imagine anyone else playing the role of Geroge Bailey other than James Stewart. Hollywood’s everyman, Stewart brought a definite groundedness and gravitas to the role that few other actors could convey.

But, when RKO had gotten the rights to the project, they had originally planned to cast Cary Grant in the role. The hunk of cinema’s golden age would have been a very different George Bailey. But, through pre-production changes, Capra recruited Stewart as the final choice.

3 Innovative Snow

Hollywood visual effects teams had been attempting to craft realistic fake snow for years. Before It’s A Wonderful Life, these artists would utilize cornflakes as snow substitute, dropping them onto sets and soundstages.

The only problem with this was the loud crunching that would accompany them. So, to remedy this, a new effect was created using a fire extinguisher chemical, soap, and water.  When pumped at high pressure through a wind machine, it created the perfect visual and texture for snow. It worked so well, the Effect Department received special Awards recognition for their work.

2 The Size Of Bedford Falls

The setting of Bedford Falls, the fictional hometown of George Bailey, is the perfect small-town location. Sadly, it is also completely fake. The entire town was assembled as a set, with fake buildings and all.

Constructed over the course of two months, it was one of the longest movie sets ever made at the time. Covering four acres of RKO’s Encino Ranch in California, the set included over 70 buildings, an industrial district, and an entire suburb. The main promenade, seen when George runs through the streets, covered the length of three city blocks.

1 Nick The Bartender’s Final Price

In the film, George Bailey touches the lives of everyone in Bedford Falls. Without him, the entire town would have gone to greedy developers, and many of his friends and family members might not have even been around.

But, apparently, George Bailey’s kindness alone wasn’t enough to keep Nick the bartender around. Sheldon Leonard, who played the friendly neighborhood barman, had no intention of joining the film out of actual interest. According to him, he only worked on the project to have enough money to buy baseball tickets.

About The Author

Matt Berger
(214 Articles Published)

Matt Berger is a writer, comedian, actor, Paddington enthusiast, and Corgi dad. He currently writes for Screen Rant, has written for Bloody Disgusting, hosts the Film School Sucked podcast, and co-hosts the Macabre podcast. Matt is an alumni of Portland State University with a degree in English and Film Studies.

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