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Originally posted by: BillyBuckeyeQuote
Originally posted by: bardolator2
"It's a Wonderful Life" is not strictly speaking a Christmas film. It was not intended to be a Christmas movie, and was actually released in January, but since the action occurs on Christmas Eve and there are elements in it resembling "A Christmas Carol", the film became associated with the holiday, much as wassail songs have done. It's an excellent film with a timely message but we don't watch it every year.
Interesting take bardolator2. Especially given the fact that the opening credits have borders of snow, snowmen, holly & ivy and even the last credit frame that states Frank Capra as being the director has a Santa in the Border. Also, the original story was called "The Greatest Gift" as in Christmas Gift. Lastly, the original albeit limited release was December 20, 1946. On all accounts, I believe this could be classified as a Christmas film - strictly speaking.
Even film historians can't agree on a studio's intentions, but Frank Capra's autobiography suggests this was deemed a Christmas movie at the beginning of the project. I will also mention the obvious -- that "It's a Wonderful Life" fell into public domain, so television stations didn't have to pay to broadcast it. This really explains the saturation it enjoyed for so many years. But, like most Capra films, it is a beautifully crafted struggle between the cynical and the sentimental, and deserves the place of honor it has accidentally achieved.
I grew up watching "Miracle on 34th Street" every year, but my favorite Christmas movie is "Meet Me in St. Louis." Not everyone considers this a Christmas movie, but that isn't my problem. Watch it to hear "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" as written, and not as revised.
Bob Clark's "A Christmas Story" is also on my list, as are "The Shop Around the Corner" and the "All Through the House" portion of the 1972 Amicus film, "Tales From the Crypt."
