Henry Travers, veteran Hollywood character actor, as Clarence Odbody, A-S-2 ... Angel, Second Class -- the most famous role of his career.

"Remember, no man is a failure who has friends." --Clarence.

Even More Memorable Quotations:

• "Hey look, mister, we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast, and we don't need any characters around here to give the joint atmosphere. Is that clear?" --Nick (a .WAV file).
• "Dear Father, I'm not a praying man, but if you're up there and you can hear me, show me the way. I'm at the end of my rope. Show me the way, oh God." --George.
• "Clarence! Clarence! Help me, Clarence. Get me back. Get me back. I don't care what happens to me. Get me back to my wife and kids. Help me, Clarence, please. Please! I want to live again! I want to live again. I want to live again. Please, God, let me live again." --George.
• "A toast ... to my big brother, George. The richest man in town!" --Harry Bailey.
• "Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings." --Zuzu.
• "Attaboy, Clarence." --George.

"You see, George, you've really had a wonderful life." -- Clarence.

"Merry Christmas, Bedford Falls!" (a .MOV file courtesy CNN Online).

Read the Lyrics to "Auld Lang Syne".

(For help opening any of the multimedia files, visit the plug-ins page.)

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE was based on an original story by Philip Van Doren Stern which the author enclosed with his Christmas cards in 1943 and privately published in 1945.  In addition to the original story and the famous film, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE has been remade as a radio adaptation (Lux Radio Theatre, 10 March 1947) in which Stewart and Reed reprised their performances, and a 1977 made-for-television movie (re-titled "It Happened One Christmas") starring Marlo Thomas. The 1946 film was colorized in the late 1980s by both Hal Roach Studios and American Film Technologies, whereupon Frank Capra commented, "They ruined it. They splashed it all over with Easter-egg colors and they ruined it. Even the villain looks pink and cheerful." (Newsweek, 27 June 1988, page 19).

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