This old classic film released in 1946, categorized as a fantasy/comedy film with a 2 hour and 45 minute run time, enchants its viewers with a 3rd person retelling of a kind-hearted selfless businessman’s life who contemplates ending his own due life to his feeling that he is worth more dead than alive.

On Christmas Eve, prayers from Bedford Falls are heard above in the stars, all for one man. That man’s name is George Bailey. For Clarence Oddbody to receive his wing, he must save his life. He is informed of some of the events that have happened in George’s life before he is allowed to go and help. These key events stood out to me the most, especially when he was 12 years old, he saved his brother, which ultimately led to him catching a cold and losing his left ear’s hearing. I wonder what if he never did this. Would he have been sent off to war but what else would have come out? Could he possibly have been able to achieve what he truly wanted to do? Or would he no matter what have always been stuck in the little town? When he was eventually allowed to return to his after-school job at a drugstore two weeks later, he saw that the owner was acting strangely and the owner was sent a telegraph notifying him of the death of his son. Entering the back room, he was given the responsibility of giving medicine to a young child who was ill. However, George never carried out the prescription delivery because he noticed that his hands had inserted the capsules incorrectly, potentially killing the patient. The boss made him swear not to tell anyone when he found out why he never followed through with the delivery George never did. When Georges’s father unexpectedly passed away from a stroke when he was 18 and about to set off in his own life, he had to stay in Bedford Falls to take over his father’s loan company in his brother’s place while he was serving in the military. 

Then, as viewers, we start to see a pattern of events preventing George from following his dreams of becoming an explorer and traveling the world.  He ended up continuing to run the Bailey loan business with his uncle Billy. 

Unfortunately, Uncle Billy ended up losing $8,000 to the bank teller which jeopardized everything George knew. After Mr. Potter utilizes Uncle Billy’s mistake, George believes his life has been wasted. This then leads George to get drunk and go to the bridge to end his life. At this point, Clarence shows George what life would be like for his loved ones if he had never existed. If he had never been there that day when he realized his boss had put something wrong in the capsules, then his boss would have spent time in prison for killing that young boy. 

This is why George realizes how much he impacts everyone around him. Their whole encounter gives George meaning to life, and his struggles and misfortunes cause the small town to explode with love and compassion. After returning home George is visited by family and friends who donate money to cover the missing money. In the end, Clarence fulfilled his mission of saving George Bailey and got his wings. 

I believe this movie’s message was about perspective and how focusing on unfulfilled dreams can make you ignore the meaning of your accurate contributions in this life. The happy ending in the movie fulfilled what it needed to but after the holidays does George maintain those feelings of joy of being at peace? Even after a few months, how is he doing when he returns to work? Does he ever go on and accomplish his dreams? We will never know. I like to believe he retired young and healthy with his wife and they travel the world.