Principal cast
James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell and Henry Travers
Film 11 of 498 on the Screen Path
It's a Wonderful Life
It's a wonderful laugh! It's a wonderful love!
About the film
It's a Wonderful Life at a glance.
Screen Path places this 1946 film at stop 11 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.
George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George's modest building and loan company. But on Christmas Eve the business's $8,000 is lost and George's troubles begin.
Key craft credits
Joseph F. Biroc (director of photography), Joseph Walker (director of photography), William Hornbeck (editor), Dimitri Tiomkin (original music composer) and Albert Hackett (screenplay)
- Director
- Frank Capra
- Release
- 1946-12-20
- Runtime
- 131 minutes
- Genres
- Drama, Family and Fantasy
- Country
- United States
- Quiz
- 25 questions
The Screen Path journey
Before. After. Remember.
The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.
01
Before you watch
Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.
Spoiler-free02
After the film
Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.
Contains spoilers03
Quiz yourself
Answer 25 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.
25 questions in this journeyCitizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.
Start the example →Full cast
Full cast
- James StewartCharacter: George Bailey
- Donna ReedCharacter: Mary Hatch
- Lionel BarrymoreCharacter: Mr. Potter
- Thomas MitchellCharacter: Uncle Billy
- Henry TraversCharacter: Clarence
- Beulah BondiCharacter: Mrs. Bailey
- Frank FaylenCharacter: Ernie
- Ward BondCharacter: Bert
- Gloria GrahameCharacter: Violet
- H.B. WarnerCharacter: Mr. Gower
- Frank AlbertsonCharacter: Sam Wainwright
- Todd KarnsCharacter: Harry Bailey
Full crew
Full crew
- Frank CapraCredits: Director, Producer, Screenplay
- Philip Van Doren SternCredits: Original Story
- Joseph F. BirocCredits: Director of Photography
- Joseph WalkerCredits: Director of Photography
- William HornbeckCredits: Editor
- Jack OkeyCredits: Art Direction
- Frances GoodrichCredits: Screenplay
- Albert HackettCredits: Screenplay
- Jo SwerlingCredits: Additional Writing
- Michael WilsonCredits: Additional Writing
- Dimitri TiomkinCredits: Original Music Composer
- Daniel HaysCredits: Special Effects
- Phil SternCredits: Still Photographer
- Clem PortmanCredits: Sound
- Gordon BauCredits: Makeup Artist
- Emile KuriCredits: Set Decoration
- William Cameron MenziesCredits: Art Direction
- Arthur S. Black Jr.Credits: Assistant Director
- Richard Van HessenCredits: Sound
- John AalbergCredits: Sound
- Russell A. CullyCredits: Special Effects
- Russell ShearmanCredits: Special Effects Supervisor
- Lila FinnCredits: Stunts
- Homer PlannetteCredits: Gaffer
- Paul MarquardtCredits: Orchestrator
- Victor MilnerCredits: Cinematography
- Edward StevensonCredits: Costume Design
Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.