8.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.4 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
George Bailey is a small-town man whose life seems so desperate he contemplates suicide. He had always wanted to leave Bedford Falls to see the world, but circumstances and his own good heart have led him to stay. He sacrficed his education for his brother's, kept the family-run savings and loan afloat, protected the town from the avarice of the greedy banker Mr. Potter, and married his childhood sweetheart. As he prepares to jump from a bridge, his guardian angel intercedes, showing him what life would have become for the residents of Bedford Falls if he had never lived.
Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell (I), Henry TraversFamily | 100% |
Holiday | 75% |
Drama | 47% |
Melodrama | 46% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.34:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (Original) (224 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (224 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (224 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Please God, let me live again.
Recognized as a fine film but hardly considered the classic it's hailed as today upon its initial
release in 1946, Director Frank Capra's (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) It's a
Wonderful Life took a turn for the wonderful over the years, emerging not as merely a
"good" or even "memorable" film, but an unmistakable classic not only because of its Christmas
setting (at least in the final act) but because of its enduring message on what it truly means to
be alive. Remembered for its strong performances from a post-World War II Jimmy Stewart (How the West Was
Won) and Donna Reed (They Were Expendable); exceptional casting and
performances of its secondary and tertiary roles; spiritual undertones; and thematic significance
as a story that conveys the true meaning of life, wealth, friends, and family, It's a Wonderful
Life is a rare film that has withstood the test of time and touched millions through its charm,
meaning, and purpose. Nominated for a handful of Academy Awards -- including Best Picture,
Best Actor, and
Best Director -- but failing to capture Oscar gold, the lack of any wins actually seems
fitting in context. Like the themes the movie espouses, it's not physical wealth but rather
admiration, love, and integrity that makes a man -- or a movie -- memorable, and It's a
Wonderful Life has ingrained itself into culture like few other films, its lack of Oscar wins
merely a footnote next to the adoration the film deservedly enjoys year after year from a loving
public.
Listen closely.
It's a Wonderful Life arrives on Blu-ray with a handsome 1080p, 1.37:1-framed transfer that preserves the film's original presentation by placing vertical black bars on either side of the image when projected on a 1.78:1 display. The image is consistently sharp, clear, and wonderfully detailed, with only the occasional shot going a bit -- but not distractingly so -- soft. Almost from the get-go, Parmaount's transfer impresses with the level of visible detail seen in the pharmacy where young George works; from the intricate lines on the old-style cash register to the clarity of the posters on the walls and the labels on the bottles, the transfer reveals a level of detail that is sure to impress even longtime fans of the film. Likewise, the transfer nicely renders the faint freckles as seen on young George's nose and cheeks, and it uses the 1080p resolution to wonderfully reproduce the fine details on clothing, particularly woolen men's suit jackets seen throughout the picture. Black levels are wonderfully realized, too. Disc two of this set contains a colorized version of the film. While purists will want to stick with the black-and-white edition, those wanting to see It's a Wonderful Life in a brand new light will want to give this version a spin. It's wonderfully done; vibrant from beginning to end, the colorized version -- from the Heavens above to the fresh white snow and everything in between -- might not suit everyone's taste, but it rarely looks fake and it helps to further bring out some of the finer details of the image. Flesh tones look rather pasty, but otherwise, the color version might make for a unique holiday treat for those yet to see the film in anything other than its original black-and-white version.
Though delivered with but a monaural soundtrack, It's a Wonderful Life's lack of a lossless or uncompressed 1.0 soundtrack option is something of a disappointment. Though this is certainly not the sort of material that's going to be leaps and bounds better one way or the other, one might reasonably assume a slight upgrade in clarity with a lossless mix. Nevertheless, the included Dolby Digital 1.0 track is sufficient in every regard. Limited to the original source material, the soundtrack features little range and the occasionally muffled musical note or sound effect. Music flows nicely enough but there's certainly not much in the way of precision or absolute clarity to be heard. A dance hall scene in chapter eight delivers suitably good sound effects, from the stomping of the dancers to the range of high and low instrumentals in accompaniment. The track features a few atmospheric sound effects, many of which are represented by passing and honking cars which at least give the impression of movement around the front middle portion of the soundstage. Dialogue is acceptably clear throughout. There's really nothing wrong, per se, with the track as-is when considering both the source material and the absence of a lossless option. Listeners should expect nothing but the basics and, as such, the track is just fine.
It's a Wonderful Life features two bonus materials, both found on disc one, the same one housing the black-and-white version of the film. The Making of 'It's a Wonderful Life' (4801, 22:45), hosted by Tom Bosley, takes a surprisingly enthralling look at the history of the film. It begins with a glimpse at the greeting card -- "The Greatest Gift" -- that inspired the film and moves on to share Frank Capra's involvement and his style of positive and uplifting filmmaking, Jimmy Stewart's performance, the casting of the secondary roles, several interesting anecdotes, the large set built to represent Bedford Falls, the fake snow, the film's premiere, its legacy, and more. The piece includes vintage interview footage with Capra, Stewart, and Sheldon Leonard; clips from the film; and behind-the-scenes footage. Also included is the It's a Wonderful Life original theatrical trailer (1080p, 1:48).
Certainly not a traditional Christmas Movie in the generic sense of the term, It's a Wonderful Life is nevertheless perhaps the one film that truly defines the spirit of the Holiday as it was meant to be understood. George's actions -- though he in no way sets out with such lofty ideals -- impacts the lives of all around him, and for the better, not because of power or wealth, but because of spirit and a sound heart. It's a Wonderful Life, then, states that being rich -- or being Mr. Potter -- doesn't equal being happy -- or George -- and it's when the definition becomes confused that life can take a turn for the worse. The film depicts wealth as the love of family, the respect of friends, and the nobility of being a good man, and in the end, it captures not only the spirit of Christmas but the meaning of life, a fitting combination seeing as how the two are forever spiritually entwined. Paramount's Blu-ray release of It's a Wonderful Life is itself wonderful. Though it sadly lacks a more robust supplemental section, it does offer a stunning picture quality (and the inclusion of a colorized version for those so inclined) and a monaural soundtrack that does all that's needed of it. For those that have seen It's a Wonderful Life dozens of times and newcomers alike, Paramount's Blu-ray release of this all-time cinema classic comes highly recommended.
1946
1946
75th Anniversary Edition
1946
2-Disc Collector's Edition Gift Set
1946
1946
Platinum Anniversary Edition
1946
1951
1994
2008
Warner Archive Collection
2016
2000
2018
1993
1984
2017
25th Anniversary Edition
1985
1989
2009
2020
Warner Archive Collection
1963
2014
Warner Archive Collection
2015
2005
1938
1985
70th Anniversary Edition
1947