It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life

Director: Frank Capra | Genre: Drama, Family, Fantasy

Released: 1946 | Runtime: 130 min


An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.


Stars of this Movie

It's a Wonderful Life Quotes

  • Nick : [ slamming a bottle on the bar ] That's it! Out you two pixies go... through the door, or out the window!
    George Bailey : Hold on, Nick! What's wrong?
    Nick : That's another thing. Where do you come off calling me Nick?
    George Bailey : Well... Nick, that's your name. Isn't it?
    Nick : What does that have to do with anything? I don't know you from Adam's off Ox.
  • George Bailey : Now, come on, get your clothes on, and we'll stroll up to my car and get... Oh, I'm sorry. I'll stroll. You fly.
    Clarence : I can't fly! I haven't got my wings.
    George Bailey : You haven't got your wings. Yeah, that's right.
  • George Bailey : Well, maybe I left the car up at Martini's. Well, come on, Gabriel.
    Clarence : Clarence!
    George Bailey : Clarence. Right... Clarence.
  • [ George has discovered his brother Harry's tombstone ]
    Clarence : [ explaining ] Your brother, Harry Bailey, broke through the ice and was drowned at the age of nine.
    George Bailey : That's a lie! Harry Bailey went to war! He got the Congressional Medal of Honor! He saved the lives of every man on that transport!
    Clarence : Every man on that transport died! Harry wasn't there to save them, because you weren't there to save Harry.
  • George Bailey : Just a minute... just a minute. Now, hold on, Mr. Potter. You're right when you say my father was no businessman. I know that. Why he ever started this cheap, penny-ante Building and Loan, I'll never know. But neither you nor anyone else can say anything against his character, because his whole life was... why, in the 25 years since he and his brother, Uncle Billy, started this thing, he never once thought of himself. Isn't that right, Uncle Billy? He didn't save enough money to send Harry away to college, let alone me. But he did help a few people get out of your slums, Mr. Potter, and what's wrong with that? Why... here, you're all businessmen here. Doesn't it make them better citizens? Doesn't it make them better customers? You... you said... what'd you say a minute ago? They had to wait and save their money before they even ought to think of a decent home. Wait? Wait for what? Until their children grow up and leave them? Until they're so old and broken down that they... Do you know how long it takes a working man to save $5,000? Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about... they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him. But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well in my book, my father died a much richer man than you'll ever be!
  • George Bailey : [ yelling at Uncle Billy ] Where's that money, you silly stupid old fool? Where's that money? Do you realize what this means? It means bankruptcy and scandal and prison! That's what it means! One of us is going to jail... well, it's not gonna be me!
  • Nick : [ ringing the cash register repeatedly ] Get me. I'm givin' out wings!
  • Mr. Potter : [ to George Bailey ] Look at you. You used to be so cocky. You were going to go out and conquer the world. You once called me "a warped, frustrated, old man!" What are you but a warped, frustrated young man? A miserable little clerk crawling in here on your hands and knees and begging for help. No securities, no stocks, no bonds. Nothin' but a miserable little $500 equity in a life insurance policy. [ Potter chuckles ]
    Mr. Potter : You're worth more dead than alive!
  • Nick : 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 to give the joint "atmosphere". Is that clear, or do I have to slip you my left for a convincer?
    George Bailey : [ intervening ] Nick, hold on. Just give him the same as mine. He's no trouble.
    Nick : Okay. [ Nick walks away to tend to the bar ]
    George Bailey : [ to Clarence ] What's the matter with him? I never saw Nick act like that before.
    Clarence : You'll see a lot of strange things from now on.
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