20, 1946, so that it could be considered for the Academy Awards but went into general release on Jan. And get this: Out of the 400 films released in 1947 (it was technically released on Dec. Sure, not an epic financial and critical failure on par with "Ishtar," "Gigli" or "Santa Claus: The Movie" but a disappointment nonetheless. The film received generally mixed reviews - it did, however, garner five Academy Award nominations but won none - and was somewhat of a box-office flop, failing to recoup its $3.7 million cost (it made $3.3 million during its initial run). Moviegoers must not have been feeling all that sentimental in December 1946 because that wasn't the case at all. You'd think that given its "totally beloved by everyone" status, "It's a Wonderful Life" would have been embraced by both critics and the public alike immediately after its release.
Donna Reed, an actress who went on to become the ultimate upper-middle-class TV housewife, ultimately secured the role.
Jean Arthur, Olivia de Havilland, Ann Dvorak and Ginger Rogers, who called the character "too bland," were all said to be in the running for the role of Mary Hatch Bailey. As they tend to do in Hollywood, things fell through and the project languished before acclaimed director Frank Capra came on board in 1945 and named Jimmy Stewart as his leading man in the role of suicidal do-gooder George Bailey. RKO Pictures wound up getting a hold of "The Greatest Gift" and bought the rights to the story with Cary Grant pegged as the star. After spending several years trying to sell his story to publishers with no success, Stern self-published his work and sent it to 200 friends as a 21-page Christmas card in 1943. "It's a Wonderful Life" is based on "The Greatest Gift," a 1939 short story written by Philip Van Doren Stern. However, it is a beautiful film, and is one of the few that you can watch again and again and walk away with the same glowing feeling as you did when you first watched it.Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer (right) as 'Alfalfa' with fellow Our Gang cast members George 'Spanky' McFarland and Darla Hood. This is not a rose tinted look at the wonderful life we have, this is a dark, downtrodden start to a film where the lead character is about to commit suicide. You're pulled on a roller coaster of emotions throughout this film, and by no means is this a light hearted look at life, as many believe. I challenge anyone to watch this film and not be touched, if you can, you have no heart! James Stewart is one of my favourite actors, and in this film he acts so naturally you even forget he's an actor playing a part, you really believe his story. I challenge anyone to watch this film and not be touched, if you can, you have no heart! James Stewart is one of my favourite actors, and in this film he acts so naturally you even forget he's an actor playing a part, you really This is one of the best films of all time, without a doubt. This is one of the best films of all time, without a doubt.