Generations of film followers depend It is a Great Life as probably the most beloved and timeless Christmas film in cinematic historical past.
The 1946 movie stars Hollywood legend Jimmy Stewart because the hapless and penniless George Bailey who wanted a Christmas angel to point out him what the world can be like with out him.
It is a healthful household film with a stupendous lesson on the finish of it. Behind-the-scenes, nevertheless, was a really totally different story.
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In line with experiences over the previous 70 years, the set of It is a Great Life was fraught with pressure and feuding between Stewart and his co-star, Donna Reed.
All of it started over Stewart’s hesitation at returning to the brilliant lights of Hollywood following a embellished army profession throughout World Battle II.
Stewart had labored as an Air Power bomber pilot and had been away from his profession for 5 years. Director Frank Capra had been too outdated to enlist, however he had joined the Military Corps.
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Due to this expertise, the actor was not sure he even needed to return to creating motion pictures.
“There was a whole lot of insecurity on set, as a result of Jimmy Stewart wasn’t positive if he needed to behave any extra,” Reed’s daughter Mary Anne Owen stated throughout the documentary The Making of It is a Great Life.
“He thought it was too frivolous, however Lionel Barrymore and others talked him into it.”
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She added: “They had been each totally different folks getting back from these experiences going into the making It is a Great Life.“
Owen stated that, surprisingly, when the film first hit cinemas, it did not usher in any rapid field workplace success. The film didn’t make a revenue and recoup its $2.3 million (approx. $3.4 million) funds when it opened.
Stewart took this tough, she claims, and blamed Reed for the movie’s failings.
“Jimmy Stewart could not perceive why the film did not do effectively, however that is why they by no means did one other film collectively. He blamed her, as a result of she wasn’t as well-known,” she revealed.
“She was fairly glad when it got here out. I imply, she handed away in ’86, however by the early ’80s it was on always. We all the time watched at Christmas and he or she was so glad that it was so common.”
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Reed, who performed George’s spouse Mary within the vacation movie, had appeared in minor roles all through the ’40s, and the black-and-white image marked her huge break as a number one woman.
“This film made an icon of Donna Reed,” movie historian Jeanine Basinger stated within the documentary.
Director Frank Capra borrowed Reed “on mortgage” from MGM and he or she was shocked to seek out the set was “crammed with pressure”.
Stewart’s angle impacted the manufacturing and Reed, who was solely 25, was then handled as a “scapegoat” for the movie’s lack of success.
Unsurprisingly, the pair by no means labored on a film collectively ever once more.
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Reed herself nonetheless had fond reminiscences making the movie and was happy at its reputation as an everlasting Christmas traditional.
In 1982, throughout an American Movie Institute tribute to Frank Capra, Reed stated: “After I completed making that movie, I assumed maybe I may not make any extra motion pictures.”
“I suppose I knew on some deep stage that I might by no means have one other expertise in a movie to equal it.”
Stewart, who died in 1997, went on to reward his co-star after her dying in 1986, lastly placing an finish to over 50 years of hypothesis.
“I am going to all the time keep in mind her as an exquisite girl and as my spouse in It is a Great Life,” he informed Related Press.
“I do not know of anyone who may have performed the position higher. She was completely marvellous.”
