STAR RATINGS EXPLAINED

Classic

Excellent

Good

Fair

Tragic

FILM DETAILS

Certificate U

Cast James Stewart Donna Reed Lionel Barrymore

Directors Frank Capra

Screenwriters Frances Goodrich Frank Capra Albert Hackett

Running Time 129 minutes

It's A Wonderful Life (U)

Plot
When his savings and loans company crumbles, George Bailey (Stewart) stands on a bridge on Christmas eve, contemplating suicide. Then and angel (Travers) visits him, and shows him what the world will be like without him.

Verdict
Although peppered with colourful, sharply drawn characters, this is Stewart's movie, instantly loveable as a small town dreamer who sacrifices everything for others. His journey to despair and back warms the cockles like little else. Enjoy it in a cinema so you can sob among others.


Reviewer: Ian Freer

Read The Full Empire Review »
Click for the full Empire review and post your own review and rating.

Advertisement

SUBSCRIBE TO EMPIRE

Subscribe And Get 3 Free Blu-ray Movies! Get your free Spider-Man 3, Terminator 3 And Starship Troopers 3 Blu-rays when you subscribe to Empire magazine!

CURRENT HIGHLIGHTS
The 100 Sexiest Movie Stars Revealed The votes are in and counted! We can now reveal the 50 sexiest men and women in Hollywood!
		3-Part Steven Soderbergh Interview The director on The Informant!, Liberace and Knockout
		The Story Of Fight Club On the 10th anniversary of the classic, the story of how it began...
		A Serious Man: Michael Stuhlbarg We interview the star of the new Coen brothers movie
		Thor: The Who's Who A guide to the cast of Kenneth Branagh's superhero epic, Thor
		New Moon Video Interviews We chat with Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner