When the film makes the jump from 12-year-old George Bailey in Mr. Gower's drugstore to the adult George Bailey in the luggage shop, the character has clearly aged at least 20 years (Jimmy Stewart was 37 or 38 at the time of filming), but both his father and Mr.

How old was James Stewart when he played George Bailey?

George Bailey, played by James "Jimmy" Stewart, is at the center of It's a Wonderful Life, and the actor was 37 years old when principal photography began. Stewart turned 38 on May 20, 1946, during the middle of production.

How old was Zuzu Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life?

At age 6, Karolyn Grimes played the role of Zuzu Bailey in the holiday film It's a Wonderful Life (1946).

How old was Donna Reed when she made It's a Wonderful Life?

Born in January 1921, Donna Reed was only 25 years old when filming It's a Wonderful Life in 1946.

How old was the angel in It's a Wonderful Life?

(We also hear that Clarence is 293 years old, and that he became an angel following his human life on Earth.) Clarence describes himself as George's “guardian angel” once they meet. And to keep George from committing suicide by jumping off a bridge, Clarence himself jumps into the waters below.

It's a Wonderful Life | Analysis of George Bailey

How old was George Bailey supposed to be in It's a Wonderful Life?

How old is George in It's a Wonderful Life? He graduated from High School in 1925 and the movie is set in 1945 or 1946 because Harry is coming home from the service and the war is over. With that it mind, George would be either 38 or 39.

What did James Stewart pass away from?

On June 25, 1997, a thrombosis formed in his right leg, leading to a pulmonary embolism, and a week later on July 2, 1997, surrounded by his children, James Stewart died at age 89 at his home in Beverly Hills, California. His last words to his family were, "I'm going to be with Gloria now".

How many biological children did Donna Reed have?

Reed was married three times and the mother of four children.

Where was It's a Wonderful Life filmed?

It's a Wonderful Life was filmed entirely in California, as were most movies at that time. However, Seneca Falls has long believed itself to be the inspiration for key scenes in the film and Bedford Falls itself.

Who is George Bailey's wife in It's a Wonderful Life?

Mary Hatch Bailey is a fictional character in Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life. She is the sweetheart and later wife of protagonist George Bailey (played by James Stewart as an adult and Bobby Anderson as a child). Mary is played by Donna Reed as an adult and Jean Gale as a child.

What does Zuzu stand for in It's a Wonderful Life?

Zuzu is thought to have come from a Nabisco cookie called Zu Zu Ginger Snaps, which were advertised widely a century ago in “Life” magazine and other national publications. “I was named after a cookie!” laughed Grimes. Further evidence of this is an inside-joke in the movie.

What happens to George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life?

Thankfully, George doesn't follow through with his plan to take his own life: God intervenes by sending an angel (Clarence) who shows George what the world would be like if he had not been born: that through his network of relationships George really had “a wonderful life.” George regains the desire to live and the ...

Is anyone alive from It's a Wonderful Life?

In fact, most of the adults in the film passed away before the 21st century began. However, between flashbacks and family scenes, there are quite a few children in this film who have lived to see 2024. They're well into old age now, but many of the youngest cast members in "It's A Wonderful Life" are still alive today.

Did James Stewart like It's a Wonderful Life?

Capra revealed that it was his favorite among the films he directed and that he screened it for his family every Christmas season. It was one of Stewart's favorite films.

How many biological children did James Stewart have?

Married to his beloved Gloria for 45 years, the Stewarts had two sons (one killed in Vietnam) and twin daughters.

Is It's a Wonderful Life based on a true story?

The film was adapted loosely from a 1943 short story by Philip Van Doren Stern, titled “The Greatest Gift”.

Was the snow real in It's a Wonderful Life?

Before “It's A Wonderful Life,” Cornflakes painted white were used for snow. To avoid the “crunch,” Frank Capra used three types of snow in “It's A Wonderful Life”: Ivory soap flakes, chipped ice, and something called foamite, which is similar to what is used in fire extinguishers today.

How old is George Bailey supposed to be in It's a Wonderful Life?

When the film makes the jump from 12-year-old George Bailey in Mr. Gower's drugstore to the adult George Bailey in the luggage shop, the character has clearly aged at least 20 years (Jimmy Stewart was 37 or 38 at the time of filming), but both his father and Mr.

Was Bedford Falls a real town?

Fans of It's a Wonderful Life know that the film takes place in a fictional town named Bedford Falls located somewhere in upstate New York—the region is identifiable thanks to various references to neighboring communities like Buffalo and Elmira throughout the movie—but what they may not know is that one town in ...

What was the cause of death for Donna Reed?

Reed died on January 14, 1986, at age 64, of pancreatic cancer in Beverly Hills, California. She had been diagnosed with the illness three months earlier and was told it was at a terminal stage.

What happened to the father on The Donna Reed Show?

Carl Betz, the stage, film and television actor who was best known for his portrayal of the father in television's “The Donna Reed Show” and as the lawyer in “Judd for the Defense,” died Wednesday in Los Angeles at the Cedar‐Sinai Medical Center, where he had been hospitalized since late last November with lung cancer.

Why did Shelley Fabares leave The Donna Reed Show?

Fabares left The Donna Reed Show in 1963 (she would return periodically until its end in 1966) to pursue other acting opportunities. She released a third album, Teenage Triangle in 1963.

How old was Jimmy Stewart when he filmed It's a Wonderful Life?

Stewart plays George Bailey from age 21 to 38, from the night of the school dance in 1928 to Christmas 1945. Stewart was 38 years old. 25-year-old Donna Reed plays Mary from the age of 18 to 35. It was the first and last time that Frank Capra produced, financed, directed and co-wrote one of his films.

What were the last words of James Stewart?

"I'm going to be with Gloria now."

Said by Jimmy Stewart to his family just before dying in 1997, referring to his wife, Gloria, who had passed away three years earlier. The actor, 89 when he died, apparently never got over his wife's death.

Who was James Stewart best friend?

Henry Fonda and James Stewart were two of the greatest stars of Hollywood's golden years. A new biography describes their 50-year friendship and dedication to their craft. Each was an actor before he became a star, their biographer writes, and they both remained actors after they became legends.