What Makes "It's A Wonderful Life" Great.

Frank Capra's Christmas classic about how one man's selfless acts can change so many lives counties to be a holiday staple thanks to its endearing message.

On Christmas Eve, George Bailey's contemplation of suicide draws the attention of heaven. "Guardian Angel 2 Class" Clarence is given the responsibility. Clarence observes George's life, which consists of constantly going out of his way to help the friends and family in his community of "Bedford Falls" despite giving up his own dreams. Clarence then meets with George and gives him a chance to see what Bedford Falls would be like without George ever existing.

Director Frank Capra was known for capturing the life and struggle of the "everyman" in his films, which is the case in this movie. George Bailey is your typical small-towner with big dreams and a heart. James Stewart always nails these kinds of characters, and his performance here is his most iconic. The reason George is so relatable is because of all the ambitions he has. George wants to get out of his small town and make a splash in the world, but George can't help but go out of his way to better the lives of those around him, and each time he does, it prevents his dreams from becoming reality. When George saves his younger brother from drowning in freezing water, it costs him all the hearing in one of his ears. After his father passes away, he has to postpone his dreams of traveling the world to run his father's "Building and Loan" to keep the town out of the grasp of the greedy Potter.

While all these good deeds get in the way of George having the life he wanted, it has a lasting impact on the town and the people in a way that George gets a chance to see. After an 8,000 dollar deposit for the Building and Loan goes missing, George arrives at his lowest point and contemplates suicide. But the prayers of the town bring George's guardian angel Clarence to his rescue. After this, Clarence presents Goerge with a world where he was never born. Without George, Bedford Falls is named "Pottersville" and is a decaying slum. Everyone's life is for the worse without George's good deeds. The darkest of all this is the fate of George's younger brother Harry. In the timeline where George saved Harry, he grew up and was a naval pilot in WW2. He became a national hero after saving a troop transport from Kamikaze pilots. But here, since George was never born, Harry died and without him, all the people on the transport died. This is a powerful way of showing how much of a difference one life can make.

When George sees all this, it brings him back to his senses, and returns to his wife and kids with a joyous new outlook. He is also greeted by the whole town who flood him with donations to save George and the Building and Loan. Gathered around with his family and friends, George realizes that his life is truly wonderful. It's a moving final sequence that always gives you an inspired and happy feeling, which is what you want around the Holidays.

It's A Wonderful Life is a timeless piece of cinema thanks to its story and message. It stands as a reminder that "No man is a failure who has Freinds".