10 Surprising Gems About ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ You Never Knew Existed!

It’s a Wonderful Life is regarded as one of the most cherished Christmas films in history and the iconic movie is broadcasted every year on Christmas Eve.

The film will be shown on NBC at 8/7c on Tuesday evening (December 24), and it is also available for free streaming on platforms like Prime Video, Roku Channel, and PLEX.

We have compiled a few entertaining facts about the film that you may not be aware of!

• 1. Henry Fonda and Cary Grant were contenders for the part of George Bailey, portrayed by James Stewart.
• 2. Although this movie is one of the most adored Christmas films ever, it did not perform well at the box office, earning only $3.3 million during its initial release. The film could not recover the $3.7 million production cost.
• 3. The film received five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, but did not secure any wins.
• 4. In the segment where Donna Reed‘s character Mary Hatch throws a stone through a window in the Granville House, a sharpshooter was contracted to shoot it for her, yet she successfully hit the target herself due to her remarkable aim!
• 5. This was Donna Reed‘s inaugural lead role even though she had been featured in several other films. Another actress vying for the role was Jean Arthur.

Click inside to discover more intriguing facts about It’s a Wonderful Life…

• 6. The movie was frequently shown on television for a span of about twenty years as its copyright expired in 1974. Any network wishing to broadcast it could do so without incurring any royalties until 1994.
• 7. The gymnasium floor that transformed into a swimming pool was indeed a real site. The scene was shot at Beverly Hills High School, which features a retractable floor in the gym that converts into a swimming pool.
• 8. Although the movie is set in winter, it was filmed during the peak of summer, leading to several instances where James Stewart can be seen perspiring despite the snowfall!
• 9. The FBI was not supportive of the film and issued a statement in 1947 claiming that the movie represented a potential “Communist infiltration of the motion picture industry.”
• 10. James Stewart, Donna Reed, and director Frank Capra have all stated that this was their favorite film they ever created.

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