The greatest Christmas movie ever is a box office disaster saved by corporate greed

Pa Jonathan Klotz
| Published 1 hour ago

People can debate when Strong to die it’s a Christmas movie, or if it’s Hallmark or Lifetime that has the best Christmas catalog, but there’s no disputing that when it comes to Christmas, nothing beats It’s a wonderful life. A staple of Christmas viewing for generations, the 1946 film starring Jimmy Stewart is not just the best Christmas movie, but one of the greatest movies ever made. And yet, if it weren’t for the fact that its copyright expired in the 1970s during the TV viewing boom, it would have been lost forever.

Box office disaster

It’s ironic that a film about a man who feels he has no life left until his guardian angel saves him and shows him that he changed the world was also on the verge of fading into obscurity. Except instead of Clarence’s angel coming to the rescue, it was desperate network executives looking for a cheap way to fill airtime, and when the copyright on It’s a wonderful life ended, it could be played multiple times each Christmas season and cost next to nothing (only the royalties for adapting the original story it’s based on The greatest gift). Before constant reruns on the networks and the film being heralded as a Christmas classic, it was known as a box office failure.

It’s a wonderful life RKO’s production company lost more than $500,000 in 1946. or more than $8 million adjusted for inflation. The film grossed $3 million at the box office, narrowly beating out the Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street. Considering how much respect the film enjoys today, it’s amazing to look back and realize that in 1946, no one had this before.

Hated by critics

Over the years, It’s a wonderful life has gone through ups and downs in the public eye, and every few years there’s a backlash against it that claims the film isn’t really good at all, and then it’s re-rated, then torn down again, in an endless cycle of criticism and cynicism. Critics in 1946 felt the same way, with most praising Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed for their performances, but also criticizing the film for its optimism and a sharp plot that allegedly went too far into sentimentality only a year after the end of the most devastating conflict. in human history.

It’s a wonderful life actually quite a dark film, first as we watch Jimmy Stewart’s George Bailey butting heads with the evil banker, Mr. Potter, played by Lionel Barrymore, and yes he is Drew Barrymore’s cousin, over the missing money and land rights. It’s the bulk of the film, a bold decision that pays off when George wishes he’d never been born and the angel Clarence grants his wish. Now we see that as hard as his life seemed, the world was worse off without George, and regardless of how you feel about the film itself, the message behind it is important.

One person makes a difference

Christmas it can be a time of joy and sometimes being around loved ones, but it’s also one of the most depressing times of the year for people who feel like they don’t have family or friends and may wonder what the world would be like without them. It’s a wonderful life tackles it head-on, and in the end, it’s clear that one man can make a difference, and the world is a better place for having George Bailey in it. No matter the year, no matter what has happened since 1946, this message that you matter, that you make a difference, and that the world is better off with you in it will still have meaning.

Although It’s a wonderful life was rescued from the junk heap by miser chain executives and artificially marketed to become a Christmas classic, it was finally recognized as one of the greatest movies ever made. The 1970s marketing campaign was no lie; it was simply ahead of its time.

You can stream It’s a wonderful life today for free, including a shortened version of the Amazon Primeor full version on Roku channel.