It's A Wonderful Life

It's A Wonderful Life is a holiday classic in American cinema. It is a classic because of the heartwarming story and showing the spirit of giving around Christmas time.


Here is a beat sheet laying out the movie to show how it is a classic story.

Opening Image: The opening image is of the galaxy and these two stars talking about the movies hero George Bailey. Talking about sending down an angel to make sure George does not throw away his life.

 Theme Stated: The theme stated at the beginning is that George Bailey wants to discover things so the whole movie is going to be a journey of him discovering his life.

 Set-Up: The set up is simple to show the man the George Bailey is showing him saving his little brother from a frozen lake at a young age and then showing him talking about exploring. Showing that Mr. Potter is the antagonist in his families life because he controls everything in the town and wants to see the Bailey's family building shut down.

 Catalyst: When George's father dies and George has to take over the family business.

 Debate: George is debating his future at his point in having to hold down the family building. He then sends his brother off to college and allows his brother to do what he wished to do most.

 Break into Two: George realizes his love for Mary and then goes to his house where he gets a job offer from Sam Wainwright in a plastic business.

 B Story: George and Marys' love life and them building a nice home and life in Bedford Falls.

 Fun and Games: Montage of many years passing by in George's life.

 Midpoint: George and Mary just got married! Now they are leaving to go explore the world like George has always wished for.

 Bad Guys Close In: Potter takes over the local bank and George sees a commotion outside of the bank so he runs to his business to try and see what is going on.

 All Is Lost: George's Uncle Billy misplaces $8,000 that they had for their loan business on Christmas Eve.

 Dark Night of the Soul: George goes to Potter for help. Asking for money to put in so that he is not arrested for fraud and stealing the people's loans. So George later decides to go and commit suicide by jumping off the bridge and drowning. His angel that was sent from the beginning, Clarence, jumps off the bridge before George into the river to force George to save him. George then wishes that he was never born and so Clarence makes it happen and then George goes around town to see what it was like without him.

 Break into Three: The point where George runs into Mary who is just a maid and he chases after her to try and get her to recognize him even though he was never born so the whole town does not know him. They all grab George Bailey and hold him away from Mary.

 Finale: George's life perspective has changed and he is so joyful when Clarence reverses the spell that he runs around town in joy.

 Final Image: Mary had went out to ask everyone in the town to help George with his problem so the whole town almost shows up to George and Mary's house and give George money to stay out of prison and have a happy Christmas.

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