It's a Wonderful Life by Frank Capra

In 1945, on Christmas Eve, in the small town of Bedford Falls, George Bailey’s families’ prayers reach heaven. Two angels assign Clarence, an angel without his wings yet, to save George’s life down on Earth. Clarence is shown important flashbacks of George’s life to help him to rescue George before suicide. When George is twelve, he saves his brother, Harry, from drowning in a lake, ultimately removing his hearing in one year. When working for Mr. Gower, he meets, his future wife, Mary Hatch who tells him in his deaf ear that she will love him for the rest of his life. Mr. Gower’s son has died from influenza and while drunk he accidentally puts poison in a prescription. George prevents this by yelling at him and receiving a few hits. Years later, George dreams about traveling around the world before going to college. At his graduation party, he meets Mary again and they unintentionally dance into a pool. After, they romantically walk home together, and George says that he would lasso the moon for her. Before the night ends, they are interrupted by terrible news that his father has died from a stroke. He stays home instead of leaving for his world trip to deal with his father’s building and loan business. Henry Potter, the richest man in Bedford Falls, decides to try and destroy George’s father’s business because it helps the poor. The board of directors overthrows Potter’s decision and picks George to maintain and run the company. He gives Harry his tuition money to go to college and in return to take over the company after college so he can leave Bedford Falls. Four years later, Harry returns with a wife and a job offer from his father-in-law. George continues leading the loan business and falls in love with Mary after visiting her house when she returns from college. Right before leaving for their expensive honeymoon, the depression hits and people are crowding their loan business for money. They use all their honeymoon money to keep their business out of Potter’s control. George makes Bailey Park, a neighborhood for the poor people he has given loans to. Potter tries to shut down Building and Loans by offering George an amazing job working for him but George declines. Harry Bailey is now a successful Navy pilot in World War 2 and earns a Medal of Honor from President Truman. Uncle Billy goes to the bank to deposit $8,000 of the Building and Loan’s money. Potter is wheeled in and Billy taunts him about the Baileys’ success. He accidentally wraps the envelope filled with money into the newspaper, giving it to Potter. Potter notices the cash and keeps it in his possession to finally dismantle George’s business. George tries to get a loan from Potter, but he declines and calls the police to arrest him. George Bailey returns home and has a mental breakdown in front of his family finally realizing that he never followed his dreams. He goes to a bridge and is thinking about committing suicide, but before he can jump, Clarence rescues him. He refuses to believe that Clarence is an angel, and George wishes he was not born. The angel shows him all that would happen if he did not exist. Bedford Falls is now called Pottersville and is run by Potter. Mr. Gower was sent to jail for killing the kid with the poison that George did not prevent. His family’s business was closed down and Uncle Billy was institutionalized. George finds Harry’s grave because he would have died without George there to save him. In the present, George rushes home and everyone in town donates enough to cover the $8,000. Zuzu, George’s youngest, says the sound of the bell is the sound of an angel getting his wings, and George knowingly congratulates Clarence.

James Stewart as George Bailey

George Bailey is extremely selfless and sacrifices a lot for others. At a young age, he saves his brother, Harry, from drowning and ends up with no hearing in one ear. He helps his boss from being arrested by telling him about the poison in the capsules. Due to his father dying, he sacrifices his dream of traveling around the world to help the loan company. He never goes to college, instead gives his tuition money to his brother. He uses all of his honeymoon money to prevent his father’s company from failing and continues working even though that isn’t his dream. George’s breakdown on Christmas Eve shows how deeply he dreamed and how much the work has affected him. George truly is kindhearted and helps others at his own expense.

Henry Travers as Clarence

Clarence is assigned to help save George Bailey’s life and he succeeds. He shows him what would have happened if George never existed. In desire for getting his wings and saving George’s life, he successfully convinces him. Clarence makes him emotional and grateful for what he has in his life.

Lionel Barrymore as Mr. Potter

Mr. Potter is the richest man in Bedford Falls. He is extremely nasty and only is interested in expanding his power. The only reason he offers George a job is to remove the competition for loaning and housing. He does not want to help poor people and despises the Bailey family, especially George. All he desires is to take over Bedford Falls, and in the fantasy where George never existed, he does and renames the town Pottersville. Mr. Potter has never been generous and in one instance, he keeps the $8,000 knowingly and calls the police on George Bailey.