It's a Wonderful Life

On Sunday night, December 11, 1977,  It Happened One Christmas was the ABC movie and I watched it and was captivated by the story. Marlo Thomas played Mary Bailey Hatch, a woman who always dreamed of traveling the world but ended up running her family’s small town business, The Bailey Building and Loan and marrying a local mechanic. When Mary’s husband George, played by Wayne Rogers, goes off to war with his brother Harry and the Hatchs' friends, Bert and Ernie, they all write letters to Mary telling her their war stories.

One Christmas Eve, when Mary is on the brink of financial ruin, she considers suicide, but is rescued by her guardian angel, Clara Oddbody, played by Cloris Leachmen. Clara, who has not yet earned her wings, shows Mary what life would be like without her. Mary gets to see all the good she has done in the world and begs to be able to live again.

I remember telling my mom the story, every detail with delight. Mom then told me it was a remake of another Christmas film she loved, It’s a Wonderful Life, and told me we would watch it together when it next aired- this was back when there were only a handful of channels and such films aired once a year.

 

Mom introduced me to Bedford Falls, Mr. Potter, the pool under the gym floor and all the wonder of the Jimmy Stewart’s George Bailey and his amazing life of sacrifice for the greater good and I fell in love with the beautiful story. From that Christmas to this, it has been a staple of the season, alongside Frosty, Rudolph and Santa Claus is Coming to Town.