The most underrated Christmas film of all time: Capra’s Christmas bundle ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

What Christmas is all about is love and appreciating the people we have around us. Frank Capra’s 1946 film ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ symbolises all of that and so much more. It shows this perspective of life in a way that should be the norm but is often not even thought about today. Even though this film was released 74 years ago it is still ranked as one of the greatest Christmas films of all time.

The prayers from the small town of Bedford Falls are heard up in the heavens on a snowy Christmas Eve all chiming for help for a desperate and lost man, George Bailey played by James Stewart. George from a young age was ambitious, intelligent and extremely determined to get out of the quaint town he grew up in. He had big goals and dreams to see the world and get an education but when this all comes to a halt when he is forced to look after his family's mortgage company which is operates more like a charity and safe haven within the community. Consumed by failure, a lack of purpose and despair he finds himself standing on a bridge about to end his life on what is meant to be a joyful and festive night. A glimmer of hope appears, Clarence a 292-year-old guardian angel who is desperate for his eternal wish of earning his wings. This old and at first seemingly crazy man pulls George back and shows him what Bedford falls and all the people within it would be like if George was never born.

This holiday classic is a mixture of warmth, romance, community and hope, subjects which appear in a large number of Christmas films that we all know well. However, this particular film stands out and still so meaningful to this day. Its mixture of loneliness, self- doubt, misfortune and greed are feelings that are seen all year round but are more vivid during the festive period. This particular lonely time of year is rarely broadcasted through festive Christmas films. This inclusion is what makes this black and white film stand out from the rest, it is real, gripping and relevant in one way or another to every viewer’s heart. It gets darker as the story develops but so does the connection with each character and their story, this compliments and balances it out. This perfect Christmas film will make you laugh, cry, fall in love but more importantly pause and think. Christmas and life today is overridden by so much chaos, mayhem and commercialism, so even though the film 'It's a Wonderful Life' was written and produced just after world War Two, it could be argued that the message behind it is more relevant than ever.

The true awe of this film is the magic that is upon the screen in every scene. Director Frank Capra's perfect balance of elegant visuals, unspoiled and wholesome cast pulls comedy, sentiment, and hopelessness into an entertaining homily classic. It will forever carry a beautiful message that “no man is alone who has friends”.