SILVER

Guardian angel Clarence saves despondent George Bailey from a Christmas Eve suicide by showing him how dismal life in the small town of Bedford Falls would have been for his family and friends had he never been born. James Stewart gives a brilliant, iconic performance as Bailey, alongside Donna Reed as his devoted wife, Mary; Henry Travers as the angel hoping to earn his wings; Gloria Grahame as the town's sassy bad girl, Violet; Thomas Mitchell as George's bumbling Uncle Billy; and Lionel Barrymore as the villainous financier Mr. Potter. This all-time Christmas classic may be director Frank Capra's finest work. DIR/SCR/PROD Frank Capra; SCR Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Jo Swerling, from the short story “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern. U.S., 1946, b&w, 130 min. RATED PG