Director Frank Capra’s Biography Gives Insight Into ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ Character George Bailey

Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart feature in "It's a Wonderful Life."

In 1984, when Frank Capra, the director of *It’s a Wonderful Life*, was questioned about whether the film had any personal connections to his own life, he responded, “It’s not exactly a deep insight to say it resembles me. Honestly, who else would it reflect?”

Capra's response to this question, both in its context and the way he expressed it, reveals a great deal about the filmmaker who created not just It’s a Wonderful Life, but also the Academy Award-winning The Best Years of Our Lives, along with other classics like Meet John Doe, It Happened One Night, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. It’s a Wonderful Life was released in 1946.

In his biography of Capra, Joseph McBride explores the intricate nature of a man whom many still view as one of the most impactful directors. Capra had a remarkable talent for merging both somber and uplifting themes in his narratives.

The book, which spans more than 700 pages and was released in 1992, is called "Frank Capra: The Catastrophe of Success." It delves into the complex emotions the director has regarding his career.

In exploring Capra's connection to George Bailey, the main character in It’s a Wonderful Life, McBride notes that people familiar with Capra might be surprised. Despite his well-regarded public persona, Capra experienced a deep sense of isolation and a fear of not succeeding while working on the film, which was meant to be his major return to the screen after World War II.

McBride mentions that in some lines intended for the film that were ultimately not included, Capra portrayed George sitting by the river after his leap, expressing, “I was classified as 4-F. For me, it didn’t mean the Four Freedoms; it signified Four Failures. I’ve failed as a husband, a father, a businessman — I’ve failed as a person.”

McBride explains that this sentiment stems from Capra's post-war pessimism, which made him acutely aware of the vulnerability of his artistic creations. He further comments that, similar to George Bailey, the character he created, Capra was going through a personal existential struggle, questioning whether he had placed too much trust in humanity.

Given this, it doesn't seem overly bold to suggest that despite Capra's doubts about humanity, he created a film that rekindled a sense of belief in people's good intentions for many viewers. The exception might be Mr. Potter, who embodies the negative aspects of human nature and, regrettably, doesn't suffer any repercussions for his behavior in the movie.

In a surprising turn of events, as Capra's career was declining in the 1980s, he was approached with the idea for a television series called It's Still a Wonderful Life. This sequel would feature the original actors, Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, reprising their roles as they aged.

The project was suggested by a producer along with Joseph McBride. That's right, the very same McBride known for writing the extensive biography of Capra.

Staying true to himself, Capra replied, “That’s exactly the sort of nonsense a producer would come up with. They can take a hike.”

"It’s a Wonderful Life" will be shown on December 24th at 8 PM Eastern/Pacific on NBC, and you can also stream it on Prime Video.

You can find Joseph McBride's book 'Frank Capra: The Catastrophe of Success' available for purchase on Amazon.

To find out why 'It's a Wonderful Life' continues to strike a chord with audiences today, please click here.