Poster Still from It's A Wonderful Life
Still from It's A Wonderful Life
Courtesy of the Artists

Flicks in Five: It's a Wonderful Life

Holiday movies are always big at the box office, and over the years, Hollywood has given us some magic Christmastime movies: Home Alone, The Bishop's Wife, numerous versions of A Christmas Carol, and Miracle on 34th Street.

But in 1946, the year America was recovering from World War II, a couple of war veterans — Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra — joined forces with a composer who had provided Capra with music for a documentary, Why We Fight. That composer was Dimitri Tiomkin; Stewart, Capra and Tiomkin all got together to make It's a Wonderful Life.

The film was shot in the summer of 1946; however, sometime before its release at Christmas 1946, the score was overhauled, and very little of Tiomkin's original score survived.

There was a really neat CD that came out a few years ago on Telarc that features the score to It's a Wonderful Life, including those lost cues of Dmitri Tiomkin.

On this week's Flicks in Five we'll hear the finale that Tiomkin had originally imagined would conclude this iconic holiday film.

It's a Wonderful Life — Trailer

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$