In 1946, director Frank Capra brought to the big screen the tale of George Bailey of Bedford Falls, in an inversion of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. Instead of teaching a miserly villain the error of his ways by showing him his life's low points, Capra revealed that a good man's good deeds prove one man's life has worth beyond measure. Starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, and Henry Travers as the angel Clarence Oddbody, this film initially received mixed reviews and was unsuccessful at the box office, despite the fact that it was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Without significant interest, the film's copyright in the U.S. expired in 1974 and it entered the public domain, allowing it to be broadcast without licensing or royalty fees. Broadcast at almost no cost by local television stations, the film grew to become an annual Christmas classic. Turning 80 next year, it is now regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made, but will inconsistent streaming options and copyright issues make us wish this movie had never been filmed? Now we're getting the holiday spirit in the hopes of proving that It's a Wonderful Life after all!

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