Director Frank Capra explored the theme of the innate goodness of the young at heart, as personified by James Stewart, overcoming the evil schemes of black-hearted older men once before in 1939's Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, a scathing attack on corruption and misuse of power as demonstrated by the Taylor machine; a combination of local government, private industry and the mass media to manipulate public opinion and steam-roll the political affiliations of crooked magnate 'Boss' Jim Taylor.

Both Capra and Stewart served in World War II and their first film together in peacetime would be 1946's It's A Wonderful Life which takes the ideals of Mr. Smith and blends them with elements of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol to examine the life of George Bailey, a man who sacrifices his personal ambitions for travel and adventure for the better of those around him in the sleepy town of Bedford … Read More

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