1. The Film Was Shot In The Middle Of A Heat Wave - Its Wonderful A Life
Its a struggle to discuss Its A Wonderful Life without devolving into an endless stream of gibbering adoration for this damn near perfect film. Its a joyous story that sets the scope wide on the entire life of George Bailey, a regular guy who dreams of escaping him small hometown of Bedford Falls, but remains trapped their out of good, honest duty. The ending is at least as iconic as Scrooges redemption and, thanks to the unequalled Jimmy Stewart, even more poignant. Straining to keep on topic, a film crafted by such a master as Frank Capra at his height is sure have had an unbelievably creative production. Theres countless stories of Capra going to crazy lengths to get a scene; Frank Albertson, who plays Sam Wainwright, was recording his lines on another set so he could actually be on the other end of the phone during George and Marys confession of love, while a whole new method for on screen snow was created so the actors lines could be heard (the previous method, corn flakes painted white, naturally proved too noisy). The fake snow must have proven pretty disorienting for the cast; in one strange element of production Capra couldn't really influence, the film was shot in the middle of a heat wave. So not only was George Bailey stuck in both an existential crisis and Bedford Falls, he was trapped in a stifling heat too. Now thats acting. Got any more cool facts you want to share? As always go down to the comments and spread some Yuletide cheer.
