20 Things You Didn't Know About It's A Wonderful Life
6. The Film's Origins
It’s a common misconception that It’s A Wonderful Life originated from a Christmas card. It actually goes slightly further back as it originated as a short story called “The Greatest Gift”, written by Philip Van Doren Stern in November 1939. After it was rejected by several publishers, it was printed as a pamphlet and sent over to his family and friends in Christmas 1943.
It then caught the attention of either Cary Grant or RKO producer David Hempstead, who showed it to Grant’s agent and staff began writing various screenplays of the story. On early draft, written by Dalton Trumbo saw George Bailey as a cynical politician who attempts suicide after losing an election. The angel shows him Bedford Falls as if he went into business rather than politics, instead of what life would be like if he hadn’t been born.
Once Frank Capra got rights to the story, it became a less than friendly production. Many of the original writers quit because did not consider Capra a very nice man and hated his alterations to the script.