20 Things You Didn't Know About It's A Wonderful Life

Frank Capra had great control over the process of the film having produced, financed, directed and co-wrote the script. And once Capra held the rights to the project, parts of his own personal life constructed the storyline.

For example, Sam makes a living in plastics whilst Harry becomes an engineer at his father-in-law’s glass factory. Both of these came directly from Frank’s personal education in chemical engineering. He struggled to find a job with his experience, and much like George Bailey, considered himself a failure for years.

Furthermore, the Martinis are based on Capra’s own family, who emigrated from Sicily in 1903. At one point in the film, a goat accompanies them in the car. “Capra” means goat in Italian.

Since the film’s release, Frank Capra has frequently claimed It’s A Wonderful Life as one of his favourite movies of his own.