Jimmy Stewart played George Bailey, a man who has to lose it all to see how rich he really is.

A 12-year-old George Bailey lost his hearing in one ear while saving his brother Harry, who fell into a frozen pond while sledding.

The family operates the Bailey Brothers' Building and Loan, which George is destined to take over one day -- no matter how much he resists.

Henry Potter owns the bank and controls much of the economic activity in the town. He's also a mean old miser who can't stand to see George -- or anyone else -- succeed.

The absent-minded Uncle Billy loses an $8,000 deposit, sending George on a desperate search as he tries to save both the Building and Loan and himself.

When George is about to take his life, an Angel 2nd Class named Clarence Odbody shows up to teach him that life is worth living.

Clarence jumps into an icy river, knowing George will abandon his plans of suicide and jump in to save him.

Mary Hatch and George connect at Harry's graduation party, and the pair ends up married a few years later.

George lives in the tiny town of Bedford Falls, which would become Pottersville if George wasn't around to keep Mr. Potter from taking over.

George is devastated to learn that if he had never been born, Mary would have been a simple librarian who never married.

Mr. Gower serves as the local druggist and serves 20 years in prison when George isn't around to prevent him from adding the wrong substance to a prescription.

George and Mary's daughter Zuzu learns from her teacher that every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.

Donna Reed, who later spent several years as the star of "The Donna Reed Show," played the loving and loyal Mary Bailey.

Lionel Barrymore -- yes, Drew's great uncle -- starred as the wheelchair-bound Henry Potter.

Hee-haw! Mary had a budding relationship with Sam Wainwright before taking up with George.

Bert the cop and Ernie the cabbie serenaded George and Mary on their makeshift honeymoon.

George is drinking heavily at Martini's Place when Mr. Welch, the husband of Zuzu's teacher, punches him in the jaw.

George and Mary are the proud parents of four children -- Janie, Zuzu, Pete and Tommy.

Annie is the longtime housekeeper for the Baileys. When George needs money, she offers her savings, which she was holding onto in case she ever needed a divorce from her future husband.

George wishes on a cigarette lighter for a million dollars and exclaims, "Hot dog!" every time the device lights.

Played by Gloria Grahame, a young Violet Bick competes for the affection of George -- and every other boy in town.

George knows he is back to reality after his adventure with Clarence when he reaches into his pocket and pulls out Zuzu's petals.

George promises a smitten Mary that he will lasso the moon and bring it down to Earth for her.

"It's a Wonderful Life" was released in the theater in black and white and wasn't colorized until the 1980s.

When Harry comes home from college, he brings a surprise in the form of his wife Ruth, whose father has promised him a job in Buffalo -- leaving poor George to manage the Building and Loan on his own.

After spending their honeymoon fund to save the Building and Loan, George and Mary spend their first night together at the old Granville Place, located at 320 Sycamore St.

Without George Bailey and Bailey Park to help him afford a house, Martini no longer owns his bar. George heads to his favorite watering hole with Clarence, only to learn it is now called Nick's Place.

Actor Frank Faylen played Ernie the cabbie.

The film made just $3.3 million at the box office and cost $3.18 million, making it a financial flop.

Copyright holders forgot to renew the rights to the film in 1974, which left it in the public domain for 20 years. This helped make the film the classic it is today, because everyone was able to air it for free until the copyright was renewed in 1994.