James Stewart plays George Bailey, Donna Reed plays Mary Hatch Bailey, and Henry Travers plays Clarence in Frank Capra’s 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life. The story’s Bedford Falls ensemble includes George’s family and friends, alongside Lionel Barrymore as his adversary, Mr. Potter.
Who plays the main characters in It’s a Wonderful Life?
| Actor | Character | How the character fits the story |
|---|---|---|
| James Stewart | George Bailey | The central character; his Christmas Eve crisis frames the story. |
| Donna Reed | Mary Hatch Bailey | George’s partner. AFI lists her as “Mary Hatch [Bailey],” while BFI lists “Mary Hatch.” |
| Lionel Barrymore | Mr. Potter | George’s powerful adversary. AFI’s cast credit gives the character as Mr. Potter, without a first name. |
| Thomas Mitchell | Uncle Billy | George’s uncle and fellow associate in the Bailey Building and Loan. |
| Henry Travers | Clarence | The angel who shows George a Bedford Falls shaped by George’s absence. AFI credits the role as “Clarence [Oddbody]”; BFI lists “Clarence.” |
| Beulah Bondi | Mrs. Bailey | George’s mother. |
| Ward Bond | Bert | A Bedford Falls police officer and one of George’s friends. |
| Frank Faylen | Ernie | A friend and town resident; BFI gives his fuller character credit as Ernie Bishop. |
| Gloria Grahame | Violet Bick | A Bedford Falls resident in George’s circle. |
| H.B. Warner | Mr. Gower | The druggist in an early part of George’s story. |
| Frank Albertson | Sam Wainwright | George’s friend and one-time admirer of Mary. |
| Todd Karns | Harry Bailey | George’s younger brother. AFI records that Karns replaced David McKay shortly before production after McKay’s draft status changed. |
| Samuel S. Hinds | Pa Peter Bailey | George’s father; BFI uses this fuller character credit. |
| Mary Treen | Cousin Tilly | A member of the Bailey household. |
Role names and spellings above follow the AFI Catalog cast listing and BFI programme notes. Short descriptions explain each character’s place in the story; they are not all wording used in the formal cast credits.
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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How are the characters connected?
George and Mary form the Bailey household. Peter and Mrs. Bailey are George’s parents, Harry is his brother, and Uncle Billy is both family and a colleague in the family’s building-and-loan business. Clarence enters the story as George’s supernatural guide. Bert and Ernie are friends and residents of Bedford Falls, while Mr. Potter is George’s powerful opponent.
The premise turns on George wishing he had never been born during a Christmas Eve crisis. Clarence lets him see what Bedford Falls would be like without him, showing how the lives of his family, friends, and neighbors have been affected by his presence. BFI summarizes the premise, and AFI provides the film synopsis and credited cast.
#1 Best Overall
Film credits, release, and runtime
- Director and producer: Frank Capra.
- Writers: AFI credits Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, and Capra. BFI notes Jo Swerling for additional scenes and identifies Philip Van Doren Stern’s “The Greatest Gift” as the source story.
- Production company: Liberty Films; AFI describes the film as the company’s first production.
- Release: AFI records a New York opening on December 20, 1946, followed by a national release on January 7, 1947.
- Runtime: BFI lists 129 minutes. AFI preserves alternatives of 120, 129, or 132 minutes, so runtime depends on the listing or version being referenced.
For these production and release details, see the AFI Catalog entry and the BFI programme notes.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The disk has English audio.
Rank #4
Rank #3
Rank #2
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