Frank Capra’s 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life is certainly one of the best holiday films ever made. It’s also just one of the best films ever made, period. A big part of that is because of the third act, when the main character, George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), sees what life would’ve been like if he’d never been born. It makes him realize how beautiful and special his life was, leading to the heartwarming final scene of a town’s appreciation and adoration.
But what would It’s a Wonderful Life be without that scene? What if George Bailey didn’t see what his life would be like without his being born? Those are questions literally no one has ever asked because it’s like saying, “What’s Home Alone without the traps?” It’s kind of the point. And yet, there’s a version floating out there that removes that crucial scene, and we still can’t believe it.
Last year, I was sitting down for a viewing of It’s a Wonderful Life on Prime Video and realized there were multiple versions. There’s the original black and white version, which is clearly the only one anyone should be watching. Then there’s also a colorized version (sacrilegious but understandable) as well as an “abridged” version. When I saw that last one, it filled me with curiosity. It’s a Wonderful Life is perfect. What would you abridge, exactly? I was even more curious when I saw the version was a whole 12 minutes shorter than the original. How do you trim 12 minutes from that movie?
The answer, unfathomably, is that it totally removes the best, most crucial scene in the movie. George’s guardian angel, Clarence, arrives, throws himself in the river, and George saves him. It all plays out exactly like the original movie, except after George asks Clarence how he’s going to help, the film smash cuts to George screaming, “Mary!” back in the present, filled with joy that he’s back in reality. He doesn’t see Pottersville or meet any of his friends or anything. It’s just gone. The ending then plays out normally. The edit makes no sense and completely ruins the film.
Now, when I first saw this, I posted about it on social media, and it went a little viral. In the comments that followed, a few people provided what I believe is the best and most logical explanation. Apparently, it’s a legal thing. The big alternate universe scene in Pottersville is based on a short story called “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern. That story has a different copyright than It’s a Wonderful Life as a whole, which hit the public domain in 1975. So this version exists as a rights-free version that anyone can use or access without worry. Not that you’d want to.
Thankfully, there is plenty of warning turning you away from this version. It’s very clearly marked as “abridged” in its title, and there’s a card at the beginning saying that it’s shorter and the ending has been changed. But either way, that it exists and is so easily accessible feels oddly evil. Like something Old Man Potter would’ve done, attempting to deny us the joy of the Baileys.
The original, black and white version of It’s a Wonderful Life is on Prime at this link. You can search for any others if you so desire.
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