It’s a Wonderful Life , a holiday favorite enjoyed annually by film buffs and average audiences alike, is an enduring “classic” in the best meaning of the word. But nearly 30 years of Christmastime television programming passed before the film outgrew its disappointing early reception. Upon release in 1946, It's a Wonderful Life’s box office was modest at best. Reviews were mixed or unkind.

In his book The Heart of It’s a Wonderful Life , Jimmy Hawkins brings something of an insider’s perspective to explain the film’s persistent appeal. Hawkins was the child actor who played the role of George Bailey’s youngest son, Tommy. He reviews the known facts, including Hollywood’s indifference to the production and Capra’s insistence to see it through. Dalton Trumbo was one of the film’s orig

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