The Film
The first time I watched Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, which Frank Capra released just as the world was plunging into World War Two, I was struck by the moral message of the film and the filmmaker's uplifting style. The Senate filabuster finale is one of the finest scenes in American cinema and it's clear that Capra knew that he struck gold when he cast Jimmy Stewart. Some directors just know when they have someone special; Kurosawa and Mifune, Wilder and Lemmon, and Hitchcock and Grant. Capra contributed to the cause throughout the war with a series of wonderful propaganda films; Stewart left Hollywood to fly combat missions over Nazi-occupied Europe. While not as gripping as The Best Years of Our Lives which was also released in 1946, It's a Wonderful Life reintroduced Stewart who proved to be touched by the hand of G-d; his portrayal of George Bailey remains as one of the most famous and beloved by audiences around the globe.
It's a Wonderful Life, rather unwittingly, became the ultimate holiday film and while that was not Capra's intention; it helped to preserve its place in film history.
Capra's uplifting story in the aftermath of the world's darkest hour puts decency, family, and loyalty above fortune and fame; the deconstruction of the traditional American family was just over the horizon so the film's timing was even more relevant. A marvelous film with a genuine moral compass.
The Picture
The image is sharp from beginning to end, but there are certainly some instances of noise; scratches on the print in some scenes. There is no edge enhancement to be found and the overall image quality is quite impressive.
Paramount has included the colorized version of the film in this package and while it looks quite good in technicolor; although we are not talking Ten Commandments technicolor which is utterly jaw-dropping, the film just feels wrong in color. Detail is still quite strong, but it feels very artificial.
The 1080p transfer is offered in 1.37:1 with black bars present on either side of the image.
The Sound
If you were expecting Paramount to remaster the film in surround sound, you are as delusional as Qaddafi during the fall of Sirte. The film's monaural soundtrack has certainly been cleaned up, but there is no lossless track to be found and while that might be disappointing to some, the film has never sounded better. Dialogue is clear throughout and while there are a few instances where the soundtrack's level drops a few notches, it is quite clean sounding. The mono track pushes passing cars to the front of the soundstage; partially creating the illusion that they are moving past you. The dance hall scene has surprisingly potent low end information and it all sounds quite respectable for a 65 year-old film. You'll be crying too hard to even care that it is not reference quality lossless audio.
The Extras
The original Blu-ray release from Paramount was a tad thin in the bonus content department, and sadly this commemorative edition doesn't offer anything more than the making of It's a Wonderful Life and a special tribute to filmmaker Frank Capra, A Personal Remembrance. The 22-minute documentary hosted by Tom Bosley offers a lot of insight into the film's style and cast, but fans will be left hungry for more information about this monumental film. Paramount has also included a 1080p version of the films' original theatrical trailer. Paramount has also included a exclusive Christmas ornament in this set; not likely to find a place on my menorah but a nice touch for the holidays, regardless.
Final Thoughts
Few films have had the universal appeal of It's a Wonderful Life and its moral message is as strong in 2011 as it was in post-war America when it was released in 1946. Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra made some fine films together, but this one has become a holiday tradition for millions. The Blu-ray transfer is as good as it gets for this one and deserves a special place in your film library. Schmaltzy? Who cares. Sit back and enjoy this film with the people you love. Is there anything more important than that? Highly recommended.
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