Christmas Movie Review: *****It's a Wonderful Life:

This is a movie for annual consumption.  I watch it every year.  This year as i watched I realized something I had never noticed before.  This movie is about the power of prayer.  It starts with the petitions of people of Bedford Falls to Heavenly Father on behalf of George Bailey (James Stewart), the manager of the Savings and Loan.  He is in trouble as they have misplaced $8000 and the bank examiner is visiting.  The miserly and mean Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) has sworn out a warrant for his arrest, while he knows where the money is as it fell into his hands by accident, and instead of doing the right thing is trying to destroy the Savings and Loan so he can control the entire town.  My favorite part is when George's brother calls him the richest man in town.  It is very emotional. is the richest man in the world.  That line chokes me up for some reason. . 
On another level this movie is about those whose live circumstance may bring them to the brink of suicide, and about those who love them intervening, rather than letting it happen.  His wife (Donna Reed) intervenes rather than being passive, and many of George's friends also intervene.  And of course Clarence, (Henry Travers) the angel intervenes.  This is a Frank Capra, and on of the best Christmas movies ever made.  Nominated for five Oscar awards, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Movie.  Stewart should have won.