“The snow is vital to the storytelling,” he adds.
“It conveys not just a joyful Christmas Eve, but also the character’s rebirth.
It tells the audience George is back in the real world.
George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) stands in the middle of a snowy Bedford Falls on Christmas Eve in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.'.Courtesy of Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
He’s back from this alternate reality; the snow starts falling and we get it right away.
And that is a very gentle, cleansing snow.”
“The heat is the greatest endorsement of the invention,” notes Arnold.
George (Jimmy Stewart) seeks clarity from Clarence (Henry Travers) on what’s happening in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.'.Courtesy of Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
“Because the snow looks very real.
It looks great even in those hot conditions.”
The Foamite mixture was predominantly for scenes where snow was actively falling.
George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) contemplates taking his life in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.'.Courtesy of Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
No man is a failure who has brilliant innovations.
A version of this story appears inEntertainment Weekly’s December issue, on newsstands now andavailable to order here.
Director Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart share a moment on the set of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.'.Courtesy of Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
A behind-the-scenes look at the snowy set of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.'.Courtesy of Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
A publicity still of Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed as George Bailey and Mary Hatch.Courtesy of Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
