Posted dec 10, 2019 its a wonderful life in seneca falls. In real life, the martini neighborhood was completed in 1946, just prior to the filming of its a wonderful life. Its a wonderful life was shot at rko radio pictures studios in culver city, california, and the 89acre rko movie ranch in encino, where bedford falls was adapted from oscarwinning sets originally designed by art director max ree for the 1931 epic film cimarron. Citizens of seneca falls, who recently opened a museum dedicated to this film, believe that frank capra modeled the fictional movie town. Bedford falls is the fictional town in which philip van doren stern s 1943 short booklet, the greatest gift, and rko pictures 1946 film adaptation, it s a wonderful life, are set. It s a wonderful life is a 1946 movie directed and produced by frank capra, based on the greatest gift by philip van doren stern. James stewart, left, thomas mitchell, right, and donna reed appear in a scene from the 1946 film its a wonderful life. It was nominated for several oscars but didnt win any. Dec 10, 2019 the annual 3day its a wonderful life celebration is held every december in seneca falls, called the real bedford falls for its connection with the 1946 frank capra film classic. The retractable gym floor over a pool in its a wonderful. However, seneca falls has long believed itself to be the inspiration for bedford falls. Frank capras christmas classic, its a wonderful life, starring james stewart is one of the most iconic films ever made. An angel is sent from heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.
Prayers for his wellbeing from friends and family reach heaven. The holiday classic to define all holiday classics, its a wonderful life is one of a handful of films worth an annual viewing. This years celebration, which was held december 911, marked the films 70th anniversary. The two towns are very similar as they are both mill towns. Frank capras classic film its a wonderful life starring jimmy stewart as george bailey takes place in the fictional town of bedford falls. Its a wonderful life entered the public domain by accident. Seneca falls and bedford falls history and connections. There s no film that better encapsulates the holiday spirit than the christmas classic it s a wonderful life.
The first is the swimming pool that was unveiled during the famous dance scene where george courts mary. Today its hard to imagine christmas without revisiting george and. See its a wonderful life with new documentary film. The martini house from its a wonderful life iamnotastalker. It was great to visit the tiny museum and to learn a little more about the film. Thank you to all our wonderful sponsors whose support is so vital to the success of this festival, to all the fantastic volunteers who make this festival a success and to all the new and returning visitors, friends and family, we thank everyone of you for making 2019 one of the best it s a wonderful life festivals. Where was its a wonderful life filmed discover the its a. Theres a colorized version floating around out there that frank capra absolutely hated. The film is regarded as one of the greatest american films of all time. Carl alfalfa switzer right as alfalfa with fellow our. Seneca falls and bedford falls history and connections its. This is one of the best films of all time, without a doubt.
Do you remember in its a wonderful life when jimmy stewart and donna reed fell into a pool hidden underneath a retractable gym floor. But in real life seneca falls, scenes are immortalised from the 1946 film. Out of all the heartwarming holiday classics, i always considered its a wonderful life one of the best. Seneca falls, ny was the upstate new york village of seneca falls frank capras inspiration for the design of bedford falls in its a wonderful life. See its a wonderful life with new documentary film about seneca falls, the real bedford falls updated dec 10, 2019. This stage version of the classic film, now touring 45 rural communities, has a raggedy, unforced charm. Some evidence of the connections and similarities between the two towns include. The gym floor which opens up to reveal a swimming pool is still in action at beverly hills high school, 255 south lasky drive, at moreno drive in beverly. How many southport landmarks can you see in 1987 hit. Dec 20, 2016 seneca falls even holds an annual festival dedicated to all things iawl. Its a wonderful life premiered over 70 years ago, and since then frank capras holiday classic has been reigniting the spirit of the season in audiences for generations.
Beverly hills high school, south lasky drive, beverly hills one location exists, though you probably wont get the chance to see it. It was the year when frank capras film its a wonderful life first premiered in theaters. George bailey has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all and its christmas. Georges 1919 dodge from its a wonderful life warms. Seneca falls is the birthplace of the womans right movement, but also thought to be the inspiration for the fictional village of bedford falls in frank capras holiday classic movie its a wonderful life. Dec 19, 2018 thats where its value is, just as it is with anything else associated with the film. Thank you to all our wonderful sponsors whose support is so vital to the success of this festival, to all the fantastic volunteers who make this festival a success and to all the new and returning visitors, friends and family, we thank everyone of you for making 2019 one of the best its a wonderful life festivals. The holiday classic its a wonderful life wasnt really a hit when it premiered in 1946. The movie s charismatic characters, heartwarming message and theme of hopefulness have made the film both an enduring symbol of the holidays and every cinephile s favorite feelgood film. Although much of the action takes place around christmas, it s a wonderful life was filmed in the summer.
At one point, capra had to shut filming down for a. Whether it warms your heart or you find it entirely too saccharine, frank capras 1946 film, its a wonderful life, like mariah careys christmas. Its a wonderful life all began with a christmas card. And also there is a tradition to watch this film every christmas.
Though the bulk of the film was filmed on prebuilt sets, the dance at the gym was filmed on location at beverly hills high school. Anybody who grew up in a small town in the 1940s can easily believe that. With james stewart, donna reed, lionel barrymore, thomas mitchell. Dec 25, 2018 its a wonderful life film secrets you probably didnt know. Its a wonderful life film by capra 1946 britannica. Frank capras visit to seneca falls while writing the script. The similarities between bedford falls and seneca falls the real. The death of an ordinary christian family man leaves a spiritual vacuum among his friends and neighbors due to his selfless acts of charity for his church and community. It just wouldnt feel like the holidays in our house without the annual showing of its a wonderful life, holiday inn, scrooged, and national lampoons christmas vacation. With the picturesque mountains in the background and the obviously new construction, its not hard to see why producers chose the community to stand in for the newly built bailey park neighborhood in the flick. By this definition, it s a wonderful life is very much a classic. I know, i know, for a person like me, not having seen that movie borders on sacrilege.
It s a wonderful life premiered over 70 years ago, and since then frank capra s holiday classic has been reigniting the spirit of the season in audiences for generations. There s a colorized version floating around out there that frank capra absolutely hated. After george bailey james stewart wishes he had never been born, an angel henry travers is sent to earth to make georges. Where was its a wonderful life filmed beverly hills, usa 1 film locations swimming pool was filmed in 241 moreno drive, beverly hills, california by carlos jimenez. The classic blackandwhite version is the one most commonly shown these days. It was released twice as a single and was successful the second time, becoming a top ten hit in austria, france, germany, italy, switzerland, the netherlands and the uk. S swingers paradise is a 1964 british film made as a vehicle for pop star cliff richard. Dec 02, 2016 its a wonderful life was the first film hed made since returning home from the war, and it had been a long time since he had kissed a woman onscreen.
As difficult as it may be to believe, even though i absolutely love christmas and even though i am a huge film buff, up until this past weekend i had never in my life watched the 1946 holiday classic its a wonderful life. The following is a guest post by samantha kosarzycki, legal intern, office of public information and education. Owned by keith and marilyn smith, it currently resides in johnstown, colorado, about an hour. Theres no film that better encapsulates the holiday spirit than the christmas classic its a wonderful life. Jimmy stewart was a wwii veteran and his ptsd affected the. The dodge is 72 years removed from its a wonderful life, filmed in 1946, and a long way from its fictitious home in bedford falls, new york.
A wonderful life is an adaptation of frank capras 1946 film its a wonderful life for the christian film industry. Its a wonderful life was filmed in black and white on 35mm film. Hollywood magic transformed a warm set into a winter wonderland. Dec 26, 2011 sixtyfive years ago bedford falls was the talk of the town as the setting for christmas classic it s a wonderful life. Georges 1919 dodge from its a wonderful life warms hearts. See its a wonderful life with new documentary film about. Now the holiday classic lives on, not only on film, but in seneca falls annual its a wonderful life festival where fans can enjoy moviethemed. Its a wonderful life filming locations iamnotastalker. Its a wonderful life video filmed in geneva, new york. It is the third in a series of film musicals following. There are only two surviving locations from the film. Dec 04, 2014 a plaque on the bridge that reads the village of seneca falls may have inspired the hometown look of frank capras 1946 holiday film classic, its a wonderful life.
I challenge anyone to watch this film and not be touched, if you can, you have no heart. Its a wonderful life, american dramatic film, released in 1946, that is widely considered one of the most inspirational and beloved movies in. Its a wonderful life is a 1946 movie directed and produced by frank capra, based on the greatest gift by philip van doren stern. On some days, the temperature climbed so high that frank capra put production on hold. Feb 25, 2011 its a wonderful life video filmed in geneva, new york. The movies charismatic characters, heartwarming message and theme of hopefulness have made the film both an enduring symbol of the holidays and every cinephiles favorite feelgood film. Its a wonderful life was filmed entirely in california, as were most movies at that time. Filming started on april 15, 1946 and ended on july 27, 1946, exactly on deadline for the 90day principal photography schedule.
The gym floor which opens up to reveal a swimming pool is still in action at beverly hills high school, 255 south lasky drive, at moreno drive in beverly hills, where the swimgym is still signposted. By this definition, its a wonderful life is very much a classic. In 1945, when the movie was shot, seneca falls was a mill town, just like. Its a wonderful life is a 1946 american christmas fantasy drama film produced and directed by frank capra, based on the short story and. Tiff is a charitable cultural organization with a mission to transform the way people see the world, through film. It s a wonderful life was filmed in black and white on 35mm film. Dec 16, 2019 the film s success rather mirrored that of the book. Its a wonderful life may be an iconic christmas movie, but it was actually shot during the midst of a heat wave in the summer of 1946. Dec 05, 20 i learned about this location a couple of years ago from one of my blogs readers, an its a wonderful lifeaficionado named david, who had scoured zillow to track the place down after reading.
Where was its a wonderful life filmed discover the its. Rkos movie ranch in encino, a filming location of bedford falls, was razed in 1954. Its a wonderful life film secrets you probably havent. It may be an iconic christmas movie, but its a wonderful life was actually shot in the summer of 1946in the midst of a heat wave, no less. Frank capras inspiration for the design of bedford falls in its a wonderful life. Wonderful life is a song by the english singer black from his 1986 album of the same name. The beloved drama tells the story of an angel named clarence henry travers who is sent from.
The holiday classic to define all holiday classics, it s a wonderful life is one of a handful of films worth an annual viewing. Filming locations 8 production dates 1 filming locations. The untold story of the town that inspired its a wonderful. Then it was kind of forgotten, until it was rediscovered by a new generation who grew up watching it every december on tv. The real bedford falls the town that inspired its a. Jul 10, 2015 wonderful life by black 1987 was filmed in southport it was the shots of that tractor on the beach i think it collects the brown shrimps from the water and what looked like marram grass on. While its a wonderful life was actually filmed in california, it seems there is plenty of information to corroborate that seneca falls probably was the model capra was using for for bedford falls. In 1945, frank capra visited seneca falls, new york to look for inspiration for the town of bedford falls.