It's A Wonderful Life

My very favorite movie of all time was in the news again yesterday, a few months out of season.

Bob Anderson, the teenage actor who portrayed the young George Bailey in the film It's A Wonderful Life passed away at age 75. Jimmy Stewart acted his way into immortality as the adult Bailey but it was Anderson who had one of the film's most memorable scenes, described here by the Associated Press report:

"In one scene, the story called for him to spot a potentially fatal error made by a drunken druggist, played by H.B. Warner.

Warner took the role seriously and on the day of shooting had been drinking and was 'pretty ripe,' Victoria Anderson (Bob's wife) said. The scene called for Warner's character to slap the boy.

Anderson told the Los Angeles Times in 1996 that the scene and its rehearsals were painful.

'He actually bloodied my ear,' Anderson told the paper. 'My ear was beat up and my face was red, and I was in tears.'

'At the end when it was all over, he (Warner) was very lovable. He grabbed me and hugged me, and he meant it,' Anderson said."

The film was made in 1946 so it's no surprise that nearly all of the major actors in it are no longer with us, or, as I prefer to think of it, are "drinking with Clarence." I did a little research last night and came up with this partial list. If you love the movie as I do, you will recognize most of the characters mentioned here.

James Stewart      George Bailey          died 2 July 1997.
Donna Reed          Mary Bailey             died 14 January 1986
Lionel Barrymore   Mr. Henry Potter      died 15 November 1954
Thomas Mitchell    Uncle Billy Bailey     died  17 December 1962
Henry Travers       Clarence                 died 18 October 1965
Beulah Bondi        Ma Bailey                died 1 January  1981
Frank Faylen         Ernie Bishop            died 2 August 1985
Ward Bond           Officer Bert             died 5 November 1960
Gloria Grahame    Violet  Bick              died 5 October 1981
H.B. Warner         Mr. Emil Gower        died 21 December 1958
Frank Albertson    Sam Wainwright       died 29 February 1964
Todd Karns          Harry Bailey             died 5 February 2000
William Edmunds  Giuseppe Martini      died 7 December 1981
Sheldon Leonard   Nick                        died 10 January 1997

The Kids Are Alright: Karolyn Grimes, Larry Simms, and Jimmy Hawkins, who played the Bailey's three young children (Zuzu, Pete, and Tommy) in It's A Wonderful Life, are all still alive.

 

Comments

[Diane]

It's hard to believe that it's been nearly 11 years since the great Jimmy Stewart passed.

[Stacey]

"It's A Wonderful Life" is also my favorite movie of all time - it's got everything - romance, drama, humor, the paranormal, all wrapped up with just the right amount of schmaltz.

"It's A Wonderful Life" was not Anderson's only Christmas movie with an angel - he was also in "The Bishop's Wife" a year later with Cary Grant, David Niven, and Loretta Young. His part was a minor one (I don't think his character was even named), but you can't miss his very recognizable voice.

Way to tie in a song name.

[momnan]

So sad to see another actor from the greatest movie ever made pass away. I like to think they are all together again somewhere good and reminiscing about the fun they had making IAWL.(Although the slapping part doesn't sound too fun!).