The story
It's Christmas Eve 1944 in the small town of Bedford Falls, New York. A despondent and suicidal Mary Bailey Hatch is praying for guidance on what to do about an incident no fault of her own which threatens her name and the community standing of her longtime family business, the Bailey Building and Loan, which she took over after the passing of her father. What Mary does not know is that most in town, including her husband George Hatch and their children, are also praying for her. All the prayers are heard by Joseph, God's gatekeeper of prayers. As there are no other angels available on such a busy day, Joseph assigns Clara Oddbody, angel second class (i.e. she has yet to receive her wings), to Mary's case, which he reluctantly does as Clara has never been assigned a case on her own in the two hundred years she's been in heaven for good reason.
Watch trailerCast & crew
Marlo ThomasMary Bailey Hatch
Orson WellesHenry F. Potter
Wayne RogersGeorge Hatch
Cloris LeachmanClara Oddbody
Barney MartinUncle Willie
Karen CarlsonViolet
Dick O'NeillMr. Gower
Doris RobertsMa Bailey
Richard DysartPeter Bailey
Archie HahnErnie
Christopher GuestHarry BaileyExplore the crew
- Director
- Donald Wrye
- Writer
- Lionel Chetwynd
- Producer
- Carole Hart
- Producer
- Marlo Thomas
- Director of Photography
- Conrad Hall
- Editor
- Robbe Roberts
- Editor
- William Martin
- Original Music Composer
- Stephen Lawrence