Clarence Odbody earned his wings after helping George Bailey, but actor Henry Travers was initially hesitant to take the role that would become his most beloved performance.

Bedford Falls was inspired by Seneca Falls, NY, where director Frank Capra stopped during a road trip and fell in love with the charming small town atmosphere.

It's a Wonderful Life was a box office disappointment upon its initial release in 1946, failing to recoup its production costs. It only became a beloved classic decades later when it entered the public domain in the 1970s and began airing regularly on television during the holiday season.