Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed repeat their film roles with Victor Moore the new addition in this version of Frank Capra’s famous Christmas tale. It’s got one of the all time great ideas – to wit, what would happen if you’ve never been born? But surprisingly that concept only comes along in the third act. Act one is about Jimmy Stewart being frustrated in his dreams – he wants to leave town but it’s thwarted by his father’s death, then his brother’s marriage, then the Depression. Act two is Jimmy being driven to suicide. Then act three he realises things aren’t that bad. It’s a pertinent message just as important today – the sweet stuff works so well because there’s so much darkness: the threat of illness, cost of medical treatment, economic collapse, cruelty of Mr Potter. You really feel for Stewart’s character, with his spoilt younger brother refusing to take his turn running the family business (yeah he’s a war hero but so what), idiotic uncle who loses his money. Stewart’s wonderful voice made him a superb radio actor and he’s very good here.
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