Park City Film invites audiences to see George Bailey realize “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
The arthouse nonprofit will host a free screening Frank Capra’s 1946 Academy Award-nominated holiday classic at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, at the Park City Library’s Jim Santy Auditorium, said Executive Director Katharine Wang.
“We have shown this film a couple of times in the past 12 years,” she said. “We’ve tried to divert and show ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ and other classic Christmas films, but we always get the greatest response to ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ It’s clearly a film that resonates with people during this time of year.”
“It’s a Wonderful Life” — which was nominated for a string of Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director — follows Bailey, played by James Stewart, who, after a lifetime of unfulfilled dreams, finds how much he has touched people’s lives through the promptings of a novice angel, Clarence, performed by Henry Travers.
Wang believes the storyline is part of the reason why the film resonates with so many people.
“It’s not just a pure film about Christmas,” she said. “George Bailey is dealing with depression. He’s dealing with relationships. He’s dealing with dreams that haven’t been realized, and these are all things people can relate to in their everyday lives.”
The film then brings those issues into the holiday season, which can be intense for some people, according to Wang.
“Sometimes you get kind of distracted by all the gloss and glamour — presents and joy — but it still comes down to us being real people with lives, families and other complexities,” she said. “I think that’s what makes it this enduring classic, and that’s why it’s a joy to bring back.”
“It’s a Wonderful Life” also deserves to be seen on the big screen with an audience, Wang said.
“I feel now more than ever that it’s important to bring people together around the art of film and the joy of the collective cinematic experience,” she said. “Since this hits all the notes, it adds that extra bit of pull and resonance for the community as we head into the Christmas holiday.”
Wang remembers when she first saw “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
“I didn’t have a TV growing up, so it was in a theater,” she said. “It’s one of those films that is hard to not know about. And it’s one of the things that I think about during the holiday season. It’s a touch point back to growing up.”
Although it’s a free screening, Wang encourages people to register to ensure a seat.
“We ask that, because the film is so popular,” she said.
Park City Film is partnering with the Park City Library for Monday’s screen, Wang said.
“We’ll have free popcorn and, since it’s a free screening, we hope people will invite their families,” she said. “We also know that sometimes the holidays can be tricky for folks due to finding childcare or the lack of family. So, we want to make sure we’re there for people. Art is such a great connector, and it can bring joy and give people a break from the stresses of the world.”
Park City Film: ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
- When: 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 23
- Where: Park City Library’s Jim Santy Auditorium, 1255 Park Ave.
- Cost: Free, but registration requested
- Registration: parkcityfilm.org/film/wonderful-life-2024
- Web: parkcityfilm.org