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2 • December 22 - 28, 2019 • Brainerd Dispatch By Kyla Brewer TV Media T he holiday favorite that never fails to warm viewers' hearts is back just in time for Christmas Eve. Oscar winner Jimmy Stewart ("Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," 1939) stars as George Bailey, a good man facing financial ruin in "It's a Wonderful Life," airing Tuesday, Dec. 24, on NBC. Directed by Frank Capra ("You Can't Take It With You," 1938), the film was re- leased in 1946 and has since be- come a Yuletide classic. George has given up many of his own dreams to help the people in his hometown of Bedford Falls, but when his uncle misplaces $8,000 from the family building and loan business, the situation looks bleak. As a distraught George contemplates suicide and wishes he was never born, God sends a bumbling guardian angel- in-training named Clarence (Henry Travers, "Mrs. Miniver," 1942) to help him through. Clarence — who hopes the assignment will fi- nally earn him his wings — shows George what Bedford Falls would be like without him, and they visit the many people whose lives he has touched throughout the years, including his wife, Mary (Donna Reed, "From Here to Eternity," 1953). Karolyn Grimes ("The Bishop's Wife," 1947), who played George and Mary's daughter Zuzu, is one of the film's few remaining living cast members. She's famous for the memorable line: "Look daddy. Teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings." In a 2016 Vanity Fair article com- memorating the film's 70th anni- versary, she shared her take on Capra's classic. "Capra was trying to make people realize that life was worth living, and that you can make a difference," she said. "We lose sight of that every once in a while. That's why I think people love to watch it." Maybe that's the secret to the film's enduring success. Released a year after the end of World War II, Capra's epic holiday film of- fered audiences a sincere, heart- warming message, but "It's a Wonderful Life" was no box-office cash-grab. In fact, many people are surprised to learn that the movie was considered a financial flop at the time of its release. The tale behind the production is al- most as interesting as the movie itself. As the story goes, the movie was based on the short story "The Greatest Gift," by author Philip Van Doren Stern. Capra bought the rights for $10,000, and it was the director's first feature since making propaganda films during the war. It was also Stewart's first since returning from his wartime service in the United States Air Force Reserve. Filming a holiday movie in the Cali- fornia heat pre- sented a unique challenge. RKO special effects head Russell Shearman ("Portrait of Jennie," 1948) won an Oscar for devel- oping a new com- pound consisting of water, soap flakes, foamite and sugar to create fake snow for the film. When the film was released in December 1946, it garnered mixed reviews and failed to break even at the box office. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but only won for Shearman's special effects. While it may not have been a complete bomb, as some suggest, it did lose the studio about a half a million dollars. However, all was not lost for the film. In 1974, the rights to "It's a Wonderful Life" were not renewed due to a clerical error, and since it was now free to do so, hundreds of TV stations aired the movie re- peatedly throughout the 1980s, and millions of viewers became enamored with the holiday tale. Although rights have since been reclaimed, it continues to delight fans each Christmas, and is now widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made. Stewart's critically acclaimed performance as Bailey undoubted- ly has a lot to do with the success of "It's a Wonderful Life," and Hol- lywood legend Lionel Barrymore ("Key Largo," 1948) is fantastic as the movie's antagonist, the mean, rich, old Mr. Potter. Barrymore had worked with Capra before, as had H.B. Warner ("The King of Kings," 1927), who played druggist Mr. Gower. Fans of Capra's work may also recognize another familiar face, or beak, as it were. The raven in the building and loan scenes was Jimmy the Raven, who ap- peared in many of Capra's films. Fans of Stewart's work may rec- ognize Beulah Bondi, who played George's mother, Mrs. Bailey. Bon- di portrayed the mother of Stew- art's characters in four of the ac- tor's films, including "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939). Thomas Mitchell, who stars as George's Uncle Billy in "It's a Won- derful Life," is also in that film. Whether you're celebrating a homey family Christmas with all of the trimmings or honoring the hol- iday in a more understated way, don't miss the magic of "It's a Wonderful Life," airing Tuesday, Dec. 24, on NBC. And remember the wisdom of the film's angel, Clarence, who sent George a card that read: "Remember, no man is a failure who has friends." A holiday classic with class Jimmy Stewart stars in 'It's a Wonderful Life' Cover Story this week Jimmy Stewart in a scene from "It's a Wonderful Life" A Little Late With Lilly Singh Sometimes my fans can be nervous, and they say things they don't necessarily mean. I can't tell you how many times I've got, "Woah, you're actually really pretty in real life" — it's just like anytime I'm on a Tinder date! I go back and forth on artificial intelligence. I'm not sure if it's good or bad. It's like taking shots. The next day you realize it was a mistake, but the night of you're like, "I'm going to live forever!" The one reason I love Thanksgiving is it brings the whole family together. And the one reason I hate Thanksgiving is because it brings the whole family together. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Trump had his annual physical. There was an awkward moment when the nurse told Trump, "Mr. President, the open part of the robe should be in the back." Victoria's Secret has officially canceled their Fashion Show. Or, as one guy put it, "Oh my God, this week CAN get worse!" The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but impeachment is still the big story. So big, in fact, that this year at the parade, the transcript of Trump's Ukraine call is going to be one of the balloons. This year the two turkeys up for pardon were called Bread and Butter. Butter got the official pardon moment. Only one thing: Bread won the White House Twitter poll by 12 points. I'm surprised Bread won the popular vote — I can't believe it's not Butter! According to the TSA, you can bring your Thanksgiving turkey on an airplane. As for other Thanksgiving food, pies or cookies are allowed right in your carry-on, gravy or cranberry sauce can go in your checked luggage and corn pudding can go directly to hell! Late Laughs Downloadthe"VistBrainerd"App intheAppleorGooglePlayStores. Events,lodgingandthingstodo inthepalmofyourhand. VISITBRAINERD PlanningYour VisittoBrainerd JustGotEasier. TheOfficialDMOforBaxterandBrainerd,MN EntertainmentGuide_July_2x4.indd 1 6/26/2019 12:42:53PM To help support BCA: Make a tax deductible donation: BrainerdCommunityAction.org and use the "Click Here to Donate" Button. Brainerd Community Action is looking forward to launching its very first COMMUNITY GIVE BACK GRANT! Contact Cassie with questions at Cassie@BrainerdCommunityAction.org Truth Lutheran Church 501 Kingwood Street, Brainerd, MN (Corner of 5th & Kingwood) truthlutheranchurch.com An LCMC Congregation …Lutheran Congregation in Mission for Christ Sunday worship 9 AM Fellowship and Sunday school following worship Christmas Eve Worship Service Dec. 24 @ 5pm

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