- Hardcover: 72 pages
- Publisher: Viking USA (Dec 17 1996)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0670862045
- ISBN-13: 978-0670862047
- Product Dimensions: 18.8 x 13.5 x 1.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 249 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#603,581 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #64 in Books > Nonfiction > Holidays
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Product Details |
Product Description
Book Description
The short story that inspired the movie It's a Wonderful Life is included here along with an afterword by the author's daughter that tells how the story shaped the movie and accolades from the stars and director of the movie. 50,000 first printing. $40,000 ad/promo.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
obvious historical interest,
By
This review is from: Greatest Gift (Hardcover)
It was the story I had been looking for all my life! A good man, ambitious. But so busy helping others, life seems to pass him by. Despondent. He wishes he had never been born. He gets his wish. Through the eyes of a guardian angel he sees the world as it would have been had he not been born. Wow! What an idea. The kind of idea that when I get old and sick and scared and ready to die -- they'll say, 'He made The Greatest Gift.' -Frank Capra I'm sure your family does it too, sit around watching It's a Wonderful Life and speaking all of the lines moments ahead of the characters. Younger folk may not recall that in the early 80's, before Republic Pictures reclaimed the copyright to the movie, it was on literally dozens of times from Thanksgiving to New Years every year. And we all watched it, every single showing. Somehow the upbeat message about the individual's capacity to change the world for the better achieved a special resonance in those heady Reagan Era days of promise. Now it's shown on a network just once a season as an attempt at Event programming, but every red blooded American family owns a videotape and pops it in at least a few times over the holidays. Turns out, the movie was based on a story by respected Civil War historian, Philip Van Doren Stern (one assumes he's from The Van Doren family of Quiz Show fame). The story sprang full blown from Van Doren's head while he was shaving on the morning of Feb. 12, 1938. He rewrote it several times and then in 1943 sent it to his agent to see if he could get a magazine to buy it. Unbelievably, they all turned it down. So he had a couple hundred copies made and sent them to friends in their Christmas cards. Someone showed the story to Frank Capra when he was looking for a project after the War ended and, if the quote above is to be believed, he instantly realized that he had an American classic in his hands. The story itself is much more spare than the movie. Characters like Uncle Billy, Violet Bick, Ernie and Bert and even Mr. Potter are all missing. But the essential tale, of George Pratt contemplating suicide and a guardian angel intervening to show him the effect he has had on the lives of others, remains. This is one of those rare instances where a movie actually improves upon the written version, but the story is still quite affecting and has obvious historical interest. GRADE: B MOVIE GRADE: A+
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews) 21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
obvious historical interest,
By Orrin C. Judd "brothersjudddotcom" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Greatest Gift (Hardcover)
It was the story I had been looking for all my life! A good man, ambitious. But so busy helping others, life seems to pass him by. Despondent. He wishes he had never been born. He gets his wish. Through the eyes of a guardian angel he sees the world as it would have been had he not been born. Wow! What an idea. The kind of idea that when I get old and sick and scared and ready to die -- they'll say, 'He made The Greatest Gift.' -Frank Capra I'm sure your family does it too, sit around watching It's a Wonderful Life and speaking all of the lines moments ahead of the characters. Younger folk may not recall that in the early 80's, before Republic Pictures reclaimed the copyright to the movie, it was on literally dozens of times from Thanksgiving to New Years every year. And we all watched it, every single showing. Somehow the upbeat message about the individual's capacity to change the world for the better achieved a special resonance in those heady Reagan Era days of promise. Now it's shown on a network just once a season as an attempt at Event programming, but every red blooded American family owns a videotape and pops it in at least a few times over the holidays. Turns out, the movie was based on a story by respected Civil War historian, Philip Van Doren Stern (one assumes he's from The Van Doren family of Quiz Show fame). The story sprang full blown from Van Doren's head while he was shaving on the morning of Feb. 12, 1938. He rewrote it several times and then in 1943 sent it to his agent to see if he could get a magazine to buy it. Unbelievably, they all turned it down. So he had a couple hundred copies made and sent them to friends in their Christmas cards. Someone showed the story to Frank Capra when he was looking for a project after the War ended and, if the quote above is to be believed, he instantly realized that he had an American classic in his hands. The story itself is much more spare than the movie. Characters like Uncle Billy, Violet Bick, Ernie and Bert and even Mr. Potter are all missing. But the essential tale, of George Pratt contemplating suicide and a guardian angel intervening to show him the effect he has had on the lives of others, remains. This is one of those rare instances where a movie actually improves upon the written version, but the story is still quite affecting and has obvious historical interest. GRADE: B MOVIE GRADE: A+ 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoy story and a movie,
By Meredith - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Greatest Gift (Hardcover)
My book club read this story and then watched IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. It was a great evening. I am happy to own my own copy of THE GREATEST GIFT. The book was as I expected and arrived in pronto time. Thanks!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved this!,
By Jeremy C. Parsons - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Greatest Gift (Hardcover)
My favorite movie of all time -- It's a Wonderful Life. I am so glad to have this book now. Shipped promptly and came as described. Would use this seller again.
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