IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE : Houston : Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Info

Director	Frank Capra
Year	1946
Starring	James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore
Run Time	130min
Age Policy	18 and up; Children 6 and up will be allowed only with a parent guardian. No children under the age of 6 will be allowed.
More Info	IMDb

Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra have said multiple times that IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE remained the favorite production and film each one was ever a part of. Over time it has gained notoriety as a seminal holiday classic and has been given the distinction of being a sentimental and corny gem about what’s important in life.

This couldn’t be further from the darker themes that dominate the film. In fact Capra’s film is one of the more psychologically darker and emotionally rich Hollywood productions of the 1940’s. That’s not to say it isn't uplifting, but the undertones, which were no doubt brought upon by Stewart and Capra's experience in WWII, allow for a very mature and complex experience.

So if you’ve skipped this film because of its reputation as a light, happy Christmas movie do yourself a favor and see this undisputed classic. And if you’re already a fan now you can ditch the annual TV viewing and watch it on the big screen at the Alamo where it belongs.