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IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

1 Which of these has the hollywood classic it’s A Wonderful Life NOT achieved? A. Voted Britain’s favourite Christmas film B. Words from its script painted on British train platforms C. A scathing review in the New York Times D. Turned into a hit musical by Sir Paul McCartney 2 The story for the film started life as a:

A. Poem B. Children’s picture book C. Christmas card D. Tea towel 3 TRUe OR FALSe: The

film’s director Frank capra screened it’s A Wonderful Life every christmas for his family. 4 Which of these pairings was originally considered for the starring roles? A. Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers

B. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall C. Marlon Brando and Audrey Hepburn D. Henry Fonda and Greta Garbo 5 The film was shot in the middle of a: A. Snowstorm B. Heatwave C. War D. Pandemic 6 TRUe OR FALSe: it was the biggest box office hit of the first half of the 20th century.

1) D. Turned into a hit musical by Sir Paul McCartney

thE Beatle has written songs for a musical of the film, but it has not yet opened. the 1946 movie was voted Britain’s favourite Christmas film in a Radio times poll in 2020. the New York times ran a review declaring: ‘the weakness of this picture is the sentimentality of it.’ In 2018, more than 7.5 km of words from the script were painted on train platforms from London to Glasgow.

2) C. Christmas card

FRustRatED that he could not get his short story published, author Philip Van Doren stern sent it to friends as a 21-page Christmas card in 1943.

3) TRUE

CaPRa said: ‘I thought it was the greatest film I ever made. Better yet, I thought it was the greatest film anybody ever made.’

4) A. Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers

GRaNt brought the story to the studio RKO. It bought the screen rights, but the role went to James stewart. Rogers was reported to be considered for the lead female role before it went to Donna Reed.

5) B. Heatwave

stEWaRt can be seen sweating and fake snow was brought in. snow had been made by spraying cornflakes white, but technicians made a new film snow with water, soap and a fire-fighting chemical called foamite — pumped through a wind machine.

6) FALSE

It WasN’t even the biggest hit of the year — coming in 26th in box office revenues. stewart said: ‘By the end of 1947, the film was quietly put on the shelf.’ It only became a ‘holiday classic’ decades later after copyright lapsed and tV companies, who could then use it free of charge, aired the movie repeatedly during the Christmas season.