Widely considered a Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) is watched by countless viewers every year. The story centers on George Bailey, a man from the small town of Bedford Falls, the family and business he builds, and his ambitions. While not the most humorous or lighthearted Christmas tale, the themes in Wonderful Life cover the questions we have all grappled with – dreams deferred, difficult circumstances, and the pressures of life. Here’s what this timeless tale teaches us about mental health.
The story
The film opens with a conversation between God, Joseph, and a lesser angel named Clarence, who has yet to earn his wings. We’re introduced to George Bailey as a boy, who saves his younger brother Harry from drowning after he accidentally falls into icy water. Young George also tends a local shop with the elderly Mr. Gower. In his grief at receiving news of his son’s passing, Mr. Gower absentmindedly places poison into capsules for a sick child. Thankfully, George notices this and refuses to make the delivery, comforting Mr. Gower in his grief and preventing a disaster from occurring.
Although he spent years helping his father and uncle in the family business, George gives his savings to Harry when their father suffers a sudden stroke and passes away. George is obligated to take his father’s place at the Building & Loan. For years, the late Mr. Bailey helped less fortunate community members purchase quality homes – properties not built or controlled by the ungracious Mr. Potter, the wealthiest and meanest man in town.
When the bank closes, George and Mary Bailey give away their honeymoon money to struggling families in their community
The next act sees George marrying his childhood friend, Mary Hatch. As they are about to leave for their honeymoon, the local bank shutters, causing residents of Bedford Falls to panic. To prevent customers from taking their business to the conniving Mr. Potter, Mary and George instead give their meager travel funds to community members. They move into the old house Mary had wished for and together, build a home and family. Jealous of George’s success, Mr. Potter extends him a substantial offer to join his company, which George briefly considers before animatedly rejecting it.
As the years go by, World War II strikes. Due to the permanent deafness in his left ear after rescuing his younger brother, George stays in Bedford Falls while Harry becomes a pilot and ultimately decorated war hero. George and Mary have another boy and girl, but the stresses of life have slowly been taking their toll on the father of four. When his Uncle Billy misplaces a deposit of $8,000 at the bank (unbeknownst to him, into Mr. Potter’s hands), they search for the missing envelope to no avail. The state examiner threatens to close the Building & Loan and arrest George if he cannot produce the funds. At his rope’s end, George begs Mr. Potter for help, but the elderly man ridicules him, saying that thanks to his life insurance policy, George is worth more to everyone dead than alive.
George drags himself home, where Mary and the children are busy preparing for guests to arrive at their Christmas party. Out of patience, George berates the children before storming out and going to Martini’s bar to drown his sorrows. There, he gets into a fistfight with the husband of his daughter’s teacher (whom he blames for her falling sick). He ultimately winds up crashing his car and running to the bridge, contemplating jumping into the freezing waters below. Suddenly, a diminutive elderly man falls into the current – we learn this is the angel Clarence – and George dives in to rescue him.
While drying off, George expresses that he wished he had never been born, so Clarence shows him a shocking alternate reality. The once familiar hometown of Bedford Falls has been renamed Potterville and is filled with neon signs, clubs, and exotic dancers. To his horror, George discovers his brother Harry had died as a child since he wasn’t there to save him; their mother doesn’t even know his name; and his wife Mary has become a spinster librarian, their house once again empty and dilapidated. Finally understanding how much impact one person’s life has on others, George chooses to return to his life in the present.
As if seeing everything with new eyes, George is overjoyed to find his old car, jammed door and all; the knob on the balustrade that never stays put; and most of all his children and wife in their “drafty old house.” As the Christmas party begins, all the neighbors whom George and Mary had once given their honeymoon funds to repay him to cover his deficit to the bank. They celebrate, sing, and the tinkle of a bell on the Christmas tree signals that Clarence has now gained his wings.
After George is presented with an alternate reality where he never existed, he comes into a newfound appreciation for his drafty old house and family
Mental health is a timeless subject
It’s a Wonderful Life examined the topics of depression, PTSD, and suicidal ideation in a milieu where mental health wasn’t necessarily a topic of a table conversation. Even decades later, the storytelling is powerful precisely because the audience sees every circumstance in George’s life that prevents him from pursuing his dreams, putting others before himself, and the long-term consequences. Were there actions George could have taken or plans he could have made to prevent Mr. Potter from scheming against him? Possibly – but I’d argue that the point of the story is not to dwell on the “what ifs,” but to remind us to look within. Have we identified the circumstances in our own lives that could lead us down a similar path to George when we meet him at the bridge? Are there skeletons in the closet that need to be brought to light?
Despite challenging circumstances and financial upheavals, George also experienced many moments of joy throughout his life. Although he and Mary gave away their honeymoon funds, their friends decorated and serenaded them at Mary’s dream house (in one of the sweetest moments of the story, in my opinion!). George maintains close friendships throughout the years, helping others achieve their dreams of becoming homeowners even if he does not prioritize his own. Are we holding onto our own positive memories and creating space to reflect and appreciate others? Speaking of which – this segues nicely to another theme in Wonderful Life.
The power of community
When Clarence shows George the nightmarish Potterville, he realizes just how many people he has impacted for the better: shopkeeper Mr. Gower would have been jailed for poisoning that young boy, Harry would not have survived into adulthood, and all those people the Building & Loan helped would instead be paying rent to Mr. Potter. This is a shift in perspective that was hard for George to see in the midst of his struggles – another reason it’s so important to surround ourselves with people whom we trust and who support us. Moreover, Mary’s steadfast love for George not only saves the Building & Loan, but tides him through the emotionally darker moments of the bank closure and ultimately the repayment of the $8,000 debt. Who are the family members, friends, and mentors in your circle who form your support system?
Interestingly, the film’s title is not an indication of what George is feeling at the beginning, standing on that bridge, but rather a realization that there is joy and gratitude to be found in family and community. And that’s a beautiful thought to bring into the holiday season.
If you have seen It’s a Wonderful Life, what were your main takeaways? Reflecting on your own situation, are you in a position to support someone going through a difficult time? Conversely, who in your network is that person or group for you when you could use a different perspective?
Additional resources
If someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, Savor Lining has compiled resources for suicide prevention, which includes a flyer you can download and share. To better recognize the risks and warning signs of mental health and addiction concerns, you may also consider registering for Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training led by our licensed clinical instructors.
Why write a series on how mental health is portrayed in film and television? Born and raised in Los Angeles, I (Evelyn) have always been a stone’s throw away from Hollywood, the origin of some of our most beloved movies and shows. A good story often presents curious perspectives or teaches us valuable life lessons. In the case of mental health, I believe such depictions can destigmatize uncomfortable topics from social anxiety to depression and substance abuse to grief.
My hope is that this opinion column will inspire conversations around meaningful issues in our personal lives and relationships. Without further ado – grab your popcorn and soft drinks and let’s get watching!
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