When a man's (James Stewart) business is about to go under, he decides to commit suicide but is stopped by his guardian angel who shows him what life for his wife (Donna Reed), family, friends and town would have been like if he had not been born. Frank Capra portrays James Stewart character in the first part of the film as then man who always puts other people before himself and then in the final part comes to realise what impact he really did have on people's lives even though he did not think he did. This could have been a film of sentimental mush, but in Frank Capra's hands is a heart warming film that recognises the importance of each individual person. The stand out performance is James Stewart, but there is also a good supporting performance from Donna Reid. This has become the classic Christmas film although it has dark themes running through it and Frank Capra did not make it as a specifically Christmas film.
4/5 
James Stewart
Lionel Barrymore
Donna Reed
Samuel S Hinds
Frank Albertson
Mary Treen
Henry Travers
Harry Holman