GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “It’s A Wonderful Life”

Welcome to the GITS Script Reading & Analysis series, Volume 25. This week we will be analyzing the screenplay for the 1946 movie It’s A Wonderful Life, screenplay Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett and Frank Capra, story by Philip Van Doren Stern. The movie was nominated for 5 Academy Awards.

You may download a copy of the script here.

Some reviews of the movie:

Roger Ebert [January 1, 1999]

The Guardian [December 13, 2007]

New York Times [December 23, 1946]

Variety [December 18, 1946]

The original movie trailer:

Let’s use this post today for your general reactions to the script.

Did you enjoy it? What aspects about it made the most impact on you? Would you consider it a ‘good read’? What struck you most about the writing?

Our schedule for discussion:

Monday, December 17: General comments
Tuesday, December 18: Structure
Wednesday, December 19: Characters
Thursday, December 20: Themes
Friday, December 21: Dialogue

We will have another live TweetCast on Wednesday, December 19 at 7PM Pacific. What’s a TweetCast? Everybody lines up a DVD, Netflix, or whatever of the movie, then hits play at precisely the top of the hour.

A scene from the movie:

If you know of any great behind-the-scenes videos or interviews about It’s A Wonderful Life, please post them in comments.

Remember: Reading scripts is one of the most important single things you can do to enhance your understanding of the craft of screenwriting. So download It’s A Wonderful Life and join us this week to analyze the script.

For all of the other screenplays and commentary in the GITS Script Reading & Analysis series, go here.

NOTE: THE USE OF THESE SCREENPLAYS IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

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