James Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military officer. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart had a film career that spanned over 55 years from 1935 and 1991 and 80 films. Stewart epitomized the "American ideal" in twentieth-century United States. In 1999, the American Film Institute (AFI) ranked him third on its list of the greatest American male actors.

Born and raised in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Stewart started acting while studying at Princeton University. After graduating in 1932, he began a career as a stage actor, appearing on Broadway. In 1935, he signed a film contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). After three years of supporting roles , he had his big breakthrough in Frank Capra's comedy 'You Can't Take It with You' (1938). He won his only Academy Award for Best Actor for his work in the screwball comedy 'The Philadelphia Story (1940).

'It's a Wonderful Life' is a 1946 American Christmas fantasy drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra, based on the short story and booklet 'The Greatest Gift'.

The film stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his dreams in order to help others, and whose imminent suicide on Christmas Eve brings about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers). Clarence shows George all the lives he has touched, and how different life would be for his wife Mary and his community of Bedford Falls if he had never been born.

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