Paramount Home Entertainment out now

Frank Capra’s masterpiece as you’ve never seen it before.

I would seriously hope that there are very few people reading this site who’ve not at least heard of It’s A Wonderful Life, if not seen it (and probably multiple times, at that). It’s one of Jimmy Stewart’s best loved performances, as he’s given the chance to see the effect that he has had on a small community. It’s an unashamedly feelgood movie, with Lionel Barrymore and Donna Reed providing sterling support.

The new version of it – designed for a 4K release, and from all accounts looking stunning on that – plays very well on Bluray, with a sharpness that I’ve not seen before. The sets and locations look stunning, and the soundtrack sounds clear. Clearly a lot of work has gone into it – as evidenced by the extras, which are on both Blu-ray and 4K.

The 13 minute feature on the restoration shows just how much labour-intensive effort was required, and is balanced by a 22 minute piece on the creation of the movie, that incorporates material from the wrap party as well as putting it in context in Capra’s career. Like so many movies, it wasn’t acclaimed on release, but gained traction over the years – thanks in large part to television and home entertainment releases.

Verdict: If you’ve not got a copy, you’re unlikely to find a better one for your collection. 9/10

Paul Simpson

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