It's a Wonderful Life

"[as everyone inside was about to go to Potter's bank for money] Now wait...now listen...now listen to me. I beg of you not to do this thing. If Potter gets hold of this Building and Loan, there'll never be another decent house built in this town. He's already got charge of the bank. He's got the bus line. He got the department stores. And now he's after us. Why? Well, it's very simple. Because we're cutting in on his business, that's why. And because he wants to keep you living in his slums and paying the kind of rent he decides. Joe, you had one of those Potter houses, didn't you? Well, have you forgotten? Have you forgotten what he charged you for that broken-down shack? Here, Ed. You know, you remember last year when things weren't going so well, and you couldn't make your payments? You didn't lose your house, did you? Do you think Potter would have let you keep it? Can't you understand what's happening here? Don't you see what's happening? Potter isn't selling. Potter's buying! And why? Because we're panicking and he's not. That's why. He's picking up some bargains. Now, we can get through this thing all right. We've got to stick together, though. We've got to have faith in each other."

"Dear Father in heaven, I'm not a praying man, but if you're up there and you can hear me, show me the way... show me the way."

"Clarence! Clarence! Help me, Clarence! Get me back! Get me back, I don't care what happens to me! Get me back to my wife and kids! Help me, Clarence, please! Please! I wanna live again. I wanna live again. I want to live again. Please, God, let me live again."

"Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?"

"[Inscribed in a copy of Tom Sawyer] "Dear George, remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings, Love Clarence.""

"[to George] Look at you. You used to be so cocky. You were going to go out and conquer the world! You once called me a warped, frustrated, old man. What are you but a warped, frustrated young man? A miserable little clerk, crawling in here on your hands and knees and begging for help."

"[after Potter says George was unfit for military service] After all, Potter, some people like George HAD to stay at home. Not every heel was in Germany and Japan."

"They're making memories tonight!"

"Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! How could it be anything else?"

"It's a wonderful laugh! It's a wonderful love!"

"They're going steady...straight to your heart!"

"I wish I had a million dollars! Hot Dog!"

"Jimmy Stewart - George Bailey"

"Donna Reed - Mary Hatch Bailey"

"Henry Travers - Clarence Odbody"

"Lionel Barrymore - Mr. Henry F. Potter"

"Thomas Mitchell - Uncle Billy"

"Todd Karns - Harry Bailey"

"Gloria Grahame - Violet Bick"

"Beulah Bondi - Ma Bailey"

"Frank Faylen - Ernie Bishop"

"Ward Bond - Officer Bert"

"H.B. Warner - Mr. Emil Gower"

"Frank Albertson - Sam Wainwright"

"Samuel S. Hinds - Peter Bailey (Pa)"

"William Edmunds - Mr. Martini"

"Sheldon Leonard - Nick"