It’s a Wonderful Life shows the power of the individual and fills us with hope each Christmas in ways few movies can.  The main character George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewart) has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all – and it’s Christmas! As the angels discuss George, we see his life in flashback. As George is about to jump from a bridge, he ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence – who then shows George what his town would have looked like if it hadn’t been for all his good deeds over the years.

The trailer 

The verdict 

Paramount spent over a year painstakingly restoring this treasured film, using the original nitrate negative along with two fine grain masters made in the 1940s.  Each element was carefully scanned using the very latest technology to both preserve the delicate negative and create the best possible digital image.  Fortunately, 13 of the 14 reels of the original negative survived, but portions had begun to deteriorate so the best image was selected from one of the three original sources on a shot-by-shot basis.  The result is a more vibrant and detail-rich picture that brings this classic to life like never before.

The 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack includes the black-and-white film in 4K high definition, as well as a colourised version on Blu-ray™, along with three special features new to 4K Ultra HD disc: “Restoring a Beloved Classic,” “Secrets from the Vault,” and “It’s A Wonderful Wrap Party.” A 2-Disc Blu-ray™ set will also be available that includes the newly remastered film in black-and-white, along with a colourised version and the three special features listed above.

Exclusive Special Features include:

• Restoring a Beloved Classic
• Secrets from the Vault: It’s a Wonderful Life
• It’s a Wonderful Wrap Party