Cast It's a Wonderful Life

george bailey (james stewart), mary bailey (donna reed) , youngest daughter zuzu (karolyn grimes).

the contention james stewart referred capra s choice play george bailey disputed film historian stephen cox, indicates henry fonda in running.

although stated jean arthur, ann dvorak , ginger rogers considered role of mary before donna reed won part, list disputed cox indicates jean arthur first offered part had turn down prior commitment on broadway before capra turned olivia de havilland, martha scott , ann dvorak. ginger rogers offered female lead, turned down because considered bland . in chapter 26 of autobiography ginger: story, questioned decision asking readers: foolish, say?

a long list of actors considered role of potter (originally named herbert potter): edward arnold, charles bickford, edgar buchanan, louis calhern, victor jory, raymond massey, vincent price , thomas mitchell. however, lionel barrymore, won role, famous ebenezer scrooge in radio dramatizations of christmas carol @ time , natural choice role. barrymore had worked capra on 1938 best picture oscar winner, can t take you.

h.b. warner, cast drugstore owner mr. gower, studied medicine before going acting. in of capra s other films, including mr. deeds goes town, lost horizon, can t take you, , mr. smith goes washington. in silent era, had played role of jesus christ in cecil b. demille s king of kings (1927). name gower came capra s employer columbia pictures, had been located on gower street many years. on gower street drugstore favorite studio s employees.

charles williams, cast eustace bailey, , mary treen, cast matilda tilly bailey, both b-list actors, both had appeared in 90 films each before filming s wonderful life.

jimmy raven (uncle billy s pet) appeared in can t take , each subsequent capra film.

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