It Happened One Christmas

The story

It's Christmas Eve 1944 in the small town of Bedford Falls, New York. A despondent and suicidal Mary Bailey Hatch is praying for guidance on what to do about an incident no fault of her own which threatens her name and the community standing of her longtime family business, the Bailey Building and Loan, which she took over after the passing of her father. What Mary does not know is that most in town, including her husband George Hatch and their children, are also praying for her. All the prayers are heard by Joseph, God's gatekeeper of prayers. As there are no other angels available on such a busy day, Joseph assigns Clara Oddbody, angel second class (i.e. she has yet to receive her wings), to Mary's case, which he reluctantly does as Clara has never been assigned a case on her own in the two hundred years she's been in heaven for good reason.

Cast

M Marlo ThomasMary Bailey Hatch O Orson WellesHenry F. Potter W Wayne RogersGeorge Hatch C Cloris LeachmanClara Oddbody B Barney MartinUncle Willie K Karen CarlsonViolet D Dick O'NeillMr. Gower D Doris RobertsMa Bailey R Richard DysartPeter Bailey C Cliff NortonMartini A Archie HahnErnie C Christopher GuestHarry Bailey

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G Gino ConfortiSassini M Morgan UptonBert R Robert EmhardtJudge C Ceil CabotCousin Tillie B Bryan O'ByrneDoctor R Rita GeorgeHelen Bailey B Beans MoroccoToll Keeper M Med FloryNick J James BrodheadBank Examiner C Charles GrodinJoseph J Jim LovelettSam Wainwright B Bob HarksTownsman (uncredited) D David HollanderPetey Hatch (uncredited) L Linda Lee LyonsSusie Hatch (uncredited) W Walter O. MilesMan at Party (uncredited) L Lynn WoodlockMary - Age 12 (uncredited)