In this special Dark Ops episode of the podcast, Mark Melton and Marc LiVecche discuss the 1946 movie It’s a Wonderful Life and the short story that inspired it, “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern. The film premiered in New York City 75 years ago on December 20, 1946.

During the episode, Melton and LiVecche cover how the movie depicts the morality of banking and business, the importance of individuals, the value of a person’s work that may seem insignificant, Italian and Catholic immigrants when they were outsiders, hope, and more. They also explain why people should watch the movie at Christmas.

And here are some of the cited articles for further reading:

The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale,” by Philip Van Doren Stern (2014).

The Morality of Banking in It’s a Wonderful Life,” by Bourree Lam and Gillian B. White, The Atlantic (December 23, 2016).

Henry Potter Is the Undeniable Hero of It’s a Wonderful Life,” by Daniel Savickas, RealClearMarkets (December 14, 2018).

 “From Fiction to Film: ‘The Greatest Gift’ and It’s a Wonderful Life,” Peter Armenti, Library of Congress (December 21, 2018).


Special Intro Music: The US Marine Corps Band, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” via Pixabay.