Why "It’s a Wonderful Life" Brings Us to Tears Every Time
Exploring the timeless magic of a holiday classic.
Emotions, Friends, and the Fragility of Life
Hi there,
I felt down yesterday. Ruth gave me a hug first thing this morning in bed. I’m feeling emotional now.
I’m looking forward to friends visiting tomorrow. Quality, not quantity.
Ceasing to be. Everyone dies.
The Emotional Power of It’s a Wonderful Life
I love the movie It’s a Wonderful Life because it captures the whole range of human experience and emotion. It’s a profoundly affecting movie.
Shakespeare asks: “To be or not to be?” Philosophers ask: “Why not kill ourselves?” But It’s a Wonderful Life shows us life’s joys and sorrows, hope and despair, shame and redemption—all in one classic movie.
Crying Together: What It’s a Wonderful Life Means to Us
It’s more than just a movie. I asked on the Facebook group “Zuzu’s Petals”: “Do you cry watching It’s a Wonderful Life?” When I last checked, 328 people had responded, with 99% saying yes, they do cry. There were almost 200 comments responding to that simple question.
“Every single time, in several places throughout the movie,” is one random sample response. Another: “I get choked up right at the end, when Harry says, ‘A toast to my big brother George: the richest man in town.’” Many choke up at that line.
“Most every scene…” said another, representative of scores of replies. And so many people said they cry every time they watch it (like me!).
Some detailed the scenes that got the tears flowing, like: “When George prays at Martini’s bar.”
One person said they cried “right from the beginning when the kids are praying.” Others tear up even thinking about the movie, such as this person: “Every single time. I’m tearing up now just thinking about it.”
I’m with that contributor.
Here’s another: “Every time, and I’ve watched it for over 60 years.” Lots and lots of people said they cried “every time.”
Another said: “Emotional moments throughout, but the tears really start to build up after George hugs Bert. Then when Harry toasts him, I lose it.”
I can identify with all those comments. Here’s another: “Even my stoic husband shed a tear when we watched it on Sunday. He asked if I was crying and I said ‘a little, you?’ And he responded ‘a little.’”
Here’s another comment: “‘Every time a bell rings… Attaboy Clarence!’ I get a little choked up!!”
So many responders said they cried every single time they watch it, and many people watch it a lot. Some watch it “year-round.”
“Yes!” “Always!” “Every time!” were the single-word replies of many, one expanding to: “Yup. Every. Single. Time.” I loved this response, in full capitals: “EVERY. DAMN. TIME.” Another sample reply: “Yes! No matter how many times I’ve watched it.”
One person even named their rescue dog Zuzu, after George’s youngest daughter, played by the much-loved actor Karolyn Grimes.
Another said they cried during the famous phone scene, where George Bailey first kissed his future wife Mary, played by Donna Reed.
And this: “You don’t have a heart if ya don’t tear up.”
A Song Inspired by a Classic
Celebrating It’s a Wonderful Life through music.
Is it any wonder that I wanted to write a song to explore my personal experience of being moved repeatedly by that movie?
You can listen to the song on your preferred platform by clicking the links below or you can watch the video with the lyrics, as you prefer. Links below:
Video with Lyrics
Call to Action
Listen, like and share! Ask your radio station to play it!
If you write anything about the song on social media, please use the following hashtags:
#ItsAWonderfulLifeAChristmasTale
#ItsAWonderfulLife
Music and Lyrics “It’s a Wonderful Life (A Christmas Tale)” © Joe Armstrong, Andrea Patron, Bryan Matthews, Zac Ware, Corinne Schmidiger, Paul Statham
Joe’s acclaimed first memoir In My Gut, I Don’t Believe is available on Amazon in Kindle, Paperback, Hardback and Audible editions. His second memoir Saved by a Woman is available on Amazon in Kindle, Paperback, and Hardback editions.
Do you cry watching It's a Wonderful Life?