The joy of a suitcase, the relief of a bloody lip, the pride of winning a set of wings. Few films better articulate these feelings better than Frank Capra’s seminal It’s A Wonderful Life. One of the best films ever made, It’s A Wonderful Life wasn’t always so warmly received. It traveled a circuitous path from a studio-tanking, suspected communist propaganda Christmas movie released in mid-July to the standard-bearer for all holiday entertainment. Endlessly imitated but never equaled, George Bailey’s creeping realization that maybe his life hasn’t been so bad after all is a must-watch every holiday season, and this one is no exception. But how does one watch it while avoiding those bizarre colorized versions?
Currently, It’s A Wonderful Life is streaming for “free” on Prime Video. However, one needs to search for “It’s A Wonderful Life (Black & White Version)” to find the original. The colorized version is also on Prime, but we can’t, in good faith, recommend anyone watch that. It’s worth the $4 to see a jaundice-free Donna Reed.
It’s A Wonderful Life is available to rent on all major platforms, including Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, and VUDU. The movie is also available for purchase on 4K UHD, which remains the best way to watch it short of a theatrical screening.
If you’re more of a Yuletide traditionalist, the movie will also air, as it does annually, on NBC on December 24 at 8 p.m. There is no better way to experience It’s A Wonderful Life than interrupted by Flo from Progressive, reminding you to call Progressive after driving into your neighbor’s old tree.
Hee-haw and Merry Christmas, The A.V. Club.