In the pantheon of Christmas flicks, a wide variety of genres, directors and actors are involved, along with a range of stories with varying degrees of success. Still, it’s pretty obvious what many consider to be the best of them all; It’s A Wonderful Life. Even after all these years, the power of this 1949 film has remained potent, mainly thanks to some stellar performances and a plot that is rich in characterization and depth.

While Christmas time is usually one filled with cheer, for poor George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) troubles abound for him, to the point where he feels that the world itself would be better without his existence. Luckily, an angel named Clarence (Henry Travers)  decides to give George his wish by showing him a world where he didn’t exist. Through this, George will finally realize how important he is to those around him, and realize how wonderful life truly is.

Some classic films don’t exactly stand up to scrutiny after years and years of idolization, but this sure isn’t one of them. Jimmy Stewart, in fine form here, displays why he was always the perfect fellow to depict the average everyman here, giving George layers of depth and making his character arc feel as effective as it can. Similarly, Henry Travers gives Clarence a constant grandfatherly quality that makes him an effective guide into how valuable George really is. Under the expertful eye of director Frank Capra, both actors mingle fantastically and are easily one of the main reasons why the film is so beloved even today.

Admittedly, the film is a bit slow on the get-go, with the exposition on George’s life, which is delivered by angels that somehow resemble stars, feeling a bit forced and heavy handed. Although this portion of the film showcases excellent examples of acting and writing, it is still a minor blemish. On the other hand, it all comes together exquisitely in the end, with one of the best finales of any film in history, with the whole town chipping in to help George get over his financial turmoils. And as that bell chimes once more, promising an angel a pair of wings, it’s hard not to fully understand why It’s A Wonderful Life still remains a pivotal Christmas masterpiece.