Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The perennial classic #ItsAWonderfulLife celebrates it's 75th Anniversary soon, and over that three-quarters of a century, it has become a family favorite and a classic for a reason. Not the least of which are the memorable and heartfelt performances of #JimmyStewart and Donna Reed, but the entire cast, big and small all brought such joy and emotion into the Frank Capra film, that they cannot be ignored.
It is my absolute honor that I got to interview two of the original actors, and members of the Bailey family - Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu Bailey) and Jimmy Hawkins (Tommy Bailey). It's like interviewing members of one of the Royal Families of Hollywood's Golden Era.
I ask Karolyn and Jimmy about their memories from playing Zuzu and Tommy at such a young age, the impression icons like Stewart, Reed and Capra left on them, why they think the film is still so beloved and remembered 75 years later, and what their favorite part of this Holiday staple is. They were both hard working child actors and at a very young age had already worked with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood's history, and they share those great stories with us in this #ItsAWonderfulLifeInterview
The 75th Anniversary of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is Dec 2021, and on November 16, 2021, Paramount Home Entertainment released a collectible, limited-edition two-disc Blu-ray set of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE with a beautifully colorized version of the film in high definition as well as the original, digitally remastered black-and-white movie in high definition, and access to a digital copy of the film. Perfect for gift-giving, the set also includes 10 collectible recipe cards from Insight Editions’ It’s a Wonderful Life: The Official Bailey Family Cookbook with cuisine inspired by the film. Additionally, the set includes over 45 minutes of previously released bonus content exploring the meticulous process of preserving and revitalizing this iconic masterpiece, a look at the movie’s extraordinary sound, music, cinematography and visual effects, and vintage footage from the film’s wrap party.
Become part of the Reel School Patreon team! - CLICK HERE: patreon.com/Reel_school
Follow Reel School on Twitter: twitter.com/ReelSchool
#ItsAWonderfulLifeMovie #ZuzuBailey #ItsAWonderfullifeZuzu #ItsAWonderfulLifeTommy #KarolynGrimes #JimmyHawkins #FrankCapraJimmyStewart #DonnaReed #ZuzuBaileyInterview #KarolynGrimesInterview #ItsAWonderfulLifeCast #ItsAWonderfulLifeCastNow
The perennial classic #ItsAWonderfulLife celebrates it's 75th Anniversary soon, and over that three-quarters of a century, it has become a family favorite and a classic for a reason. Not the least of which are the memorable and heartfelt performances of #JimmyStewart and Donna Reed, but the entire cast, big and small all brought such joy and emotion into the Frank Capra film, that they cannot be ignored.
It is my absolute honor that I got to interview two of the original actors, and members of the Bailey family - Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu Bailey) and Jimmy Hawkins (Tommy Bailey). It's like interviewing members of one of the Royal Families of Hollywood's Golden Era.
I ask Karolyn and Jimmy about their memories from playing Zuzu and Tommy at such a young age, the impression icons like Stewart, Reed and Capra left on them, why they think the film is still so beloved and remembered 75 years later, and what their favorite part of this Holiday staple is. They were both hard working child actors and at a very young age had already worked with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood's history, and they share those great stories with us in this #ItsAWonderfulLifeInterview
The 75th Anniversary of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is Dec 2021, and on November 16, 2021, Paramount Home Entertainment released a collectible, limited-edition two-disc Blu-ray set of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE with a beautifully colorized version of the film in high definition as well as the original, digitally remastered black-and-white movie in high definition, and access to a digital copy of the film. Perfect for gift-giving, the set also includes 10 collectible recipe cards from Insight Editions’ It’s a Wonderful Life: The Official Bailey Family Cookbook with cuisine inspired by the film. Additionally, the set includes over 45 minutes of previously released bonus content exploring the meticulous process of preserving and revitalizing this iconic masterpiece, a look at the movie’s extraordinary sound, music, cinematography and visual effects, and vintage footage from the film’s wrap party.
Become part of the Reel School Patreon team! - CLICK HERE: patreon.com/Reel_school
Follow Reel School on Twitter: twitter.com/ReelSchool
#ItsAWonderfulLifeMovie #ZuzuBailey #ItsAWonderfullifeZuzu #ItsAWonderfulLifeTommy #KarolynGrimes #JimmyHawkins #FrankCapraJimmyStewart #DonnaReed #ZuzuBaileyInterview #KarolynGrimesInterview #ItsAWonderfulLifeCast #ItsAWonderfulLifeCastNow
