Celebrate with Karolyn Grimes, who played little Zuzu in the classic movie It's a Wonderful Life, the gift of friendships and the stories of hope that have flooded her life as a result of her role in this heart-warming film. This book invites readers to savor some of Karolyn's favorite recipes, which will remind you of a visit to the Bailey's house in Bedford Falls. Readers will also catch a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of It's a Wonderful Life in "Zuzu Sneak Peek" and enjoy some of the original black-and-white screen shots from this 1946 classic

In a series of essays that explore the notion of what brings significance to our existences, clarifying why we have this longing beyond the present moment and an insatiable dissatisfaction with where we are, scholar Frank Martela tackles the subject of finding meaning in life. With beautiful decorative elements and an engaging design, the book approaches its subject in a readily digestible form. It grapples with some of life’s most pressing questions, like "Is happiness a worthy goal?" and "What is the foundation for meaning in a secular society?" and "Is life an existential void?" yet Martela answers these questions and more in a relaxed, conversational tone and with a wry sense of humor, placing some of life’s greatest philosophical concerns and quandaries into a modern-day context. Martela quickly and concisely gets to the heart of the matter: your place in the world and how to find meaning in life as countless thinkers and philosophers have done before, yet the emphasis here is on what we do with the life we have and how we can make it more meaningful. Part prescriptive and part armchair philosophy book, A Wonderful Life is accessible to everyone, from the well-read scholar to the apprentice as well as anyone curious about how to extract the greatest meaning and sense of purpose from their existence.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” has become an important holiday tradition for families. But why does the movie have such a profound effect on people and what are its major themes? James Dillon answers those questions by highlighting the movie’s recurring motifs and themes. As someone who has walked a similar path to George Bailey, he’s the perfect person to tell this story and share life lessons such as: • Sometimes, miracles simply involve looking at things differently. • Viewing the movie through a lens of spiritual faith can be a productive way to move closer to the Lord. • George’s life is a journey and a struggle to discover what was there from the beginning, what was always with him even in times of darkness, and what would be there at the end: God’s love. The author also explores the background and context of the movie’s origins, the life of its director, Frank Capra, and its place in our culture. Suggestions to facilitate small group discussions are included. Take a spiritual journey and reflect on your faith and purpose with The Gospel of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Relive the beloved holiday classic with this lavishly illustrated storybook the entire family can share! It’s a Wonderful Life is one of the most beloved films in cinema history. The heartwarming story of George Bailey and the guardian angel (second class) who shows George that his acts of compassion and kindness have changed his town of Bedford Falls for the better has become a Christmastime favorite enjoyed by generations of families. This engaging illustrated storybook retells the tale of the 1946 classic film through charming original artwork and allows readers to return to the town of Bedford Falls to watch George dream big, fall in love, and learn the important lesson that “no man is a failure who has friends.” Just like the film, this picture book can be enjoyed by the whole family and is the perfect gift for the holidays.

Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life is one of the best-loved films of Classical Hollywood cinema, a story of despair and redemption in the aftermath of war that is one of the central movies of the 1940s, and a key text in America's understanding of itself. This is a film that remains relevant to our own anxieties and yearnings, to all the contradictions of ordinary life, while also enacting for us the quintessence of the classic Hollywood aesthetic. Nostalgia, humour, and a tough resilience weave themselves through this movie, intertwining it with the fraught cultural moment of the end of World War II that saw its birth. It offers a still compelling merging of fantasy and realism that was utterly unique when it was first released, and has rarely been matched since. Michael Newton's study of the film investigates the source of its extraordinary power and its long-lasting impact. He begins by introducing the key figures in the movie's production - notably director Frank Capra and star James Stewart - and traces the making of the film, and then provides a brief synopsis of the film, considering its aesthetic processes and procedures, touching on all those things that make it such an astonishing film. Newton's careful analysis explores all those aspects of the film that are fundamental to our understanding of it, particularly the way in which the film brings tragedy and comedy together. Finally, Newton tells the story of the film's reception and afterlife, accounting for its initial relative failure and its subsequent immense popularity.

Newly updated in honor of the 75th anniversary of It’s a Wonderful Life! Celebrating one of the most beloved, heartwarming American Christmas films of all time, director Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life, this book is replete with movie lore and recipes meant to delight cooks, tempt their friends and families, and entertain movie buffs and collectors alike--presented by the actress who played star Jimmy Stewart’s youngest on-screen daughter . . . From savory main courses to festive desserts, within these pages you’ll find 250 old-fashioned recipes inspired by life in fictional Bedford Falls, including Violet's Spicy Chicken, Silver Bells Christmas Cookies,Henry Potter Pot Pie, Fifty-Cents-on-the-Dollar Chuck Roast, Harry Bailey Hero Sandwich, Mrs. Martini's Creamy Linguine, Clarence Oddbody's Heavenly Hot Mulled Wine, "Zuzu, My Little Gingersnap” cookies, and many others to warm your heart, and please your palate. As a bonus, the book is filled with stills, bits of trivia from the movie, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and reminiscences from the stars of the film and others who helped make it. This updated version will contain even more of these fun film anecdotes!

Behold the history of a film so scandalous, so outrageous, so explosive it disappeared from print for over a quarter century! A film so dangerous, half its cast and crew met their demise bringing eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes’ final cinematic vision to life! Starring All-American legend John Wayne in full Fu Manchu make-up as Mongol madman Genghis Khan! Featuring sultry seductress Susan Hayward as his lover! This is the true story of The Conqueror (1956), the worst movie ever made. Filmed during the dark underbelly of the 1950s—the Cold War—when nuclear testing in desolate southwestern landscapes was a must for survival, the very same landscapes were where exotic stories set in faraway lands could be made. Just 153 miles from the St. George, Utah, set, nuclear bombs were detonated regularly at Yucca Flat and Frenchman Flat in Nevada, providing a bizarre and possibly deadly background to an already surreal moment in cinema history. This book tells the full story of the making of The Conqueror, its ignominious aftermath, and the radiation induced cancer that may have killed John Wayne and many others.

As I look back on the tragedy of a family of seven being torn apart with both parents gone within a year of each other, it is almost unbelievable. As time passed and I turned fifteen, a lot of changes were taking place in my life. When I was given an opportunity to get out of the situation I was in, I felt that anything that can be better than this, so I did what would cause me to make a change. Sometimes, that does not work out for the best, but in my case, it brought a week of miracles to me. As I look back, I know that God had heard my sighs for love for family and desire to be a good person. I was not even looking for a boyfriend, but God gave me a husband-to-be, who made a promise to find my siblings. As you read, you will find that, four years later, that promise was fulfilled.

Jimmy Hawkins who played four-year-old Tommy Bailey, takes you behind the scenes for a first-hand look at the American movie classic "It's a wonderful life".