It’s a Wonderful Life: dir Frank Capra (1946)

Capra’s classic snow-laden tearjerker (five Oscar nominations) has James Stewart as a struggling banker (!) who becomes so disillusioned with his small-town life that he contemplates suicide. Fortunately his trainee guardian angel, Clarence (Henry Travers), is able to intervene and helps our hero rediscover the true value of friendship by showing how much impact he has made on his home community. Nearly 80 years later, Capra’s life-affirming fable continues to be a heartwarming experience for family viewing at Christmas.