83 It's A Wonderful Life Trivia Questions & Answers

Answer: Mr. Gower

The first thing we see in the movie is a sign that says "You are now in Bedford Falls". We then hear several people praying for George Bailey. The first is the druggist, Mr. Gower: "I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father." As a boy, George had stopped Mr. Gower from accidentally putting poison in a prescription when he was distracted over his son's death.

Mr. Gower was played by the veteran English character actor, H.B. Warner (1875 - 1958), who appeared in many famous movies, such as "Lost Horizon", "The Ten Commandments" and "Sunset Boulevard".

Answer: Potter

Mr. Potter, the stingy old miser that owns the largest bank in Bedford Falls, is played wonderfully by Lionel Barrymore. Lionel Barrymore appeared in one previous film with director Frank Capra and actor James Stewart, namely 'You Can't Take It with You' (1938).

Answer: Annie

Annie, the Baileys' housekeeper, said the quote above at the end of the movie when she contributes her cash to help George fill the deficit at the Building and Loan.

Answer: Left

There are several times in the movie where this is made obvious.

Answer: Bedford 247

When George leaves the house angry, Mary calls 'Bedford 247' and talks to Uncle Billy.

Answer: 'Hot dog!'

George makes his wish upon a cigar lighter. He fails to get his wish both times...but learns at the end that his family is much more important than a million dollars.

Answer: Jumps in the ice-water to save his brother

The druggist later slaps his bad ear and it bleeds.

Answer: Clockmaker

The second scene in the movie is a shot of the heavens. We see stars and hear two voices - the stars brighten when we hear the voices, so we can assume they represent angels. The two angels are Joseph and Franklin (Franklin's name is never mentioned in the movie, but that's his name in the script).

Franklin: George Bailey. Yes, tonight's his crucial night. You're right, we'll have to send someone down immediately. Whose turn is it?

Joseph: That's why I came to see you, sir. It's that clock-maker's turn again.

Joseph and Franklin's voices were supplied by actors Joseph Granby and Moroni Olsen. Olsen also did the voice of the Magic Mirror in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs".

Answer: Donna Reed

Reed, a native of Denison, Iowa played Mary Hatch. Mary and George were friends and got reacquainted at a party one evening, when they shared a dance. While they danced, two people pulled a lever to open up the bottom portion of the dance floor to reveal a pool. Mary and George slipped into the pool and then everyone else at the party jumped in and started to swim. Mary and George walked home all soaked and sang the song, "Buffalo Gal". Mary and George began a courtship which resulted in marriage and they had four children together. In Mary's final scene, she gathered with George and her children in front of their Christmas tree.
Reed guest starred on the TV shows, "The Love Boat" and "Suspicion". She is best known for her role of Donna Stone on the TV show, "The Donna Reed Show". In 1954, she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the film, "From Here to Eternity".

Answer: Ernie

Ernie Bishop is played by actor Frank Faylen. Along with Bert, the policeman, he makes up part of a pair of characters whose names were famously adopted for the 'Sesame Street' characters Bert and Ernie.

Answer: Mary

When George visited Mary shortly after she returned home from college, Mary thought George had romantic intentions. However, George was depressed because he knew his brother Harry would not be able to take over the Building and Loan and allow George to attend college. Mary, frustrated at George, shouted the quote above to her mother upstairs to make George mad.

Answer: Mr. Gower

Mr. Gower purchased the large suitcase that George was going to use to travel the world.

Answer: Mary Hatch

The role of the adult Mary Hatch was played by Donna Reed.

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

It can be seen in the background when George throws his tantrum after he loses the money.

Answer: Mr. Gower

Mr. Gower said this to George as a child when George was working and whistling happily at Gower's drugstore. Gower was drunk because he had just found out his son had died of influenza during the great outbreak of 1918. George later saves Gower from poisoning one of the patrons of his pharmacy.

Answer: I wish I had a million dollars

He would always say 'hot dog' after.

Answer: Henry

Mr. Potter is brilliantly played by Lionel Barrymore. Mr. Potter is always shown sitting or in a wheelchair because Barrymore was unable to stand for more than brief periods due to complications from a broken hip and severe arthritis.

We learn Potter's first name early in the film when he is riding down the street in his carriage.

Clarence: Who's that? A king?

Joseph: That's Henry F. Potter, the richest and meanest man in the county.

Answer: Tommy

When George comes home from work after Uncle Billy lost $8,000, the youngest Bailey child, Tommy, tugs on his coat and repeats "excuse me" until someone acknowledges him.

Answer: Bishop

Ernie's last name is only mentioned one time in the movie: when George asks Ernie to drive him home. Ernie asks George where his home is. George tries to prove that Ernie knows him by saying, "You're Ernie Bishop."

Answer: Violet Bick

Violet Bick liked all the boys, including George Bailey.

Answer: Bill

He picks up the phone and says 'Bill,' then tells George there is nowhere he can hide in a little town like Bedford Falls.

Answer: Sam Wainwright

Sam says this while sticking his thumb in his ear.

Answer: Influenza

During the scene in Mr. Gower's drugstore, George finds a telegram that reads: "We regret to inform you that your son, Robert, died very suddenly this morning of influenza stop. Everything possible was done for his comfort stop. We await instructions from you."

Earlier in the film, when George, Harry, and their friends are riding shovels down the snow-covered hill and onto the lake, we are told that it is 1919, and George is twelve years old. So it is likely that Mr. Gower's son died during the worldwide Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918-19, which is estimated to have killed upwards of 100 million people worldwide, including between 500,000 and 675,000 in the United States. It is his grief over his son's death that causes Mr. Gower to mistakenly put poison in the capsules he tells George to deliver to Mrs. Blaine.