"It's a Wonderful Life": Small Details Quiz

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: 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: 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: 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.

Answer: Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer

It is at the dance that George meets Mary Hatch (played by Donna Reed) who will eventually become his wife. When we first see Mary Hatch, she is talking to an unnamed character (his name is Freddie in the script), played by Carl Switzer, who had earlier starred as Alfalfa in the famous "Our Gang" series. He is jealous when Mary leaves to dance with George, and opens the dance floor to reveal the swimming pool beneath it.

Switzer appeared in dozens of "Our Gang" shorts between 1935 and 1940. He was 12 years old when he left the series, and, like many child actors, had difficulty finding work as an adult. He was shot and killed in an argument over a hunting dog in 1959. He was 31 years old when he died.

Answer: Ruth

We first meet Ruth when she and Harry are getting off the train. He introduces her as Ruth Dakin to George and Uncle Billy, but she corrects him: "Ruth Dakin Bailey, if you don't mind." George is upset, because he knows that since Harry is married, he won't be able to stay in Bedford Falls and manage the Building and Loan while George goes to college.

Ruth was played by Virginia Patton, a pretty and talented actress whose career included only 15 films. She retired from show business in 1949 at the age of 23 to marry and raise a family. She was the last surviving credited adult actor to appear in "It's a Wonderful Life".

Answer: The old Granville house

Earlier in the film, both George and Mary had thrown rocks through the windows of the old Granville house; George had told Mary that if you broke a window, you got to make a wish. Mary made a wish, but wouldn't tell George what it was.

Later, after saving the Building and Loan, George receives a phone call telling him to come to 320 Sycamore, the address of the old Granville house, where he and Mary had thrown rocks through the windows on their way home from the high school dance. Bert and Ernie are putting up travel posters when George arrives. When he enters, Mary is waiting for him with a table set and chickens cooking in the fireplace. Bert and Ernie serenade the newlyweds by singing "I Love You, Truly." Mary tells George that when she broke the window years before, "This is what I wished for."

Answer: He leaves it in a newspaper he hands to Mr. Potter.

Uncle Billy is filling out a deposit slip when he meets Mr. Potter at the bank. He takes Mr. Potter's newspaper, and points out a story showing Harry Bailey has been awarded the Medal of Honor.

Uncle Billy: George would have gotten two of those medals if he had gone.

Mr. Potter: Bad ear.

Uncle Billy: Yes. After all, Potter, some people like George had to stay home. Not every heel was in Germany and Japan.

Uncle Billy folds the paper over the envelope full of money he is holding, and Potter grabs it and leaves.

Uncle Billy was played by Thomas Mitchell. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in "Stagecoach," and was the first person to win an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony Award. Movie fans may also recognize him as the actor who played Scarlett O'Hara's father in "Gone With the Wind".

Answer: Pottersville

When George goes to look for his car with Clarence, it isn't where he left it. Clarence tells him that since he was never born, he has no car. George is examining the tree that he hit with his car, when a man comes over. When George tells him he ran into the tree, the man smells whiskey on George's breath and says, "You must mean two other trees. You had me worried. One of the oldest trees in Pottersville." Later in the movie there are numerous signs downtown that say Pottersville, including the library where Mary works.

Answer: "Attaboy, Clarence."

In the final scene, George is holding Zuzu as the crowd sings "Auld Lang Syne." The are standing by the Christmas tree when a bell rings.

Zuzu: Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.

George: That's right, that's right. (Pause) Attaboy, Clarence!

Zuzu was played by Karolyn Grimes, who also appeared in the popular Christmas movie, "The Bishop's Wife".