Why is the 1946 film one of the most watched films around the world every year? Several articles could be written on the movie and why it’s a tear jerking, heart warming, romantic, family classic, and an all around work of cinematic art. If you're here I’m assuming you’ve seen this movie, if you haven't then stop reading this article and go watch it ( or directly after). But the timeless theme interwoven in the film is done through the lens of the main character Geaorge Bailey. His character arc and journey is one of the many compelling things in the film. If you want to know how to write a compelling character’s journey, and a strong theme that will be timeless in years to come, examine films that did it well. 

What drives George Bailey? The character is driven by a relatable and common ambition we all have felt (or at least most of us), the desire to not be born, live, and die in a small nowhere town that seems to have no promise of greater fortune or success. He wants to make his own way in the world and he’s decided emphatically he doesn't want to do it in Bedford falls at a very young age. He doesn't want to end up forgotten, unsuccessful and average in his hometown where no one else seems to go anywhere or become anything. 

What is the character’s Internal Conflict? George, like so many of us, has a vision for himself that might not actually be his true purpose. We all think we know exactly what it is we want, or what we need, but in reality we aren't always right. For example George wants to leave Bedford falls and see the world, but his future wife is in the town and if he’d left they might never have been married. He doesn't want to settle, but his greatest treasure ends up being his family and the life he builds there. Sometimes we try for something as hard as we can, but in the end it isn't for us. 

Flawed but Sympathetic: George Bailey nearly always argues and complains about doing the right thing, shortly after he’ll do it. The character is a little thick headed when it comes to seeing what he’s supposed to do in the given situations but when push comes to shove he follows through. 

• When he’s ready to leave town (which he’s saved for, waited on, and extremely excited for) he stays because the Building and Loan will side with Potter/ Mr. Scratch if he leaves. He knows how much effort his father spent building the business, but his own personal desire is to leave and see the world. He doesn't want to and he even protests but ultimately stays to look after his late father’s business. 

• He protests being with Mary and being tied down in the small town he’s fought so hard to leave, but shortly after marries her.

• He’s going to leave town and leave the Building and Loan to his brother Harry but he gets married. George is forced to assume responsibility again and give up his own ambition.

• When George is ready to go on his honeymoon he’s forced to stay and give his money to the town residents because they’ll run to Potter if he doesn't. 

The virtuous choice is extremely difficult: George, like many of us, doesn't want to sacrifice his own will and ambition to a potentially better plan that wasn't his own, but in the end he does. It makes the character flawed, but relatable and sympathetic in the way he ultimately pursues the virtuous course of action. Doing the right thing is rarely easy and in this film it’s never portrayed as such, but that’s essential in any story where we are to feel for the protagonist. If we see how hard it is for them to take the virtuous action, and they still do it-then we are moved. George by refusing to work with Potter is reduced to living in a drafty shack with his wife and three children. In terms of money it would have been more beneficial to work with the town devil but George refuses to do so and in turn suffers the consequences. If doing the right thing were easy and always materialistically rewarding then everyone would do it. 

The Plans that seem Right to Man: We may have a vision for our lives and even be angry or frustrated when things don’t go exactly as planned, but in the grand scheme there are reasons for why things occur the way they do. That’s one of the things that makes the film so brilliantly written, is every harsh moment, difficult experience, or event is pivotal in making the main character who he is and building the life that he ends up seeing is such a gift. Even though at times, it’s felt like nothing more than a burden. The writer of the film or fictional story plays the role of God in the events of their fictional character’s life, and it’s up to them to make all of the tragedy, plot twists, and difficult experiences happen with a purpose. In reality God understands more than man ever will because he holds all the cards where we don’t. In a fictional story you as the author have to create a world and set of sequences that your character may not understand, but allow everything to come together in a way that shows the reader why it all had to play out the way it did. 

He really had a wonderful life: In the ending of the film, in the most crucial moment that the last 2 hours were leading up to, George Bailey considers taking his own life. Despite all of the times he made the right choice, fought the good fight, life has weighed on him in more ways than he believes he can handle. 

• He’s in debt and potentially facing bankruptcy, scandal, and imprisonment. 

• He’s the sole provider for his wife and children and all the money he has in the world is a small life insurance policy.

And to make the situation worse George hasn't told his wife of the situation, so she doesn't know why he’s so heavily laden and depressed by the finale. His family are still in less than perfect living standards, and now with the missing money he’s beginning to rethink all of his choices leading up to this point.  But after the encounter with the Angel that shows George what the world would have been like if he’d never been born, he sees all the pieces that while difficult made up his life and touched the lives of so many people around him. Everything he did, though difficult for him, lightened the burden of someone else. 

The richest man in Bedford Falls: Lastly, when George Bailey reaches that iconic moment where he begs God for his life back, realizing what a blessing it was, hardship and all–his circumstances haven't changed. When he’s given his life back he’s overjoyed even though he still faces bankruptcy, scandal, and prison. His house is the same shack, and he still only has life insurance. But the character has changed so much over the course of the film, and by what the angel showed him (the heavenly view of his life and what role he played in the lives of so many others), that he’s the happiest he’s ever been to have it back. Life isn't going to get easier, but in the things we focus on, and the blessings we look at instead of looking at what we don’t have, it seems more worthwhile. In the end, because of all George Bailey has done for the townspeople they all come together and donate money to his cause so he can pay his debts. This is where we get to all of the key hard choices and pivotal moments in the film making sense and tying together. If George hadn’t been there for all those people and pursued motives for himself, he wouldn't have so much support in the end of the film by his wife and all of Bedford Falls. 

The journey of the main character makes the story timeless, and the theme–that you really had a wonderful life, is one everyone in hardship or happiness needs to hear in order to look at their circumstances differently.