8 Reasons to See “It's a Wonderful Life” at the IFC

Yes, you’ve seen it a bajillion times -- but Frank Capra’s classic is big-screen magic

1. Because it may be the one movie (along with “The Wizard of Oz”) almost everybody’s seen, but never on the big screen.

2. ...and speaking of your TV: because you usually see it through heavy eyelids in a turkey-induced tryptophan coma.

3. Because you need theater speakers to really enjoy the score by the prolific Dimitri Tiomkin, who – fun fact! – nabbed a Best Song Oscar for “High Noon”’s “Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin'.”

4. Because Mary Owen, the daughter of Donna Reed (a.k.a. George Bailey’s beloved Mary Hatch), will present the film in person at Friday and Saturday’s 7PM shows and Sunday’s 3:55PM show.

5. Because you know it’s going to get a little interactive – just try not to yell out the line about an angel getting its wings.

6. Because it's fun to see what $3.2 million -- the film's reported budget -- bought you in 1946. (That would be about $33 million today -- couch change next to, say, $140 million for "Iron Man".)

7. Because sometimes, it’s good to cry out in the open, next to total strangers.

8. Because you can: “It’s a Wonderful Life” is playing in a special one-week engagement from Friday, December 18 to Friday, December 25. See the complete schedule here. IFC, 323 Sixth Avenue; 212-924-7771.

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