As movie fans know, Bedford Falls is the name of the town in the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life. And while there is no definite proof, many believe that Seneca Falls in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York was the inspiration for director and screenwriter Frank Capra. History shows that Capra visited Seneca Falls where he stopped by the local barbershop for a haircut. This nostalgic program supports the Seneca Falls theory by documenting the strong connections and similarities that link the fictional and real villages.
A map showing nearby cities and towns that are mentioned in the movie along with movie clips and stills support the viewpoint as do photos and footage of similar architectural and historic landmarks in Seneca Falls: churches, homes, train stations, waterways, quaint streetscapes, and other structures, including a bridge that is a pivotal plot point in the movie.
Karolyn Grimes who played young Zuzu in the film returns annually for It’s a Wonderful Life Festival that celebrates the movie, and her onscreen comments support the connection. Museum curators, historians, film critics, and the owner of the house that is purported to be the model for the home where George Bailey raised his family, are interviewed as well.
Other real-life incidents, such as a suicide and attempted rescue in Seneca Falls in 1917, parallel the movie script and setting. With less than 10,000 permanent residents, Seneca Falls is seen as a peaceful village that maintains the community spirit and homespun values displayed in the film. This history documentary might be screened at your library or in your classroom as an entertaining prelude to the classic film while also serving as an enticement to encourage travel to the bucolic village that is historically known as the site of the 1848 women’s rights convention spearheaded by suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton and other leaders. Recommended. Aud: P.