Showing results by author "Philip Van Doren Stern" in All Categories

Unable at first to find a publisher for his evocative tale about a man named George Pratt who ponders suicide until he receives an opportunity to see what the world would be like without him, Stern ultimately published the story in a small pamphlet and sent it out as his 1943 Christmas card. One of those 200 cards found its way into the hands of Frank Capra, who shared it with Jimmy Stewart, and the film that resulted became the holiday tradition we cherish today.

Legendary entertainer Andy Williams warms the holiday season with this very special performance featuring his recording of the classic Christmas song, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," and a charming retelling of Philip Van Doren Stern's short story, "The Greatest Gift," the story which inspired the film It's a Wonderful Life.

Reprising his film role in this memorable classic James Stewart has a perfect life. A loving wife, Mary (Donna Reed), four young children, and his own business, which he inherited from his father. Facing a financial crisis one Christmas Eve he contemplates suicide. This being Hollywood he is saved at the last moment by the intervention of his guardian angel who takes him on a tour of how the world would be without him. His friendly Main Street America town is sad, impoverished and bleak.

For almost seventy years, people the world over have fallen in love with Frank Capra’s classic Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life. But few of those fans know that Capra’s film was based on a short story by Philip Van Doren Stern, which came to Stern in a dream one night. Unable at first to find a publisher for his evocative tale about a man named George Pratt who ponders suicide until he receives an opportunity to see what the world would be like without him.

In this unique compilation of song and narration, legendary entertainer Andy Williams offers a charming retelling of Philip Van Doren Stern's "The Greatest Gift"—the short story which inspired the 1946 film classic It's a Wonderful Life. This very special recording also features Williams' performance of the perennial Christmas song, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," which became a top 5 hit more than fifty years after it was first released.