Watch It Happened One Christmas

It Happened One Christmas is a heartwarming Christmas movie from 1977 starring Marlo Thomas, Orson Welles, and Wayne Rogers. The film is a retelling of the classic Christmas story, It’s a Wonderful Life, but with a slight twist. In this version, Thomas plays Mary Bailey Hatch, a bitter and frustrated woman who feels trapped in her small town life. On Christmas Eve, she decides to take her own life, but is stopped by an angel named Clara, played by Cloris Leachman. Clara tells Mary that she is needed in the world and shows her what life would be like if she had never been born.

Mary is shocked to see the devastating consequences of her absence, including her husband George (played by Wayne Rogers) becoming a cruel businessman and her town falling into poverty and despair. Mary realizes the importance of her existence and decides to return to her life, determined to make a positive impact.

Orson Welles plays the role of Mr. Potter, an unscrupulous businessman who is determined to take over the town and drive out the common people. He serves as the primary antagonist of the story, providing a foil to the kind-hearted Mary Bailey.

The film explores themes of family, community, and the power of one person’s actions to make a difference in the world. Marlo Thomas gives a heartfelt performance as Mary, delivering a powerful message about the value of every human life and the importance of contributing to the greater good.

The movie, directed by prolific TV director Donald Wrye, has been noted for its strong cast and touching narrative. It was initially released as a made-for-TV movie, but has since become a beloved holiday classic enjoyed by audiences around the world.

Overall, It Happened One Christmas is a heartwarming and uplifting story that reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas.