A wonderful life

It's with sadness that I share news that Bob Anderson, 75, who played the young George Bailey in the Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life" died of cancer on Friday. According to the wire report from The Associated Press, he died at his home in Palm Springs according to his wife, Victoria, who announced the news Saturday.

When he was just 7 years old, he appeared in the 1940 Shirley Temple film "Young People" and went on to play roles in such films as 1945's "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn."

But he was best known for his role as the young Bailey in Frank Capra's 1946 "It's a Wonderful Life," the same character portrayed in adulthood by James Stewart.

The holiday season wouldn't be complete for many people if they were not able to catch the annual airing of Anderson with Stewart and Donna Reed in the film classic.

Though Reed, who was 25 with the picture was made, died in 1986, and Stewart died a decade later at age 89, the movie continues to live on in through surviving actors and actresses who appeared as the children of George and Mary Bailey.

"One of the reasons this film has held up so well after 50 years is because it has such a positive message to share with audiences," Anderson told me in a 2003 interview.

"Even though the movie might be part fantasy, it's a very realistic film because of the great cast that was collected to bring Capra's screenplay to life."

Anderson's memories are included in the great book by author Stephen Cox, "It's a Wonderful Life: A Memory Book" (2003 Cumberland Press $18.95), which includes a chapter that I contributed about our own region claim-to-fame actress Beulah Bondi.

Of all his projects, he said "It's a Wonderful Life" was by far his most beloved.

"So much of what we did in that movie is so different than what goes on today," Anderson said.

"Even though I was only a part of the earlier scenes, Capra kept the entire cast around until the film was done. That's one of the reasons even though myself and the other child actors and actresses were very young, we have such vivid memories of working with these legends."

Anderson said one of the few directors today he believes come close to Capra's style and manner is Ron Howard.

"One of my most famous scenes is the one in the drugstore when I'm working for Mr. Gower and he tries to send me with the wrong pills to a customer," Anderson said.

"Gower was played by a great actor, H.B. Warner, and he was a method actor, which means when he was supposed to be drunk for that scene, he really had been drinking all day. We did three rehearsals and I got whacked across the face for real every time at about 3 p.m. We shot one take on film and Capra went with it. Those were real tears."

Bondi portrayed Ma Bailey, Stewart's mother, in the film. She hailed from Valparaiso and was a 1916 graduate of Valparaiso University.

"What's amazing is we all spent about 12 days of filming together 50 years ago and we still regularly stay in touch as family," Anderson said.

Here are few tidbits that I know Anderson enjoyed from the Cox book.

* Of all the child stars who played Bailey children, Larry Simms made the most, receiving $100 a day.

* In 2003, American Film Institute members chose a list of the all-time greatest heroes and villains. George Bailey came in at hero No. 9 while Mr. Potter, played by Lionel Barrymore, ranked as villain No. 6.

* The role of Uncle Billy almost was played by W.C. Fields, while Olivia de Havilland nearly landed Reed's role.

* The basis for the film was the story "The Greatest Gift" by writer Phillip Van Dorem Stern.

* Media mogul Ted Turner was criticized in 1986 for colorizing the film.

* An ill-received remake of the movie aired in 1977 on ABC called "It Happened One Christmas" starring Marlo Thomas.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

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