Frank Capra's
It's a Wonderful Life
isn't just the most beloved holiday film of all time. It's also arguably the most quintessentially American movie ever made. Its populist message, everyman hero, patriotism, and sentimentality have proven a potent blend for multiple generations. So many scenes from this film are embroidered in our country's collective consciousness; and much of the stitching holding those scenes together was supplied by
Dimitri Tiomkin
's indelible score. But what you hear in the film is only a portion of what
Tiomkin
wrote. Director Capra cut several cues (e.g. ¿Death Telegram¿), letting those scenes play without music, and rearranged where certain cues appeared; he removed sections of cues, and even tracked in music written for other films. But, working with
's original acetates, soundtrack collectors were able to piece together
's score as originally written for release on CD about a decade ago. Seldom has a movie swung so wildly from romance to reflection, brooding darkness to playful whimsy¿that's why we love it so much. Now, lovers of
could finally hear how
's original score artfully emphasized and commented on the movie's high emotional peaks and deep valleys. Indeed, there really remains only one last step to cement
's legacy and, for that matter, Capra's too. For the score to
has never been released on LP in any form, not in its full form or even in Capra's truncated version. Now, we at
Real Gone Music
are very, very proud to present
on vinyl for very first time, in its complete, restored form with a two-page insert including photos, credits, and the promo poster image of
Jimmy Stewart
exuberantly hoisting
Donna Reed
. Pressed in ¿Angel Gets Its Wings¿ silver bell vinyl limited to 1,000 copies, exclusive to Barnes & Noble!