The Heart of It's a Wonderful Life by Jimmy Hawkins
Jimmy Hawkins is an actor, producer, philanthropist, former advisory board member of the Jimmy Stewart Museum, the Donna Reed Foundation and the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum in Seneca Falls, New York, as well as writer of several books about the 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life.
Playing adorable little Tommy Bailey at 4 years of age, he was the youngest member of the cast when movie director Frank Capra began shooting the first scenes nearly 80 years ago. For this anniversary of the now perennial classic film, Jimmy Hawkins shares his insights into what belatedly made this film an inspiration to millions of viewers in The Heart of It’s a Wonderful Life.
A Child Star with a Lasting Legacy
The other three fictional Bailey children were child actors Carol Coombs (Janie), Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu) and Larry Sims (Pete), with the two girls having the shortest careers in films. The professional life of eldest child Larry began at the age of 2 as a baby model appearing in Saturday Evening Post advertisements before being bestowed with the nickname “Baby Dumpling” for his recurring role as Alexander Dagwood in the Blondie film series. Only 16 when he quit acting, he became an engineer with a multi-international firm but also maintained his show business exposure in the nascent medium of television.
Jimmy Hawkins continued to have substantial roles in over 40 movies and more than 300 television roles, including 8 years as a cast member of The Donna Reed Show. Also an expert horseman and notable trick rider, he first appeared as Tagg Oakley on the Annie Oakley Show with his expertly trained horse Pixie before touring as part of Western star Gene Autry’s shows.
Although but a child when he appeared as Tommy Bailey, the experience had an emotional impact sustained to the present day. Throughout the course of the many years since the film’s release, Jimmy Hawkins has conversed with or conducted in-depth interviews with hundreds of people connected with the making of the film, including the director, cast and crew, and has compiled their recollections as well as photographs and home movies into this entertaining volume.
Revisiting a Timeless Classic
Of all of the films he directed, It’s a Wonderful Life is said to have been Frank Capra’s personal favorite. The initial 1946 movie theater release made scarcely a ripple and even garnered several negative reviews. Evidently, postwar audiences weren’t terribly receptive to the storyline of Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey attempting suicide before being rescued by apprentice angel Clarence Odbody.
In 1974, Republic Pictures, then owner of the film rights, failed to file the renewal application with the U.S. Copyright Office prior to the 28-year initial term’s expiration. This oversight allowed distributors to broadcast and sell the film freely for over two decades before a lengthy court battle over the music rights allowed Republic to regain control until 2042. The frequent holiday showings to succeeding generations resulted in establishing it as a best-loved classic.
In the book’s forward message, the author has written: The heart of It’s a Wonderful Life is the profound message that every individual’s life has a significant impact on the world, even if it seems insignificant. George Bailey’s revelation, shown through Clarence’s intervention, underscores the interconnectedness of human lives and the ripple effects of our actions. The film highlights how George’s life, seemingly ordinary, touched countless others in Bedford Falls, impacting their well-being, their relationships and the overall community.
A Continual Message of Hope
Significantly, the film has emerged as a powerful tool in its use in suicide prevention. A special person known to this reviewer was a young graduate student employed in the mid-1970s as a Mental Health Worker at an in-patient psych center took it upon himself to bring his own Betamax video and player to work to share the still relatively unknown film with the adolescent patients, whose positive response was palpable.
This charming little book incorporates photographs, anecdotes, film history and excerpts from the screen play to enchant and inspire its readers. The Heart of It’s a Wonderful Life: How the Most Inspirational Movie of All Time Still Inspires the Spirit would make the perfect hostess gift for the holidays or an ideal stocking stuffer, and might brighten the day for someone experiencing depression or challenging times.
About Jimmy Hawkins:
Jimmy Hawkins played Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed’s son, Tommy Bailey, in the classic Frank Capra film It’s a Wonderful Life, as well as appearing in over forty movies and more than three hundred TV shows. Along with his many other credits as producer, he produced the all-star television special for PBS based on the Lux Radio Theater’s version of It’s a Wonderful Life in celebration of its fiftieth anniversary. Jimmy is the author of five popular It’s a Wonderful Life books and served on the advisory boards of the Jimmy Stewart Museum, the Donna Reed Foundation, and the Seneca Falls It’s A Wonderful Life Museum.
