was ellen corby in it's a wonderful life
As the matriarch and lovable grandmother of the Walton family, the legend captured hearts with her unmatched prowess, easily becoming a favorite of both viewers and her colleagues on set. When George walks by the Movie theater, The Bells of St Mary is on the Marquis. It included cues from Roy Webb, Leigh Harline and Alfred Newman's "Hallelujah" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939). I was not able to confirm this with Jim before he died, but shortly thereafter I spoke to Jon Stone, Sesame Street (1969)'s first producer and head writer and a man largely responsible for the show's format. | Source: Getty Images, With no biological kids or grandchildren, Corby was survived only by her friend of 45 years Stella Luchetta who was by her side until her last breath. Donna Reed (Mary), Argentina Brunetti (Mrs Martini) and Bill Edmunds (Mr Martini) also appear in The Caddy (1953), starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. The New York Daily Times offered an editorial in which it declared the film and James Stewart's performance worthy of Oscar consideration. Feeling an overly religious tone didn't have the emotional impact of family and friends coming to George's rescue, Capra had the closing scenes rewritten. The 2019 to 2020 year-over-year inflation rate is now 0.99%. Ellen Corby (Ellen Hansen) was born on 3 June, 1911 in Racine, Wisconsin, USA, is an Actress, Writer, Soundtrack. When she failed to show up for work, Geer immediately suspected something was wrong as Corby was a true professional who was never late. Ralph Waite and Michael Learned in "The Waltons." (YouTube) Learned, who at one point said she was "going to tear up" just thinking about Waite, added the star also had his faults. Sam Wainwright is the only one of George's close friends or family members whose fate in the world in which he was never born is not revealed. Her gradual climb into the acting world helped her cross paths with cinematographer Francis Corby, her future husband. Ellen Corby was born Ellen Hansen on June 3, 1911, in Racine, Wisconsin. Here's a few fun facts about one of TV's most beloved shows. American Actress Ellen Corby was best known for her role as Grandma Walton on the CBS series "The Waltons." Frank Capra: [Jimmy the Raven] this bird appeared in all Capra movies after 1938. In 1954, Corby met Stella Luchetta, a friend for the rest of her life.[5]. In two scenes set years later, he is briefly shown with a pipe (but not seen actually smoking it). Warner's slaps were real and caused real blood to come from Anderson's ear. chec commercial sa sortie, le film est depuis considr comme un classique du cinma amricain et il est, ce titre, rgulirement diffus la priode de Nol par les chanes de tlvision amricaines. The fictional town of Bedford Falls in set in upstate New York (as noted on a telegram) and not in New England, as is often misstated. ", Selected by the Vatican in the "values" category of its list of 45 "great films. This outcry would also lead to the creation of the Library of Congress' National Film Registry in 1989. Capra turned to Walker's assistant, Joseph F. Biroc, and asked him if he could accomplish the re-shoot of the scene with the lighting that Capra wanted, and Biroc immediately answered "I can." . Frank Capra filmed a number of sequences that were later cut; the only remnants are rare stills that have been unearthed. The television company that produced the 80's drama Thirtysomething was called Bedford Falls Production. It made use of sets originally designed for Cimarron (1931) and it had a working bank and a tree-lined center parkway. This and State of the Union (1948) were Liberty's only productions. The series ran from 1972 to 1981, and resulted in six sequel films. The iconic scene where James Stewart's character runs through a snow-swept Bedford Falls was actually filmed on a scorching July day. He freezes the frame when Joseph wants to make a point to Clarence, then unfreezes it and goes right on with the story (from Shmoop). At the age of 76, Will died of respiratory arrest following a respiratory ailment on April 22, 1978, at Midway Hospital in Los Angeles. Ms. Corby, born Ellen Hansen, spent 12 years as a script assistant before turning to acting. Frank Capra explained he received the most amount of rage-mail in his entire career from audiences who were angered that Henry F. Potter is never punished for practically stealing the $8,000 dollars and framing George for embezzlement. In the closing credits both Walker and Biroc were credited, with Biroc listed on top, launching the rest of his career as lead cinematographer/director of photography going forward. Pour plus de dtails, voir Fiche technique et Distribution La vie est belle (It's a Wonderful Life) est un film amricain de Frank Capra sorti en 1946 . A number of alternative endings were considered, with Capra's first script having George fall to his knees saying The Lord's Prayer (the script called for an opening scene with the townspeople in prayer). I don't remember when they started saying it was a stroke, but it might have been the one you mentioned where Grandpa was not allowed in her hospital room. The short story begins with George on the bridge thinking about suicide. Ellen Corby was born as Ellen Hansen to Danish immigrants in Racine, Wisconsin on June 3, 1911. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George's modest building and loan company. 1946, Movie - Drama, Fantasy, Family. However, Colorization realized that since the film was supposedly in the public domain, they could do all the work and let Capra go. - November 26, 2021. George makes reference to this near the end of the movie when he says to Zuzu at the top of the stairs, "Zuzu my little Ginger Snap!". Both James Stewart and Donna Reed came from small towns; Stewart from Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Reed from Denison, Iowa. According to the telegram Mr. Gower receives, Bedford Falls is in New York state. George had a dog when he still lived with his parents, and one can see a birdcage in his second home, and the Martinis own a goat. The Bank Run One-Liner. "Capra" means goat in Italian. He also carried on his music pursuits, releasing several hit songs over the years, including the 2017 blues-inspired album "Goin' To Clarksdale." I also remember Ellen in an Andy Griffith show where she, Ellen, sold Barney a car. The movie character names are purely coincidental.". After the film was finished, it was broadcast coast to coast by CBS and in other parts of the world by the U.S. State Department. Martin Sheen and Ellen Corby appearing in the ABC TV movie 'The Story of Pretty Boy Floyd'. . James Stewart and Donna Reed reprised their roles in 1947 on radio, first on "The Lux Radio Theatre" and then on "Camel Screen Guild Theatre." ", Lionel Barrymore signed up to play Mr. Potter on April 1, 1946. A renewed pop cultural interest in this song came about when some people, mostly children, did not realize that "Buffalo" within this song refers to a city, and assumed that "Buffalo Gals" are a tribe of chimeric beast-people (a la The Wolf Man (1941)) or anthropomorphic bison. She played a number of small bit roles but is remembered as Ms. Davis in It's a Wonderful Life and in 1948 she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar and Golden Globe for her role as a . At the same time, she . "Screen Director's Playhouse" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on May 8, 1949 with James Stewart reprising his film role. She played many uncredited bit parts from the late '20s through the '30s. Warner) and a young George Bailey (Robert J. Anderson) wherein the child gets smacked, it was unfortunately not a fake . James Stewart plays George Bailey from the age of 21 to 38, from the night of the school dance in 1928 to Christmas 1945. The scene on the bridge where Clarence saves George was filmed on a back lot on a day where the temperature was 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Instead of George's daughter practicing the same song over and over again, it was the church choir. Director Frank Capra wanted to record the sound live, so a new snow effect was developed using foamite (a fire-fighting chemical), soap, and water. The short story covers the last 30 minutes of the film. Born Ellen Hansen in Racine, Wisconsin, she grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and went to Hollywood in the early 1930s to start an acting career. The pilot episode of "The Waltons" was actually a 1971 made-for-TV movie called "The Homecoming . When Frank Capra inherited the project, he rewrote it to suit Stewart. Twenty-one years after legendary actress Ellen Corby passed away, she remains one of the most memorable actresses television ever saw, most noted for her role as Esther "Grandma" Walton on CBS's "The Waltons.". The house they lived in was a wedding present from her father. The pictures in the Granville house are all from George's brochures (but larger) that he threw away. Certificate of Authenticity provided by PSA. Filming began on April 15, 1946 and ended on July 27, 1946, exactly on schedule for the 90-day deadline. The RKO Effects Department received a Class III Scientific or Technical Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Academy Award aka Oscar Award) for the development of the new film snow. She spent six decades of those . James Stewart signed up to do the film on November 5, 1945. She spent the next decades of her life focusing on her career while battling heart-wrenching losses, health scares, and the competitive world of showbiz. When Stewart is handing out money to members of . She was raised in Philadelphia and started harbouring an interest in amateur theatre when she was in high school. Ellen Corby was a fixture of The Waltons as grandma Esther Walton. The newspaper Bert the Cop is holding when George asks Ernie the cab driver for a ride, has the headline "Smith Wins Nomination," possibly referring to Frank Capra's and James Stewart's previous film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). He knew the movie, of course, but would not have remembered the cop and the cab driver. As Uncle Billy drunkenly leaves the Bailey home, it sounds as if he stumbles into some trash cans on the sidewalk. Ellen Corby was born Ellen Hansen on June 3, 1911, in Racine, Wisconsin. She spent six decades of those years making her mark in showbiz and stamping her name in the sands of time. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) Ellen Corby as Ms. Davis. Ellen Corby ~ Grandma Esther Walton..Born: June 3, 1911, Racine, WI.Died: April 14, 1999, Los Angeles, CA . Virginia Patton Ruth Dakin Bailey . It's a Wonderful Life (1946) came second, and The Shawshank Redemption (1994) was first. One of them was in the Christmas classic It's a Wonderful. However, the pair allegedly managed to keep their affair under wraps. Two of the writers called the finished film "horrid" and refused to see it when it was released. She played many uncredited bit parts from the late '20s through the '30s. Her memorial site is in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California. Despite being set around Christmas, the film was filmed during a heat wave. She moved to Hollywood that same year and got a job as a script girl[clarification needed] at RKO Studios and Hal Roach Studios, where she often worked on Our Gang comedies, alongside her future husband, cinematographer Francis Corby. Lauren Dethridge. Frank Capra: [Warner] One of the reasons H.B. La Caada-Flintridge, California. 771 followers. ", Voted the #1 inspirational film of all time in AFI's "100 Years, 100 Cheers" (June 14, 2006). When George picked up "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," he thought Clarence's handwriting was old-fashioned; the novelization's last line is "attaboy Clarence.". As usual, Capra got what he wanted (from Shmoop). Italian censorship visa #3923 was delivered on March 6, 1948. Although Violet catches Mary's bouquet, she never marries. In fact, a crew member dropped a large tray of props right after Thomas Mitchell went off-screen. Lots of people (Ellen Corby's age) use to smoke back then. She got a job at RKO Studios and Hal Roach Studios. He kept fans glued to their TV screen and gossip columns for nine seasons before the series went off-air in 1981. Sam Wainwirght tells Mary he had offered George to get in at the bottom of plastics, where he made his fortune. The bank run scene encapsulates this. Because the story covers different seasons and an alternate town, the set was extremely adaptable. Director Frank Capra decided to use this take in the final cut and gave the stagehand a $10 bonus for "improving the sound.". Samuel S. Hinds Peter "Pa" Bailey Sheldon Leonard Nick Ellen Corby Miss Davis Virginia Patton Ruth Dakin Bailey Mary Treen Cousin Tilly Charles Williams Cousin Eustace Sarah Edwards Mrs. J.W. Ellen Hansen was born in Racine, Wisconsin, to immigrant parents from Denmark. "It's a Wonderful Life," in which she played a depositor who withdrew a small amount of money from the beleaguered Bailey Building and Loan; the original "Sabrina," in which she was Humphrey Bogart's secretary; "Hush . Pigeons, cats and dogs were allowed to roam the mammoth set to give it a lived-in feel. In the script and i. Ellen Corby (June 3, 1911 - April 14, 1999). Stella Luchetta, of course, was Ellen Corby's life partner. [citation needed]. It is never shown what happens to Mr. Potter after his attempt to frame George Bailey for embezzling the $8,000.00 Uncle Billy mistakenly placed in Mr. Potter's newspaper. When Potter offers George a job (circa 1935) his annual salary is about $46,000 in 2020 dollars. Her roles include iconic films such as Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" and Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo . Both Donna Reed and Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer appeared in The Human Comedy (1943). It covered four acres of RKO's Encino Ranch. | Source: Getty Images. In 1999, following several years of declining health, Corby died at age 87 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. It's a Wonderful Life was the first production of Liberty Films, a company started by Frank Capra, William Wyler, George Stevens and Samuel J. Briskin, shortly after their release from active service during World War II. Right before rolling the cameras, director Frank Capra told. The area is now a residential neighborhood. Will Geer and Ellen Corby as Grandpa and Grandma Walton from the television program The Waltons. Corby went on to resume her role on the weekly television series The Waltons. James Stewart began laughing, and Mitchell quickly improvised, "I'm alright, I'm okay!" When composer Dimitri Tiomkin's original score for the finale (featuring "Ode To Joy") was eliminated, tracks of Alfred Newman's score from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) were used instead, most notably the chorus singing "Hallelujah.". Thirty years after the production and release of this film, the communities were combined and incorporated as the city of La Caada Flintridge, California, USA on November 30, 1976. The lines occur at the end of the scene set in Peter Bailey's private office with Bailey and his son George, and Potter and his goon present. While said to be the only film in history to originate from a greeting card, this is a misunderstanding. Just before filming the sequence where the Bailey's Bedford Falls neighbors came to take their money out of the building and loan, Capra advised the future grandma on TV's "The Waltons," Ellen Corby, to ask Stewart for $17.50, half the amount that the script called for. Jean Arthur was Frank Capra's first choice for the part of Mary. Hence, her loss led her on a search for something to breach that gap. The Waltons changed her life forever and was a second family.. Mary Treen Cousin Tilly . There are portraits of Potter and Peter Bailey in each other's respective offices; Peter's is a posthumous one. The same move is on the marquis at Radio City in The Godfather when Michael Corleone sees a newspaper headline that his father has been shot. Frank Capra had finished visiting relatives in Auburn, New York, USA, when he was traveling on Routes 5 & 20 and happened to drive through Seneca Falls, New York. Corby began her career as a writer at Paramount studios working on the western Twilight on the Trail (1941). From there, the aspiring actress moved to Hollywood. She previously co-starred with James Stewart in two other Frank Capra films, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and You Can't Take It with You (1938). 25 year-old Donna Reed plays Mary from the age of 18 to 35. It's a Wonderful Life was the first film that Frank Capra and James Stewart made post-World War II. This helped to create an outcry among filmmakers and their supporters that led to all subsequent colorized versions of films display a notice stating that they were not authorized by the picture's creators. The old iron bridge, the median down Main Street and the town's juxtaposition (among all the upstate New York cities mentioned in the film) made this a natural supposition. Ellen Corby Miss Davis . See Ellen Corby full list of movies and tv shows from their career. Warner really was drunk during the scene in which Mr. Gower slaps young George. 1. When Mary throws her bouquet at the wedding reception it's caught by Violet, her childhood rival for George's affection and the least likely of women in Bedford Falls to get married. Ranked #3 on the American Film Institute's list of the 10 greatest films in the genre "Fantasy" in June 2008. In an interview, the "It's a Wonderful Life" star admitted her shared bond with the boy. Sarah Edwards (Mrs Hatch), Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu) and Robert J. Anderson (Young George Bailey) would all appear in another Christmas classic, The Bishop's Wife (1947), one year later. Jack Daniel Byrne Is a Talented Musician - Meet Grabriel Byrnes Son, Randy Chrisley Is Todd Chrisley's Brother Who Was Diagnosed with Cancer in 2014, Johnny Depp's Weight Gain & Changes in Appearance over the Years, Inside the Hidden Gay Lives of 'The Waltons' Grandparents Ellen Corby & Will Geer despite Their Marriages, Kami Cotler AKA Elizabeth from 'The Waltons' Is Now a Mom of Two 41 Years after the Show Inside Her Life, Michael Learned Wanted Her 'Waltons' Character to Be Imperfect In Reality She Struggled to Raise Her 3 Sons. As a result, he has prominent appearances mostly in seasons 1-6. Adriana Caselotti's final film acting role. Frank Capra. This film is in the Official Top 250 Narrative Feature Films on Letterboxd. Before shooting that scene, Frank Capra discreetly told actress Ellen Corby to request a very modest amount. Potter's wagon driver also dresses like him. After George raves to Potter that "you can't say that about my father", he is ushered out of the room by his father, then George is shown standing outside the office door. The galaxies used to depict the angels' dialogue in the film are a group of galaxies that astronomers call "Stephan's Quintet.". 42 rings are heard over the course of the film, so if Clarence is right, 42 angels have gotten their wings, including him at the film's conclusion. She has a cameo as the singer at Martini's bar. James Stewart plays George Bailey from the age of 21 to 38, from the night of the school dance in 1928 to Christmas 1945. Posthumously listed as one of Akira Kurosawa's 100 favorite films. Her husband, Zebulon Walton, was portrayed by actor Edgar Bergen in the film. Hooray For Hollywood. There's a pivotal scene where George, totally overcome with despair, sits at the bar and prays to God to save him. Gloria Grahame was cast as Violet Bick after MGM casting director Bill Grady showed some of her screen-tests to Frank Capra. In real life, James Stewart majored in architecture at Princeton University. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) as Ms. Davis (uncredited) Beat the Band (1947) as Gertrude's Mother . "It's a Wonderful Life . Luis Alberni, Fortunio Bonanova, Joseph Calleia, Chef Milani, Nestor Paiva, Frank Puglia and Robert G. Vignola were considered for Mr. Martini. That's because of the enlargement. When Frank Capra asked Walker to continue shooting as the sun went down on James Stewart wandering through the streets of Bedford Falls, Walker refused. The only person shown smoking in the entire movie is George Bailey. FBI agents who had viewed the film determined it to be "Communist propaganda" as the story depicts the capitalist banker, Potter, as a villain. There's no mention of Clarence wanting wings, Mr Potter, or why George wanted to kill himself. Director Frank Capra estimated the film would be shot within 90 days. Kathleen Lockhart, Anne Revere, Selena Royle, and Mary Young were considered for Ma Bailey. Originally from Racine, Wisconsin, Corby was born to immigrant parents from Denmark on June 3, 1911. James Stewart repeated his role in a one-hour radio version for NBC Radio Theater in 1949. OK, in the Christmas movie classic "It's a Wonderful Life," the cash carried and lost by Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell) is identified as $8,000. By this time, Jimmy Stewart, a man of faith, was a basket case; he broke down and began to cry. Janie asked her mother if now was the right time to play "Hark the Herald Angel Sing" in the final scene, according to the novelization. Jimmy is the "crow" that landed on the Scarecrow in 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939). In the decade prior to her beginning her role as Grandma Walton, Corby acted in an episode of "The Andy Griffith Show.". Though he didn't have the kind of pedigree as his fellow co-stars Ellen Corby . Golden Age Of Hollywood. Films made prior to this one used cornflakes painted white for the falling snow effect. Their marriage lasted for about ten years before their divorce in 1944. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Byl to Caprv prvn snmek, natoen po druh svtov vlce, kterou trvil jako . Ellen Corby stars as Mary Ellen Fenway in CBS series "The Whistler," on February 3, 1955. They filed an arbitration with the Writer's Guild to have Capra's name taken off, but it remains on. In the version of this film which aired on TV in the late 1950s and early 1960s, George's line to the teacher on the phone, "What do you mean, sending her home like that half naked?," was replaced with an alternate take in which he says "What do you mean, sending my kid home from school in the rain?". Her career in Hollywood began in the 1930s and spanned though the 1990s. It could also have referred to Governor Al Smith's winning of the Democratic Party's Presidential nomination in 1928, which would fit with the time line of the film. "He was a . Taxi. Clarence's voice is heard in the opening scenes, but he doesn't appear in the flesh until the last 30 minutes of the film, and is on-screen for only 15 minutes. Walter Brennan, W.C. Fields, Barry Fitzgerald, Hugh Herbert, Edward Everett Horton, Adolphe Menjou, Victor Moore, and Roland Young were considered for Uncle Billy. The film originally ended with "Ode to Joy," not "Auld Lang Syne.". It was Ellen Corby's last appearance on the series, which finished in 1981, but she returned to play Grandma again in three television movies based on the show, A Day of Thanks on Walton's . Also learn how She earned most of Ellen Corby networth? In 1969 Corby was trained by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh, India, to become a teacher of Transcendental Meditation. Synopsis Sur les . Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for THE WALTONS-THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON 5-DVD SET/2005/NEW SEALED at the best online prices at eBay! After the scene was finished, Warner hugged and comforted Anderson. Find where to watch Ellen Corby's latest movies and tv shows . Just prior to the first actual take, Capra took Corby aside and told her to give Stewart an odd number, thinking it would be funnier. However, she declined the role since she was already committed to a Broadway play. There is no way that the land would've stayed dormant. Capra himself was unable to find a job with his background, and like George Bailey, considered himself a failure for many years. Hence the mentions of Buffalo and Rochester. Ellen Corby died on Wednesday, April 14, 1999 at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, Calif. . George runs into Clarence on the bridge. Corby considered her mom the most important person in her life. Learn How rich is She in this year and how She spends money? [3], She remained a regular on The Waltons through the end of the 197879 season, with Esther Walton struggling with her stroke deficits as Corby was in real life. The instant that George says "God" on the bridge, it starts snowing, showing that he is back in the real world. Judy Norton Discusses . . To everyone's amazement, Reed broke the window by herself. The song "Buffalo Gals" was a 19th-century vaudeville song. Corby eventually succumbed to her declining health in April 1997 at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital in Woodland Hills. 3. That film, It's a Wonderful World, may have influenced the movie-going public to stay away, under the mistaken belief that It's a Wonderful Life was a re-issue of the earlier film. 1946 129 min PG Kids & Family, Drama, Holiday, Comedy, Kids Feature Film 4K. Amazon Prime In an interview, the "It's a Wonderful Life" star admitted her shared bond with the boy. She didn't get lead roles, but she was in movies like Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, It's a Wonderful Life and many more. Thus the first kiss between James Stewart and Donna Reed was shot at the same time as the other end of the phone conversation, with Sam Wainwright (Frank Albertson) on a different set (Wainwright's New York office) at RKO's Pathe studio. | Source: Wikimedia Commons. The Legacy: Dirigido por Gwen Arner. Klasick vnon pbh reisra Franka Capry s Jamesem Stewartem v hlavn roli. Irving Bacon, E.J. Ellen Corby Mrs. Davis, bldg. Elmira is said to be near Bedford Falls, but this statement is true of Seneca Falls. Henry Travers, who plays Clarence, also stars in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) as Horace P. Bogardus. George makes his wish on the bridge. James Stewart cited George Bailey as being the favorite character he ever played, but stated in several interviews that Harvey (1950) was his favorite movie he starred in. Actor Will Geer and actress Ellen Corby have co-starred as an inseparable on-screen pair on the American beloved drama series, "The Waltons." The show never even considered recasting the elderly couple when each had health issues. An interest in amateur theater while in high school led her to Atlantic City in 1932, where she briefly worked as a chorus girl. . Also on Gower Street was a drugstore that was a favorite for the studio's employees. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Ellen Corby Miss Davis . In its initial box office run, it only earned $3.3 million. She grew up in Philadelphia. Potter and his bodyguard are always dressed the same. Since the titles were not re-shot, they show a 1947 copyright. The film boasts five Oscar winners: Thomas Mitchell, Lionel Barrymore, Gloria Graham, Donna Reed and James Stewart. According to an interview with Karolyn Grimes, the name Zuzu comes from Zu Zu Ginger Snaps. George was born in 1907, just one year before actor James Stewart who plays him. Actor and producer Sheldon Leonard said in an interview that he only agreed to play Nick the bartender so he would have money to buy baseball tickets. While filming the scene in which George prays in the bar, James Stewart was so overcome that he began to sob. The 2016 edition comes with new packaging that describes itself as a "Platinum Edition" - which in my view, is a marketing gimmick to . She flirts with Young George (age 12), then he goes on the pill delivery mission by way of visiting his father for advice and then back to Gower's, who tells his customer the pills "should have been delivered more than an hour ago." Although she grew up mostly in Philadelphia, an interest in theatre led her to Atlantic City in 1932. Pigeons, cats and dogs were allowed to roam the mammoth set to give it a lived-in feel. Because the story covers different seasons and an alternate town, the set was extremely adaptable. Ellen Corby Autographed Signed Autograph Vintage 3X5 It's A Wonderful Life / The Waltons PSA. 1939 was a year of deflation with a rate of -1.42%, as the last year of the Great Depression before the start of World War II. One of the real-life locations, that was used in the movie was the Martini house. She spent six decades of those years .