Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life is a Christmas stalwart – it’s upbeat message encapsulated in the climactic scene of a deliriously happy James Stewart yelling ‘Merry Christmas’ at passersby in a picture perfect snowy town.

And yet…the vast majority of the lengthy run-time is actually rather bleak and depressing. Stewart’s character attempts suicide and is saved by a (literal) guardian angel, who shows him what the town would have been like if he had not existed. 

The movie was not a success when released in 1946, and was criticised at the time for its sentimentality. Its only in recent years that it has been hailed as an all-time classic, and can always be found on one of the TV channels around Christmas day.

This is a rare Spanish herald from the original release. This is for sale here.