With the holidays fast approaching, I thought I’d share some photos from the set of It’s a Wonderful Life, circa 1946. Evidently Frank Capra wouldn’t settle for the fake snow of the time, cornflakes painted white, and insisted on real snow. Only problem was the film was shot in the summer, on 90-degree days in June and July on the RKO ranch in Encino, California.
In the scene where Jimmy Stewart’s character is on the bridge, with the swirling waters below, it looks like he is sweating from the emotion of the scene, he actually is sweating from the intense heat.
Director Frank Capra, who was trained as an engineer, worked with RKO studio’s special effects chief Russell Sherman to produce their own artificial snow. The two used technology developed during World War II and mixed Foamite (the material used in fire extinguishers) to create the sprayable snow that covered Bedford Falls in wintery white. (The set was also decorated with asbestos!)
Happy holidays and enjoy this behind the scenes look at Bedford Falls.
Frank Capra and unidentified man
Read more: ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’: Rare Photos From the Set of a Holiday Classic | LIFE.com http://life.time.com/culture/its-a-wonderful-life-rare-photos-from-set-of-a-holiday-classic/#ixzz3MGOIN4ob
