Hundreds of millions of people have seen the classic Christmas film “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which turns 75 this year. For decades, families have gathered around the TV to watch Jimmy Stewart’s frustrated small-town hero learn the value of a life lived with integrity. George Bailey is as much a fixture of the modern holiday season as Santa Claus or Rudolph.

 

And, unknown to almost everyone watching, a Fall River native has played a small but key part of this Christmas tradition. 

 

"It’s a Wonderful Life” is the story of how one man never had the chance to leave his hometown to chase his childhood dreams, but accepted happiness in the twists and turns his life took. What follows is the story of a Fall River man who did leave his hometown to pursue his dreams, and discovered his own path to happiness.

 

Early in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” grief-stricken pharmacist Mr. Gower gazes upon a photo of his son, who has just died in the 1919 influenza pandemic. Blinded by tears, Mr. Gower accidentally puts poison in capsules meant for a sick child instead of medicine. A young George Bailey sees Mr. Gower’s mistake, and never delivers the capsules. George’s actions save this child’s life, and he never tells anyone about the mistake, preserving Mr. Gower’s dignity. It’s one of the first events in George Bailey’s young life that reveals the giving, empathetic man he’ll grow up to be.

 

The young man in the photo, portraying Mr. Gower’s son? That’s Glen Vernon of Fall River.

 

Read more at heraldnews.com.