<P> On Christmas Eve 1945 , in Bedford Falls , New York , George Bailey is suicidal . Prayers for him reach Heaven , where Clarence Odbody , Angel 2nd Class , is assigned to save George , in return for which he will earn his angel wings . To prepare him for his mission , Clarence is shown flashbacks of George 's life . The first is from 1919 , when 12 - year - old George saves his younger brother Harry from drowning ; George loses his hearing in one ear as a result . At his after - school job , George realizes that the druggist , Mr. Gower -- distraught over his son 's death from the flu -- has accidentally added poison to a child 's prescription , and intervenes to stop it from causing harm . </P>
<P> On Christmas Eve 1945 , in Bedford Falls , New York , George Bailey is suicidal . Prayers for him reach Heaven , where Clarence Odbody , Angel 2nd Class , is assigned to save George , in return for which he will earn his angel wings . To prepare him for his mission , Clarence is shown flashbacks of George 's life . The first is from 1919 , when 12 - year - old George saves his younger brother Harry from drowning ; George loses his hearing in one ear as a result . At his after - school job , George realizes that the druggist , Mr. Gower -- distraught over his son 's death from the flu -- has accidentally added poison to a child 's prescription , and intervenes to stop it from causing harm . </P>
when does its a wonderful life take place
when does its a wonderful life take place
1945
1945