Book Review: Every Time A Bell Rings: : The Legacy of It’s a Wonderful Life, America’s Most Beloved Holiday Film

Every Time a Bell Rings: The Legacy of It’s a Wonderful Life, America’s Most Beloved Holiday Film by Emily St. James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lauren Theisen is a journalist and editor. Emily St. James is a writer and cultural critic. They’ve teamed up to co-write an astonishing tribute to It’s A Wonderful Life, an 80-year-old film that continues to endear itself to new and old fans every Christmas holiday season.

I’ll admit I was expecting a “making of” book, which was why I snapped it up. I love getting glimpses behind the scenes of favorite movies. And while we do get quite a bit of that, this book is not merely a reporting of the mechanics of the movie. As coauthor Emily St. James said on Goodreads,

“Lauren and I hoped to do something different from the usual “making of” and, instead, write a series of essays that tackle a beloved film, character by character, using each person in the film as a new window into some aspect of American life and/or history.”

And that’s exactly what they’ve done. Each chapter is an essay that takes us deep into our collective mindset to show precisely why various aspects of the film resonate so strongly with us. Every character is examined closely. The town of Bedford Falls gets the treatment too, as do people on the other side of the camera. History buffs will appreciate that the era the film was made in is scrutinized as well. If you enjoy finding symbolism in storytelling, and love a deep dive, you are in for one happy wallow.

My thanks to authors Lauren Theisen and Emily St. James, Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital advance review copy of this book. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.