Earlier this week, screenwriter Cinco Paul — the Despicable Me films, The Secret Life of Pets, and co-creator of “Schmigadoon!” — joined me for some 5AM StoryTalk. You can listen to that here if you haven’t already. Today, Cinco returns for a bonus episode exclusive to my superstar paid subscribers whose support keeps the lights on here. We’ll be discussing a foundational piece of art from his life — Frank Capra’s iconic, beloved, utterly magical 1946 film, It’s a Wonderful Life.
Specifically, we’re going to dig into a perfect seven-minute-scene — the telephone scene, as you might describe it — in which George Bailey comes to the terrible (almost violent) conclusion that yes, despite all his hopes and dreams of getting out of his crummy town, he’s going to marry Mary Hatch anyway. You can watch the scene below.
This is an ep no screenwriter should pass up.
It’s a Wonderful Life was written by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, and Frank Capra – who also directed, of course. Additional scenes were provided by Jo Swerling. The screenplay, which you can read here, was inspired by a short story called “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern.
If you’d like to hear more from Cinco, but aren’t yet a paid subscriber yourself, you can upgrade now for $6 US a month or $60 a year. You’ll also get full access to hundreds of articles and educational resources for screenwriters, arts seminars where you can seek direct help from me, and all of my podcast episodes — including bonus episodes like this one — weeks, sometimes months earlier than you would if you subscribed to me at, say, Apple or Spotify.
And don’t forget to listen to the first part of my conversation with Cinco!
