Amazon sparks outrage after cutting key scene from It’s a Wonderful Life

Fans of the Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” are upset about the shortened version of the film on Amazon’s streaming service.

The hit 1946 film, which follows the life of businessman and banker George Bailey, sparked outrage after Amazon cut a crucial part.

Amazon’s abridged version does not include what many consider to be “the most important scene,” the “Pottersville scene,” in which George wishes he had never been born, prompting his guardian angel to remind him that he has “his “Angel must earn wings.” Outraged fans said that the scene sets the tone for the rest of the film and without it, the film abruptly jumps between scenes without realizing the full context of the story.

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In the original version of the film, George tells his guardian angel Clarence that he believes he is better off dead than alive, but Clarence tells George that he doesn’t know what he has done in his life. He then shows George what his town would have looked like without all of his good deeds over the years. The alternate reality helps George realize that he has a wonderful life.

American actors James Stewart (1908-1997) as George Bailey and Karolyn Grimes as his daughter Zuzu in a scene from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” directed by Frank Capra, 1946. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

However, the Amazon Prime version of the film omits details about what led to his change in outlook on his life. After the angel tells George that he must earn his wings, the scene instead shows George running joyfully through the streets after realizing the value of his own life.

Amazon Prime also offers the full version of the film on its platform and the scene may have been removed due to a copyright dispute regarding the scene, which was based on a short story, Daily Mail reported. But the fans of the film were still not happy with the editing.

“I just watched It’s a Wonderful Life – Abridged Edition with my mom, who couldn’t remember the whole movie. What an atrocity,” said one X user. “The whole point of the story was for George to witness a life without him. The complete deletion of this part of the plot renders this film pointless.”

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, from left: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Carl Switzer, 1946 (Everett)

“I just accidentally saw the shortened version. It’s a wonderful life and honestly it shouldn’t exist. What was the point of that???” said a second X user.

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“Be prepared for the abridged version of “It’s A Wonderful Life,” which leaves out the ENTIRE part about Pottersville/what it would be like if he was never born and goes straight to the fact that he’s completely fine again for no apparent reason. said a third user. “This exists and is on Prime.”

“If you want to know what’s wrong with the world, Prime Video has an “abridged” version of “It’s a Wonderful Life” that removes THE ENTIRE POTTERSVILLE SCENE where George sees life if he’s not born were. This is the shortened version. Best “A crucial part of the film. Wow,” said another viewer.

Clockwise from top: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Carol Coombs, Jimmy Hawkins, Larry Simms and Karolyn Grimes. (Photo by Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

“I kid you not, but Amazon Prime is showing a version of this film with the entire sequence REMOVED – completely cut out – to make it less ‘dark.’ Damn sacrilege. Damn streamers,” said actor Michael Warburton on X.

“@amazon cutting out the crucial part of It’s A Wonderful Life and instead having a shortened version is one of the worst things I’ve seen from a company in recent memory,” another viewer said. “What’s wrong with you? The people who made this decision should all be fired.”