It's a Wonderful Life election. The angel shows him Bedford Falls as it would have been not if he had never been born, but as it would have been if he had gone into business instead of politics. Seneca Falls, New York, claims that when Frank Capra visited their town in 1945, he was inspired to model Bedford Falls after it. The town has an annual "It's a Wonderful Life Festival" in December. In mid-2009, The Hotel Clarence opened in Seneca Falls, named for George Bailey's guardian angel. On December 10, 2010, the "It's a Wonderful Life" Museum opened in Seneca Falls, with Karolyn
It's a Wonderful Life has a score 89 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Prior to the Los Angeles release of "It's a Wonderful Life", Liberty Films mounted an extensive promotional campaign that included a daily advertisement highlighting one of the film's players, along with comments from reviewers. Jimmy Starr wrote, "If I were an Oscar, I'd elope with "It's a Wonderful Life" lock, stock and barrel on the night of the Academy Awards". The "New York Daily Times" published an editorial that declared the film and James Stewart's performance to be worthy of Academy Award consideration. "It's a Wonderful