The Greatest Gift

It’s a Wonderful Life

WebQuest

 Read the Book vs. Movie: The Greatest Gift and It’s a Wonderful
Life…
o What are the similarities represented in both the book and
the movie?
-They did not get a lot of views.
o What do people say when comparing the book to the film?
-They say that the movie is better because the book is less
memorable.

Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Van_Doren_Stern to answer
the following questions:
 As an author, what genre was Philip Van Doren Stern best
known?
Short Stories
 He wrote an anthology of Edgar Allan Poe’s work. What was that
anthology called?
-The Viking portable poe

Answer the following questions:

 When was the movie It’s a Wonderful Life made?-1946
 When did it become a Christmas movie classic? Why?
 Where did the original story of It’s a Wonderful Life come?
-The greatest gift
 Why is this film titled, It’s a Wonderful Life?
 What other films have copied the plot of It’s a Wonderful Life?
-Back to the future 2 , and mr. destiny
 What is the story of It’s a Wonderful Life based on?
-Greatest gift
 How many Academy Award nominations did it get and in what
categories?
5- for best director, picture, sound, actor, and recording
Go to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/
 Play the Trailer then answer these questions:
 Would you go see this movie after watching the trailer? Why or
why not?
-No, not my type
 Scroll to Director: and click onto Frank Capra to answer the
following questions:
o Where was Frank Capra born?-italy
o How many Oscars did he receive?-3
Dr. J. Smith, Facilitator ITU: SIMCHA JOY
Ms. J. Markley, Facilitator It’s A Wonderful Life
WebQuest
 o Click on more in the Awards: category to answer the
following questions:
 How many Golden Globes did he receive?-1
 He has a Star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood.
What category and where is it located?-Motion
picture. 6614 hollywood blvd
 It’s a Wonderful Life won a Golden Globe Award in
what year?-1947
 Go back to Frank Capra main page and click on Mini Biography:
more
 What form of transportation did the Capra family
take from Sicily, Italy to United States?-ship
 What did Frank Capra do to pursue the American
Dream?-write poems and stories
 He went to the Throop College of Technology. How
much was the annual tuition?250 dollars
 Why was Frank Capra given a cash award of $250?-
best Good grades
 Frank Capra acted in a film prior to directing. What
was the film called?-the outcasts of poker flat
 How many years did it take for Frank to become the
#1 director in Hollywood?-20
-
 Scroll through his biography to Trivia to answer
these questions…
• While he was raising his four children, where
did they live?- la quinta
• How did he get his first film assignment?
Answering an ad
• When did he Host the Academy Awards?-1936
and 1939
• Frank Capra had a political side. What was he
a “staunch opponent” of?-abortion
• Some of his Personal Quotes to reflect/connect
on… Write two sentences or more on…how do
you think you can use this quote to motivate
you?
o “My advice to young filmmakers is this:
Don’t follow trends. Start them!”
o “A hunch is creativity trying to tell you
something.”
Go back to It’s a Wonderful Life main page
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/
 Click on the Clip at the top of the page and watch the clip to
Dr. J. Smith, Facilitator ITU: SIMCHA JOY
Ms. J. Markley, Facilitator It’s A Wonderful Life
WebQuest
 answer the following questions:
 What does “lasso the moon and pull it down” mean?
-It means to bring it down and give the best to his wife.
 What does the man on the front porch say to George and Mary?
- to Kiss her
 Do people sit out on the front porch reading the paper much
anymore? Why or why not?
-No
 Scroll to Cast to answer the following questions:
o James Stewart
 How many films did he act in playing himself?
-108
 What film did he win his Best Actor Oscar in a
Leading Role?
-Anatomy of a murder
o Donna Reed
 What did she star in when she won her Best Actress
in a Supporting Role Oscar?
-From here to eternity
 How many films did she do prior to starring in It’s a
Wonderful Life?
-30
o Lionel Barrymore
 What was the name of the film he won an Oscar for
Best Actor in a Leading Role?
-A free soul
 He is the great uncle of what current actress?
-Drew Barrymore

 Once you have completed this WebQuest…write a reflection on

what you found most interesting about the book, film,
writer/director, actors, and story.

Dr. J. Smith, Facilitator ITU: SIMCHA JOY

Ms. J. Markley, Facilitator It’s A Wonderful Life
WebQuest