Classic ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ started as a box office flop that critics dismissed: ‘Embarrassing’

nypost.com:

Death Becomes Her“).The film from the renowned director of “It Happened One Night” went on to gross $3.3 million at the box office — a strong haul under most circumstances.

The trouble is Capra’s budget had ballooned, and the movie needed to do nearly double that business just to break even. One of only two pictures made by Capra’s Liberty Films, “It’s A Wonderful Life” failed to recoup its high costs.

In short, ’twas a flop.Still, the movie was nominated for five Oscars — including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor — but won none.

The big winner at the Academy Awards and the box office was William Wyler’s enduringly brilliant “The Best Years of Our Lives.” How, then, did ‘Life’ turn out so wonderful?