Book excerpt: "Frank Capra: A Life" by Sam Wasson

Returning to movie screens after his service in World War II, Jimmy Stewart was nervous about appearing in Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" – a film now acknowledged as one of his very best.

Returning to movie screens after his service in World War II, Jimmy Stewart was nervous about appearing in Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" – a film now acknowledged as one of his very best.