

It Happened One Christmas
1977, English. Directed by Donald Wrye.
It's Christmas Eve 1944 in the small town of Bedford Falls, New York. A despondent and suicidal Mary Bailey Hatch is praying for guidance on what to do about an incident no fault of her own which threatens her name and the community standing of her longtime family business, the Bailey Building and Loan, which she took over after the passing of her father. What Mary does not know is that most in town, including her husband George Hatch and their children, are also praying for her. All the prayers are heard by Joseph, God's gatekeeper of prayers. As there are no other angels available on such a busy day, Joseph assigns Clara Oddbody, angel second class (i.e. she has yet to receive her wings), to Mary's case, which he reluctantly does as Clara has never been assigned a case on her own in the two hundred years she's been in heaven for good reason.
- Runtime
- 1h 50m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- Check local
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Where to watch It Happened One Christmas
It Happened One Christmas isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can rent it or buy it online.
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Availability in India as of 12 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- Donald WryeDirector
- Marlo ThomasMary Bailey Hatch
- Orson WellesHenry F. Potter
- Wayne RogersGeorge Hatch
- Cloris LeachmanClara Oddbody
- Barney MartinUncle Willie
- Karen CarlsonViolet
- Dick O'NeillMr. Gower
- Doris RobertsMa Bailey
- Richard DysartPeter Bailey
- Cliff NortonMartini
- Archie HahnErnie
- Christopher GuestHarry Bailey
Details
- Released
- 11 December 1977
- Written by
- Philip Van Doren Stern, Lionel Chetwynd
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News & fan talk
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It Happened One Christmas: quick answers
Is It Happened One Christmas worth watching?
It Happened One Christmas doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is It Happened One Christmas?
It Happened One Christmas runs 110 minutes (1h 50m).
Does It Happened One Christmas have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for It Happened One Christmas. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
It Happened One Christmas parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for It Happened One Christmas yet.
Which OTT platform is It Happened One Christmas on?
It Happened One Christmas isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can rent it or buy it online. (Checked 12 November 2026.)
What movies are like It Happened One Christmas?
If you liked It Happened One Christmas, try Kristin's Christmas Past, Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh, Click & Collect.
Who directed It Happened One Christmas?
It Happened One Christmas (1977) was directed by Donald Wrye and stars Marlo Thomas, Orson Welles, Wayne Rogers.