Produced by Frank Capra in 1946 with little fanfare and mediocre reviews, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” has since become a favorite holiday film — with all generations poised in front of the television at this time of year to watch the story of struggling businessman George Bailey and his redemption by an angel named Clarence.
The rebirth of the film propelled Karolyn Grimes, who portrayed Zuzu, George Bailey’s 6-year-old daughter, into a new career two decades ago.
Grimes, who endured many life tragedies including the early death of her parents and her son, has become an ambassador of the movie and its message. She will appear Sunday at Genesee Theater to speak and answer questions from the audience after the screening of the iconic film. The theater will also feature a display of “It’s A Wonderful Life” memorabilia.
As a 6-year-old, Grimes uttered one of cinema’s most famous lines in the movie: “Look, Daddy. Teacher says, ‘Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.'”
Grimes, who is 75, expects one of the first questions she’ll get when she comes to Genesee Theater is about Jimmy Stewart who portrayed her father, George Bailey.
“What was Jimmy Stewart like? That’s the No. 1 question,” Grimes aid. “I tell them the truth. He was really a kind and gentle man. He was very patient.
“When, I messed up a line. I’ll never forget Mr. Stewart said, ‘That’s all right, Karolyn. You’ll get it right the next time.’ And I did.”
Grimes not only appeared in that movie as a child actor, but also in many more with famous actors including Cary Grant, Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.
“Sometimes I’d get into a really wonderful situation where the movie had some really good stars and they liked kids. Other times, I would go on set and be told you have to stay away from this actor. David Niven was one of them.”
Cary Grant, on the other hand, read stories to her, she said.
“I loved it. It was a land of make believe for a little girl who got to go to wardrobe, get her hair done and makeup. It was fabulous.”
Grimes did not continue her movie career after age 15. Her mother who helped her get into show businesses, died of early onset Alzheimer’s disease when Grimes was 14, and her father was later killed in a car wreck, she said.
She was sent to live with an uncle in the Midwest. “I loved the Midwest where the real people were,” she said. “I hadn’t been exposed to those kinds of people in Hollywood. I decided I didn’t want to go back to California.”
Instead she studied medical technology in college, got married and had two daughters.
But something happened in the early 1990s, nearly 50 years after “It’s A Wonderful Life” debuted, that would turn her life on a different course. Target stores chose “It’s a Wonderful Life” for its marketing theme for Christmas.
“They reunited the Bailey kids and we went on tour all over the United States,” Grimes said. “It was fabulous. I had the best time ever. I didn’t realize how much people loved this film. They seemed to just embrace us so much and put us in their hearts.”
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She found that interesting because when the movie came out, “It was a box office failure,” she said.
“There are so many reasons why,” she said, including the fact that it was released right after the end of World War II.
“People wanted to be entertained. They didn’t want to sit down and watch a thinker,” she said.
It sat on the shelf for decades. When it became public domain, “people across America could see it on television. That’s how it got the exposure and I think people realized the depth of the movie.”
Grimes said when she was on tour with Target, her husband was suffering with terminal cancer. “They built a tour around my schedule. It was lovely the way they handled it. I really did feel all the love from the people. It helped me get through it.”
That’s why when she goes on tour she encourages people to remember that even “when things aren’t so wonderful, there’s hope.
“I share not only the history of the film, I share how the film affects people today and the stories that I have, how it has changed people’s lives.”
Meeting people who love the movie also affords her “a wonderful opportunity for me to tell them the fun stuff in the movie, the mistakes, and the scoops.
Grimes said she’s excited to come to Genesee. “I love these old theaters. It shows such a futuristic thinking of preserving these time capsules. I just have to commend the communities that do this. It’s a wonderful, wonderful thing that they do.”
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance writer.
“It’s A Wonderful Life with Zuzu: Conversation with Karolyn Grimes”
When: 2 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan
Tickets: $13-$15
Information: 847-782-2366; www.geneseetheatre.com