Fantastic film that shows the great strides of the film medium especially in regards to shot choices and editing in sweeping the audience off it’s feet. This is clearly a film that has been made by the medium’s master in a way that you rarely realize that you are watching a film rather than being immersed in a story. The use of close ups, wide shots, and other staging help focus our attention on the narrative beats and importance.
Again we see acting slowing down so that we can realistically live with the emotional beat that occurs in the moment. Jimmy Stewart is great at pausing or doubling back for words in key moments of human reaction, usually in regards to embarrassment or shyness especially around women.
The film is pure Americana and revels in the grandiose happiness that was Post War America. It’s interesting that it was not received well critically at the time but only decades later when it became appropriated into American Christmas tradition.