Bedford Falls
16
MENTIONS
6
EPISODES
6
PODCASTS
Search complete. 16 mentions across 6 episodes found for "Bedford Falls".
Sep 25, 2026
Javier Grillo-MarxuachHOST
From the sequence, we go to Kingston Falls.
Javier Grillo-MarxuachHOST
Any resemblance to Bedford Falls is completely intentional.
Javier Grillo-MarxuachHOST
We know because we see a whole sequence from It's a Wonderful Life playing on a black and white cathode ray 2 TV later in the movie.
Javier Grillo-MarxuachHOST
And it starts with a billboard where it's a DJ who looks just like Steven Spielberg.
Mike O'MearaHOST
Billy.
Mike O'MearaHOST
By the way, if you watch It's a Wonderful Life the day after the holiday next week, remember that Rob and I cuss Uncle Billy, the stupid stick that loses all the money for the Bedford Falls building and loan.
Robb SpewakHOST
I have been in a room with my father when Uncle Billy gives the paper to Mr. Potter and it has the money in it.
Robb SpewakHOST
And my father stands up and says, God damn it.
13 MINS LATER
Mike O'MearaHOST
She adopted?
Robb SpewakHOST
From perhaps a third world country? No, she was made in a test tube.
Robb SpewakHOST
At Bedford Falls Laboratories.
Robb SpewakHOST
Zuzu...
Michael HullHOST
Once neglected, Frank Capra's masterpiece about the importance of every individual has become a Christmas perennial and one of our most popular films.
Michael HullHOST
James Stewart is George Bailey, who has always dreamed of traveling, but has spent his entire life in Bedford Falls, running his modest building and loan.
Michael HullHOST
Excuse me.
Michael HullHOST
The thought of staying in your small town for the rest of your life choked me up.
Jason BaileyHOST
[laughs] Choked you up a little?
Michael HullHOST
[clears throat] Um, who has always dreamed of traveling, but has spent his entire life in Bedford Falls, running his modest building and loan, and making sure that the good townspeople aren't left in the evil hands of rich Mr. Potter, Lionel Barrymore.
Michael HullHOST
He has sacrificed all his life for others' happiness and security, but where has it gotten him? On Christmas Eve, he realizes that he'll be going to jail because his Uncle Billy, Thomas Mitchell, has mislaid, actually Potter stole it, a large check.
Jason BaileyHOST
Or, or a stack of cash.
Malcolm NanceHOST
His brother died.
Malcolm NanceHOST
And when George goes back into town, it's not lovely Bedford Falls.
Malcolm NanceHOST
It's a place called Potterville.
Malcolm NanceHOST
All right.
Mike BoonHOST
Okay.
Mike BoonHOST
When Bedford Falls becomes Pottersville, because of course George Bailey didn't exist, are you happy it's Pottersville because you're a Potter? 100%.
Mike BoonHOST
I thought so.
Mike BoonHOST
I'm thinking this is a guy who probably roots for Potter in It's a
speaker_4HOST
Okay, let's hear it.
speaker_3HOST
If Capra added the entire sprawling town of Bedford Falls, and if he added the whole complex multigenerational saga of the building and loan, and if he created Mr. Potter as this fully developed mustache-twirling capitalist villain to give the story stakes, what is actually left of Stern's original 21-page booklet? Did they just buy the title?
speaker_4HOST
It's a fantastic question because physically and structurally, very little of the movie's architecture is in that booklet.
speaker_4HOST
The original text is much, much smaller in scope, and tonally, it is significantly colder.